Central Macedonia (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κεντρικής Μακεδονίας, Periféria Kentrikís Makedonías) is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the central part of the region of Macedonia. With a population of over 1.8 million, it is the second most populous in Greece after Attica.

Administration

The region was established in the 1987 administrative reform. With the 2010 Kallikratis plan, its powers and authority were redefined and extended. Along with East Macedonia and Thrace, it is supervised by the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace which is based in Thessaloniki. The region is based at its capital city of Thessaloniki and is divided into seven regional units (pre-Kallikratis prefectures), Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kilkis, Pella, Pieria, Serres and Thessaloniki. These are further subdivided into 38 municipalities.

Regional Units : Chalkidiki • Imathia • Kilkis • Pella • Pieria • Serres • Thessaloniki

Although geographically part of central Macedonia, Mount Athos is not administratively part of the region, but an autonomous self-governing state under the sovereignty of Greece.

The region's governor is, since 1 January 2011, Panagiotis Psomiadis, who was elected in the November 2010 local administration elections for the New Democracy party.
Economy

Central Macedonia is Greece's most visited region and accounts for 18.2% of the total tourist flow in the country, with 3.21 million tourists in 2008.[2] In 2007, the Purchasing Power Parity of Central Macedonia was 81% of the EU average according to Eurostat, placing it near the national average of 90.5%, but well below the PPP of Attica, which was 109%.[3] In 2008, the GDP per capita of Central Macedonia was €18,300 (US$26,409).[4]
Major cities and towns

Edessa
Katerini
Kilkis
Polygyros
Serres
Thessaloniki
Veria

References

^ Region of Central Macedonia (2004). "Tourism". www.rcm-observatory.gr. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
^ Eurostat (2010). "Tourism". Eurostat regional yearbook 2010. www.eurosta.eu. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
^ Eurostat (2007). "Regional gross domestic product (PPS per inhabitant in % of the EU-27 average), by NUTS 2 regions". Eurostat regional yearbook 2010. www.eurosta.eu. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
^ Eurostat (2008). "Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices at NUTS level 2". Eurostat regional yearbook 2010. www.eurosta.eu. Retrieved 16 April 2011.

External links

Region of Central Macedonia Official website (Greek)