Posted by 🏝️ Greece – The Land of Islands
Hardly any country in Europe has as many islands as Greece.
But if you ask how many islands Greece actually has, you often get very different answers: sometimes 2,000, sometimes 6,000, or even 9,000.
Why? Because it’s not easy to define what actually qualifies as an “island.”
📊 Official Figures – and Why They Fluctuate
According to the Greek Cadastral Authority and the Maritime Authority (Hydrographic Service), Greece has:
🏝️ approximately 6,000 islands and isletsof which around 200 are permanently inhabited.
This figure refers to any land area that does not completely disappear below sea level at high tide – including tiny rocky islets, sandbanks, and islands.
The most important estimates:
| Source | Year | Number of islands |
|---|---|---|
| Greek Cadastre | 2024 | approx. 6,000 |
| Greek Statistical Office (ELSTAT) | 2020 | 5.800 |
| Encyclopaedia Britannica | 2023 | approx. 2,000 |
| UNESCO | 2019 | 6.000–6.500 |
👉 The number varies depending on how small an island is allowed to be.
Many tiny rocks are officially considered “islets” (nisida or vrachonísida).
🏠 How many islands are inhabited?
Of the approximately 6,000 islands, only about 227 are inhabited, and of those, only about 80 are regularly developed for tourism.
Overview:
| Category | Number (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Total number of islands and islets | 6.000 |
| Inhabited | 227 |
| With tourist infrastructure | 80–100 |
| Without permanent population | approx. 5,700 |
Some islands are only inhabited during the summer, for example by fishermen or shepherds.
Others, like Delos or Polyaigos, are uninhabited but culturally and historically important.
🗺️ The most important island groups of Greece
Greece’s islands are divided into six major groups – plus Crete as its own category.
1. Cyclades
Location: Central Aegean Sea
Islands: approx. 220
Well-known: Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Amorgos, Milos
Character: barren, sunny, white and blue villages
Uninhabited islets: very numerous (e.g., Keros, Despotiko, Gyaros)
👉 Cyclades – Islands of the Central Aegean
2. Dodecanese
Location: Southeast Aegean Sea, near Turkey
Islands: approx. 160
Well-known: Rhodes, Kos, Karpathos, Symi, Kastellorizo
Character: warm, rocky, oriental influence
Many small islands around Rhodes and Kalymnos
3. Ionian Islands
Location: West coast of Greece, in the Ionian Sea
Islands: around 50
Well-known: Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaca, Paxos
Character: green, mountainous, Venetian style
Climate: humid and mild
👉 Ionian Islands – green pearls in the west
4. Sporades
Location: Northwest Aegean Sea
Islands: approx. 20
Popular islands: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos, Skyros
Character: forested, tranquil, many bays
Ideal for families & nature lovers
5. North Aegean Islands
Location: between Halkidiki and Turkey
Islands: approx. 30
Popular islands: Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Lemnos
Character: expansive, fertile, less touristy
Many smaller, little-known islets
6. Crete
Location: in the far south, bordering the Aegean Sea and the Libyan Sea Sea
Largest Greek island (8,336 km²)
Smaller neighboring islands: Gavdos, Chrissi, Koufonisi, Dia
Character: A world unto itself with mountains, gorges, and idyllic beaches
7. Islands of the Saronic Gulf
Location: Between Athens and the Peloponnese
Islands: Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses
Popular for weekend getaways from Athens
📏 The largest Greek islands
| Rank | Island | Area (km²) | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crete | 8.336 | Libyan & Aegean Sea |
| 2 | Euboea (Evia) | 3.655 | Aegean Sea |
| 3 | Lesbos | 1.632 | North Aegean Sea |
| 4 | Rhodes | 1.401 | Dodecanese Islands |
| 5 | Chios | 842 | North Aegean Sea |
| 6 | Kefalonia | 786 | Ionian Sea |
| 7 | Corfu | 593 | Ionian Sea |
| 8 | Lemnos | 477 | North Aegean Sea |
| 9 | Samos | 477 | Aegean Sea |
| 10 | Naxos | 429 | Cyclades |
📉 The smallest inhabited islands
| Island | Area | Population (approx.) | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gavdos | 30 km² | 50 | Libyan Sea |
| Kastellorizo | 9 km² | 500 | Dodecanese |
| Donoussa | 13 km² | 200 | Cyclades |
| Arki | 6 km² | 50 | Dodecanese |
| Antikythira | 20 km² | 40 | Between Ionian & Aegean Seas |
💡 These mini-islands are perfect for travelers seeking authentic Greece.
🌊 Why Greece Has So Many Islands
Greece lies in a geologically active zone where the African and Eurasian plates meet.
Millions of years of movement have created:
volcanoes (e.g., Santorini, Nisyros),
uplift (e.g., Crete),
and numerous small rocky islands formed by erosion and earthquakes.
This explains why there are so many tiny islands, especially in the Aegean Sea – almost every mountain peak rises from the sea.
🌤️ Islands and Climate – Big Differences
Ionian Islands: green, humid, many trees
Aegean: dry, barren, windy
Southern Crete & Libyan Sea: hot and sunny until November
Just as diverse as the seas themselves are the islands that lie within them.
👉 More about the seas of Greece
🚢 Islands and ferry connections
Around 100 islands are regularly connected by ferry or hydrofoil.
Athens is the main starting point – with ports in Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio.
From there, ferries depart in all directions:
Cyclades: daily
Dodecanese: 2–3 times per week
Ionian Islands: mostly from the mainland (Patras, Igoumenitsa)
👉 Ferries in Greece – overview & booking
🏛️ Islands and history
Each island has its own story:
Delos: sacred island of antiquity
Rhodes: knights and medieval fortresses
Crete: cradle of Minoan civilization
Samos: birthplace of Pythagoras
Ithaca: home of Odysseus
The diversity is unique – from ancient ruins to secluded coves.
🌅 Conclusion: Greece – the land of 6,000 islands
Greece isn’t just a mainland, but a whole world of islands.
Whether large like Crete or tiny like Arki – each one has its own story and its own unique character.
Anyone who truly wants to get to know Greece should visit more than just one island.
Because each island tells a piece of the bigger picture:
🌊 Sun, sea, olives, mountains, and life on the edge of Europe.