Administrative divisions of Greece

The administrative divisions of Greece, showing regions and municipalities

Greece is internally administered through a system of 7 decentralized administrations, 13 regions and 325 municipalities. The regions and municipalities are fully self-governed.

The decentralized administrations are run by a general secretary appointed by the Greek Government. The Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain, as an autonomous self-governing entity, is exempt from these reforms.

Administrative divisions

Municipalities

The first level of government is constituted by the municipalities (δήμοι, dímoi; sing. δήμος, dímos), which have resulted from merging several former municipalities and communities (themselves the subject of a previous reform with the 1997 Kapodistrias plan). They are run by a mayor (δήμαρχος, dímarchos) and a municipal council (δημοτικό συμβούλιο, dimotikó symvoúlio), elected every 5 years. The municipalities are further subdivided into municipal units (δημοτικές ενότητες, dimotikés enótites) and finally into communities (κοινότητες, koinótites). Although communities have their own councils, their role is purely advisory to the municipal-level government.

Regions

The second level is composed of the regions (περιφέρειες, periféreies; sing. περιφέρεια, periféreia), run by a regional governor (περιφερειάρχης, perifereiárchis) and a regional council (περιφερειακό συμβούλιο, perifereiakó symvoúlio), popularly elected every 5 years. The regions are divided into regional units (περιφερειακές ενότητες, perifereiakés enótites), usually but not always coterminous with the former prefectures. Each regional unit is headed by a vice-regional governor (αντιπεριφερειάρχης, antiperifereiárchis), drawn from the same political block as the regional governor.

Decentralized administrations

The third level is composed of the new decentralized administrations (αποκεντρωμένες διοικήσεις, apokentroménes dioikíseis), comprising two or three regions (except for Attica and Crete), run by a government-appointed general secretary, assisted by an advisory council drawn from the regional governors and the representatives of the municipalities.

History

From 1 January 2011, in accordance with the Kallikratis programme, the administrative system of Greece was drastically overhauled. The former system of 13 regions, 54 prefectures and 1033 municipalities and communities was replaced by 7 decentralized administrations, 13 regions and 325 municipalities.

The first elections to Greek local government areas were held between 7 November and 14 November 2010.

Administration of Attica

Decentralized Administration of Attica

Attica region

Administration of Macedonia and Thrace

Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region

Central Macedonia region

Administration of Epirus and Western Macedonia

Decentralized Administration of Epirus and Western Macedonia

Epirus region

Western Macedonia region

Administration of Thessaly and Central Greece

Decentralized Administration of Thessaly and Central Greece

Thessaly region

Central Greece region

Administration of the Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian Islands

Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian

Peloponnese region

Western Greece region

Ionian Islands region

Administration of the Aegean

Decentralized Administration of the Aegean

North Aegean region

South Aegean region

Administration of Crete

Decentralized Administration of Crete

Crete Region

See also

References