Levels of local self-government
The basic rules of municipal self-government are laid down in Art. 102 of the Greek Constitution: local authorities (ΟΤΑ) are territorially, administratively and financially autonomous in their own affairs; state oversight is limited to reviewing lawfulness. Since the “Kallikratis” territorial reform (Law 3852/2010), Greece is divided into 13 regions (“peripheries”) plus the autonomous monastic republic of Athos as the second administrative level, and into municipalities as the first administrative level.
The “Kleisthenis I” Reform (Law 4555/2018)
The basic structure of the “Kallikratis” reform was further developed in significant respects by the “Kleisthenis I” reform (Law 4555/2018), fully in force since 1 September 2019:
- Electoral system: introduction of simple proportional representation (απλή αναλογική) for municipal and regional councils in place of the previously applicable majority-bonus system, meaning that seats are now allocated proportionally to the strength of the respective lists.
- Term of office: reduction of the term of office of mayors, regional councillors (peripheriarchs) and other bodies from five to four years.
- Powers and resources: strengthening in particular of structurally weaker municipalities and regions with additional staff and funds, and taking island and mountain locations into account in the allocation of powers.
In other respects, the basic structure created by “Kallikratis” continues to apply unchanged: municipalities (today 332, following subsequent adjustments to the original number of 325) form the first administrative level, regions the second; there is no relationship of oversight or hierarchy between the two levels, and control is exercised by bodies of the central administration.
The Municipalities
The legal basis for the organisation and functioning of the municipalities continues to be the “Dimotikos kai kinotikos kodikas” (Municipal Code, most recently comprehensively codified by Law 3463/2006 and repeatedly adjusted as a result of the territorial reforms). The bodies of a municipality are the mayor, the municipal council and the mayor’s committee; municipal districts have local councils with a purely advisory function. Municipalities are responsible, among other things, for building permits and operating licences, welfare, school buildings, and the promotion of agriculture; under the Constitution they may not levy their own taxes, but receive shares of VAT, property tax, and income and corporate tax.
The Regions (Peripheries)
The 13 regions are divided into regional units, which largely correspond to the former prefectures. Their bodies are the peripheriarch, the regional council, the finance committee and the executive body; the regions have specialist committees for, among other things, the economy, the environment, infrastructure and health, as well as extensive powers over development, growth and major regional projects.
Note: The population figures given in the original text were based on the 2011 census; more recent data are available from the 2021 census and should be used for a precise presentation.
FAQ
Since the “Kallikratis” reform (2011, Law 3852/2010), municipal self-government has had a two-tier structure. It is territorially, administratively and financially autonomous, but is subject to state oversight as to the lawfulness of its actions.
- Level: municipalities (Dimoi) – responsible for local matters.
- Level: regions (Peripheries) – responsible for regional planning and major projects.
Following the original merger of many small localities (Kinotites) under the Kallikratis reform (2011), there were initially 325 unified municipalities (down from 1,034 previously). Important update: Under the “Kleisthenis I” reform (Law 4555/2018), effective since 1 September 2019, four larger island municipalities were divided into a total of ten new, smaller municipalities. Greece has counted 332 municipalities since then.
- Bodies: mayor, municipal council and committees (finance / quality of life).
- Responsibilities: issuing building permits, social welfare, school construction and the promotion of agriculture.
- Elections: mayors are elected directly every five years; since the Kleisthenis reform, the election is generally held under a simple-majority procedure (one round) instead of the previous two-round procedure.
Greece is divided into 13 regions (plus the autonomous monastic republic of Athos). These are further subdivided into regional units (Periferiakes Enotites), which largely correspond to the old prefectures.
- The 13 regions: Attica, Central Macedonia, Western Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, the Ionian Islands, Western Greece, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, the North Aegean, the South Aegean, Crete, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
- Bodies: peripheriarch (regional governor), regional council and executive committee.
- Responsibility: regional development, environmental protection, infrastructure and civil protection.
In Greece, local authorities may not levy their own taxes. They are essentially financed through shares of state taxes (the so-called Central Autonomous Resources, ΚΑΠ):
Tax type | Municipalities' share | Regions' share |
VAT | 12% | 4% |
Income / corporate tax | 20% | 2.4% |
Property tax (large estates) | 50% | – |
Note: The precise distribution rates for the ΚΑΠ are set annually as part of the state budget and may differ from the historical reference figures given here; for the currently applicable rates, we recommend checking the applicable budget law.
Membership of the respective umbrella associations is compulsory:
- ΚΕΔΕ: Central Union of Greek Municipalities.
- ΕΝ.ΠΕ.: Union of Regions of Greece.
Several regions are often grouped together into decentralised administrations (Apokentromeni Diikisi). Important: these are not bodies of self-government, but extended arms of the central state government.
- AFM: tax number (mandatory for all transactions).
- Dimotikos Kodikas: the Municipal Code.
- Periferiarch: the elected head of a region.
- Syntagma: the Greek Constitution.
As of June 2026. All information on these pages is provided without guarantee or liability.