The fact that there is still a little Greece outside the country’s borders may sound a little excessive to some, but it is really true! According to the latest estimates of the General Secretariat of Hellenes Abroad, today there are more than 5,000,000 people of Greek origin living outside the Greek borders, scattered in 140 countries around the globe The first large wave of immigration from Greece occurred in the early 1900s, the second wave of immigration – and the largest to date – was immediately after the end of World War II, and the third wave had place during the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 The General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad reports that the largest concentration of Greeks outside of Greece is in the USA, with approximately 3,000,000 Greeks, followed by Cyprus with 720,000 Greek Cypriots, other European countries with over 1,000,000 Greeks , Australia with 700,000 and Canada with about 300,000 Greeks, while over 150,000 South and Central American descendants are also found around the Greek countries 100,000 in Asia and Africa Apart from Cyprus, here are the 10 cities and countries around the world that have the largest population of Greeks: Munich, Germany (30,000 Greeks) According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, there are more than 280,00 Greek citizens who they live in Germany today, making the country the largest Greek diaspora destination in Europe Most of them are in Munich (about 30,000) and most work in the automotive and healthcare industries In addition, the Greek Ministry of Education reported in 2016 that more than 11% of the entire Greek population speaks German, making it the fourth most popular foreign language in Greece, after English, Italian and French Santiago, Chile (40,000 Greeks)The exact number of Greeks living in Chile is not known for certain, but according to the annual reports of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there has been a community of Greeks in Chile since the 16th century, and today, it is estimated that there are approx 100,000 Greek descendants in the country Although the majority are in the capital of Chile, Santiago (over 40,000), the story of the Greeks in Chile began with the Cretans, who moved to the city of Antofagasta, which is well known in the world of commerce, because of the large quantities of copper they manufactures and exportsToronto, Canada (60,000 Greeks) In the 2016 Canadian census, it was reported that there are approximately 300,000 people of Greek descent in the country, 60,000 of whom are in Toronto In addition, the census found that Greek is the 20th most commonly spoken language in the Toronto area In particular, Toronto’s Danforth Avenue has been dubbed by locals as “the largest Greek neighborhood in North America”, where all things Greek can be found, such as Greek restaurants, shops and street festivals Street signs in Greek and English on Danforth Avenue in Toronto
Photo by wwwpappaspostcomBoston, Massachusetts, USA (100,000 Greeks) The state of Massachusetts has the fourth largest Greek population in the US, but became the first place Greek immigrants settled when they moved to America In the 1600s and 1700s, Greek citizens began moving to the States, especially to the Boston area, sporadically and in small numbers
Apparently, the captains and sailors arrived first and helped train the US Navy The largest number of Greeks came to Boston in the decade 1830-1840, after the Greek Revolution, and they were the pioneers in the textile industry, which became the main economic engine in New England Sydney, Australia (130,000 Greeks) According to research from the Greek community in Melbourne, the first Greeks arrived in Australia in the early 1800s and most settled in Victoria and South New Wales, particularly Sydney The first Greek immigrants to Sydney were gold miners, farmers and fruit growers, who moved from the Aegean islands Gradually, more and more Greeks began to work in education, architecture and the sciences, and those who distinguished themselves in their fields received the ultimate honor from their communities, as many streets in Australia were named after them Today, Sydney is the second largest Greek stronghold in Australia, with over 130,000 Greek descendants Florida, USA (150,000 Greeks) Once the largest Greek stronghold in America, the state of Florida has numerous Greek towns and villages, but the one that stands out the most is Tarpon Springs, home to over 30,000 Greeks Tarpon Springs has had a continuous Greek presence for over a century, Greek schools, churches, and a Greek mayor from Kalymnos named Chris Alahouzos Everything about this place reminds of Greece: fishing boats, taverns, food, people and of course the sponge industry The first Greeks to move to Tarpon Springs taught the locals the art of sponges and made their new home the largest center of the sponge industry in America Most of them came from the island of Kalymnos and followed the same techniques they had learned in Greece, unlike the local Americans who used to tame the sponges or catch them with hooks, often causing them damage Inscription at Tarpon Springs, talking about the arrival of the first Greeks in the city and their contribution to the sponge industry
Photo by wwwpappaspostcomIllinois, USA (180,000 Greeks) The second largest concentration of Greeks in America is found in the state of Illinois, and especially in the city of Chicago, which has around 125,000 Greek citizens, according to the latest census The Windy City (Chicago’s nickname) has a very large Greek community, most of which is located in the famous Greek city The Greek city used to thrive with nightlife, bars and restaurants in the 1980s and 1990s, with hundreds of young people waiting in long queues to enter the clubs and bouzoukia every night Later, the construction of the University of Illinois campus and the city’s huge freeway displaced the Greeks living in Greek City and forced them to move and settle in other cities Today, there are many Greek restaurants and shops in Chicago, as well as the National Hellenic Museum Greek Parade in Chicago London, United Kingdom (280,000 Greeks) According to a report sponsored by the City of London Corporation, there are over 280,000 Greek nationals living in the Greater London area, most of whom have moved there for work opportunities or academic studies The arrival of the first Greek immigrants in Great Britain dates back to the 15th century, mainly in London, but also in port cities such as Bristol and Liverpool, where they worked as sailors and merchants The presence of Greeks in England was greatly encouraged by British universities, as all prestigious schools, including Oxford and Cambridge, taught Greek as a compulsory subject and considered ancient Greek in particular, the language that the country’s high society, even the royal family, learned Today, there are many Greek schools throughout England and large Greek communities, which try to maintain the culture, customs, traditions and way of life from which they transferred their homeland New York, USA (300,000 Greeks) New York State has the largest Greek population in America (about 300,000 Greeks), most of whom are in the New York metropolitan area and especially in the city of Astoria In NYC, people can visit numerous Greek taverns, schools, shops, sports clubs, Orthodox churches, and of course participate in America’s largest Greek street festivals and parades during OXI Day in October and on March 25, the Greek Revolution tribute at the most recent US census, over 180,000 Greeks live in New York today, and their lives, culture and tradition have been the subject of numerous Hollywood blockbustersMelbourne, Australia (400,000 Greeks) The fact that Melbourne holds the first place on the list of cities with the largest Greek communities outside of Greece should come as no surprise For decades, Melbourne has been called the third largest “Greek city” in the world, after Athens and Thessaloniki, due to the large number of Greek Australians living there Greek schools, churches, shops, entire neighbourhoods, traditions and festivals are very present in Melbourne, while the city’s distinguished politicians, scientists, teachers and doctors are of Greek origin Specifically, Oakleigh in Melbourne, has been called “the most Greek place outside of Greece”, and the presence of the Greek temperament in the city is more alive than anywhere else The Greek community in Melbourne is well known among the Greek diaspora for its passion and longing for Greece and for maintaining the Greek language and traditions in their entirety Stefanos Tsitsipas: “Greek Australians are the proudest people I know”
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