Epirus
Leading producer of dairy products
Major dairy and livestock producer, with a scenic mountain landscape
Located in the northwest corner of Greece, Epirus is one of the country’s most sparsely populated regions.
Dominated by the Pindos mountain chain that divides western and eastern Greece, Epirus is a region of scenic natural beauty that is regarded one of the last truly wild areas of Europe. It is sparsely populated with most residents located in its major towns like Ioannina and Arta.
The region’s economy is supported by pastoralism and Epirus is a major producer and exporter of meats and dairy products. It is home to two of Greece’s leading dairy companies.
In recent years, the rugged beauty of the region, its wildlife, and its scenic villages of traditional stone houses have led to the development of a thriving tourism industry, particularly in ecotourism, drawing a growing number of visitors from northern Europe. Epirus is also being explored for potential hydrocarbon reserves.
Key Facts
Epirus
Major producer of livestock and dairy products
Indications of hydrocarbon reserves with exploration underway
Rugged mountains and coastline boosting tourism
Agri-Food
Regional Opportunities
Agri-Food
Tourism
Energy
Leading exporter of Greek cheeses and dairy products.
The region of Epirus has long been known for its dairy production, especially cheese products like Greek feta as well as local cheeses such as metsovone and manouri, but also yoghurt, sheep and goat milk, and butter. The region is home to two of Greece’s largest dairy product exporters – Dodoni and Epirus – that have been investing in their operations to boost their international presence further. In terms of live bovine animals, Epirus ranks 4th in Greece, with a livestock population of 564,000 according to 2019 data.
Learn more about Agri-Food in Greece
Epirus
In Numbers
Epirus has been slow to attract investment but is seeing growing interest in food processing and tourism.
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€4,077 million
GDP in 2018, in current prices
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€12,200
Per capita GDP in 2018, in current prices
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2021
Expected launch date of exploratory drilling activities for oil and gas
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40.6%
Percentage of active regional population with tertiary education and/or employed in science and technology (2018)
Epirus Demographics
Epirus is among the least populated regions of mainland Greece.
While the region ranks 2nd in terms of active population with tertiary educational attainment and/or employed in science and technology, Epirus is among the least populated regions of mainland Greece with almost one third of the region’s total population residing in the municipality of Ioannina, the capital city (population: 167,407 in 2018). The city, built on the shores of Lake Pamvotis, the largest lake in Epirus, dates back to the Byzantine Empire when it served as a leading commercial and transport hub for the region.
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333,696
Population (2019)
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3.11%
Share of Greek population (2019)
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33.8%
Tertiary Educational Attainment of population aged between 25-64 (2018)
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36.8/km2
Population Density (2018)
Sources: Eurostat, Hellenic Statistical Authority, European Commission, Regional Governments, SETE, Enterprise Greece, and HWEA
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