Western Macedonia
Western Macedonia
Δυτική Μακεδονία | |
|---|---|
Administrative region | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 40°24′N 21°30′E / 40.4°N 21.5°E | |
| Country |  Greece |
| Region |  Macedonia |
| Decentralized Administration | Epirus and Western Macedonia |
| Capital | Kozani |
| Regional units | |
| Government | |
| • Regional governor | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | GR-C |
| HDI (2019) | 0.880[3] very high · 2nd of 13 |
| Website | www |
Western Macedonia (Greek: Δυτική Μακεδονία, romanized: Ditikí Makedonía, Greek pronunciation: [ðitiˈki makeðoˈnia]) is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Macedonia. Located in north-western Greece, it is divided into the regional units of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani. With a population of approximately 255,000 people, as of 2021, the region had one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union.[4][5]
Geography
The region of Western Macedonia is situated in north-western Greece, bordering with the regions of
).Although it covers a total surface of 9,451 km2 (3,649 sq mi) (7.2% of country's total), it has a total population of 283,689 inhabitants (2.6% of the country's total), thus it is a low-density populated region (30 per km2, as compared to the country's 81.96 per km2 average). This is mainly due to the mountainous nature of the region, as 82% of the total surface are mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. This is also reflected in the population distribution, as a majority of the population (56%) lives in rural areas. The capital of the region is Kozani with 53,880 inhabitants. Other main towns are Ptolemaida (37,289), Grevena (17,610), Florina (19,985) and Kastoria (16,958).
Economy
The region has one operational Industrial Area in Florina and another one under construction in Kozani. The secondary sector is very important for the Regional economy, mainly due to the mining activities, the production of electric power (70% of country's total power is produced in the Region) and the fur-leather sector. However, "soft" structures have not followed the general improvement of heavy infrastructures, a situation that has to be remedied, in order to achieve an overall higher economic development of the Region. The R&D services are at a rather low level: only 3,5% of the country's total research foundations are situated in the Region. Among them, the
The Egnatia motorway via Egnatia (Trans – European Network) that crosses the region, along with its two vertical National Roads, form a network that dramatically improves the transport conditions in the Region and alter its traditional "isolation" image, mainly due to its mountainous landscape. On the other hand, the railroad network is insufficient and the two airports (Kozani and Kastoria) can only serve small passenger planes. The telecommunication network has dramatically improved over the last decade, providing the regional population with adequate services and modern facilities.
The last years the region is being developed in
The administrative building of Western Macedonia region is located in Zone of Alternate Urban Planning (ZEP) in the city of Kozani.
The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 4.0 billion € in 2018, accounting for 2.1% of Greek economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 17,700 € or 59% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 79% of the EU average.[6]
The unemployment rate stood at 19.7% in 2021, one of the highest regional unemployment rates in the European Union.[7]
| Year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unemployment rate (in %) |
14.2% | 12.1% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 15.4% | 23.1% | 29.7% | 31.6% | 27.6% | 30.7% | 31.3% | 29.1% | 27.0% | 22.62% | 20.5% | 19.7% |
Administration
As one of thirteen
Resulting from the 2010
The region is based at Kozani and is divided into four
| Municipality | Population | Seat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kozani | 71,388 | Kozani |
| 2. | Eordaia | 45,592 | Ptolemaida |
| 3. | Voio | 18,386 | Siatista |
| 4. | Servia-Velventos | 14,830 | Servia |
| 5. | Deskati | 5,852 | Deskati |
| 6. | Grevena | 25,905 | Grevena |
| 7. | Nestorio | 2,646 | Nestorio |
| 8. | Argos Orestiko | 11,802 | Argos Orestiko |
| 9. | Kastoria | 35,874 | Kastoria |
| 10. | Prespes | 1,560 | Laimos |
| 11. | Florina | 32,881 | Florina |
| 12. | Amyntaio | 16,973 | Amyntaio |
History
The modern region of Western Macedonia roughly corresponds to the
.Demographics
The population of Western Macedonia was 283,689 according to the
.The region has shrunk by 28,633 people between 2011 and 2021, experiencing a highest percentage population loss in Greece of 10.1%.[1]
The biggest towns in each regional unit, according to the census of 2011 (only communities with population more than 2,000 recorded):
| Regional unit | Capital |
Area (km2) | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grevena | Grevena | 2,291 | 31,757 | |
| 1 | Grevena | 13,374 | ||
| 2 | Deskati | 3,598 | ||
| Kastoria | Kastoria | 1,720 | 50,322 | |
| 1 | Kastoria | 16,958 | ||
| 2 | Argos Orestiko | 7,482 | ||
| 3 | Maniakoi | 3,055 | ||
| 4 | Mesopotamia |
2,955 | ||
| Kozani | Kozani | 3,516 | 150,196 | |
| 1 | Kozani | 42,604 | ||
| 2 | Ptolemaida | 32,142 | ||
| 3 | Siatista | 5,490 | ||
| 4 | Servia | 3,540 | ||
| 5 | Velventos | 3,399 | ||
| 6 | Krokos | 2,977 | ||
| 7 | Neapoli | 2,323 | ||
| 8 | Aiani | 2,006 | ||
| Florina | Florina | 1,924 | 51,414 | |
| 1 | Florina | 17,907 | ||
| 2 | Amyntaio | 4,306 | ||
| Total | Western Macedonia | Kozani | 9,451 | 283,689[10] |
Major cities and towns
Education
The University of Western Macedonia provides technical education to stimulate growth throughout the region, and is located in Kozani, Florina and Kastoria. Programs at the university in Florina include courses of study in the Pedagogic Department and the Department of Balkan studies.
The
Media
Television channels
- West Channel - Kozani
- Top Channel - Kozani
- Kanali 28 - Grevena
- TRM - Grevena
- Flash TV - Kastoria/Kozani
- Dyktio1 - Kastoria
Gallery
-
-
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Ancient Macedonian grave in Eordaia -
Aghios Nikolaos Clock Tower in Kozani -
Village of Agios Germanos-Prespa -
Vigla:Pissoderiski resort in Florina
,_Florina_prefecture,_Greece_-_From_the_Northwest_(National_Road_2_to_Vigla)_-_02.jpg)
References
- ^ a b "Census 2021 GR" (PDF) (Press release). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ^ "Population on 1 January by age, sex and NUTS 2 region", www.ec.europa.eu
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ^ "Καλπάζει η ανεργία στη Δυτική Μακεδονία – Στο 47% οι νέοι έως 24 ετών (πίνακες)". Macedonia (newspaper) (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ "EURES - Labour market information - West Macedonia - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ "Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018". Eurostat.
- ^ "Καλπάζει η ανεργία στη Δυτική Μακεδονία - Στο 47% οι νέοι έως 24 ετών". Sentra (in Greek). 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ISBN 978-1-4426-4141-9.
- ISBN 978-92-64-20140-8.
- ^ a b c "Detailed census results 2011".
- ISBN 978-3-11-053081-0.
- ^ "Demographic and social characteristics of the Resident Population of Greece according to the 2011 Population - Housing Census revision of 20/3/2014" (PDF). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 12 September 2014.
- ISBN 0-275-97648-3.
- S2CID 161802924– via journals.openedition.org.
- Slavic Macedonian minority in Greece.[1]
- ^ "Τι έχουν να πουν οι πρεσπολάγνοι;". Macedonia (newspaper) (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-11-25.
External links
Administrative division of the Western Macedonia Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit of Florina | | |
| Regional unit of Grevena | ||
| Regional unit of Kastoria | ||
| Regional unit of Kozani | ||
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| National | |
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| Geographic | |
