GREECE - Its two conquerors: Alexander & Debt Threat

The country's external debt per capita is $47,636.

It's national debt is 144% of GDP.

Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP.

The economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit, which was triggered by falling state revenues, and increased government expenditures.

The economy contracted by 2% in 2009, and 4.8% in 2010.

Greece violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criterion in 2007-08, before exceeding it again in 2009, with the deficit reaching 15.4% of GDP.

Austerity measures reduced the deficit to 9.4% of GDP in 2010.

Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the euro-zone average while per capita income is below; unemployment rose to 12% in 2010.

Debt-stricken country Greece, which received a bailout of 110 billion euro in 2010 from European Union and IMF, needed a second loan agreement to meet its payments.

In July 2011, the Eurozone's 17 member countries came out with the another rescue package for Greece worth 109 billion euros ($155 billion). A “debt buy-back programme" would reduce Greece"s debt burden by 12.6 billion euros.