Literacy rate: 97%

Numbers in tertiary education: 363,150 students

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Some 9% of total government spending is on education, which is free and officially compulsory for nine years. The use of informal Greek (demotiki) replaced the formal katharevoussa in Greek schools when it became the country's official language in 1976. There are 18 universities and 74 other institutions of higher education.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004