Peloponnese
Leading agricultural producer of olives and wines
Leading food producer with growing tourism potential
The Peloponnese is the third largest region of Greece by land area with a varied geography of mountains and fertile plains.
The Peloponnese is characterised by a diverse landscape of mountains and fertile plains that make it one of the leading agricultural producers and exporters of Greece. The region cultivates select food products that have gained international recognition, such as its world-famous Kalamata olives and its unique wine vintages including its signature agiorgitiko and Monemvasia-Malvasia red wines. It is also a significant producer of fresh and processed fruits, notably citrus fruits. Leveraging the region’s proximity to Attica, an array of companies have their manufacturing activities centred in the bordering prefecture of Corinth, ranging from soft drinks producers to Greece’s leading oil refining complex.
Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as ancient Mycenae and Epidauros, the region is developing its tourism offering. Several luxury resorts, notably Costa Navarino in the southwest Peloponnese, have opened in recent years, lifting the tourism profile of the region. The northeastern Argolid peninsula, a few hours’ drive from Athens, is also seeing increasing tourism development.
The construction of several major highways, such as those linking Athens with the western port of Patras and the southern Peloponnesian town of Kalamata, have improved the infrastructure of the region, representing billions of euros in investment. The region’s major airport in Kalamata is also due for an upgrade.
The Crete-Peloponnese interconnection project, an investment with an estimated value of €324 million, is also underway and is slated to be the longest submarine AC interconnection upon its electrification in 2020.The Peloponnese is also Greece’s second most important region for renewable energy production. In 2019 the region was the site of over 16% of Greece’s wind farm capacity, according to the HWEA, with 587 MW.
Key Facts
Peloponnese
Major agricultural producer of olives, olive oil, and fine wines.
Growing tourism investment in top-end resort accommodations.
Home to a leading manufacturing hub in the prefecture of Corinth.
Agri-Food
Regional Opportunities
Agri-Food
Tourism
Infrastructure and Logistics
World famous olives and olive oil.
The Peloponnesian economy has been traditionally based on agricultural production, notably raisins and olives. In the 19th century, the cultivation of raisins amounted to 70% of the total value of its exports. The production of cereals, wine, figs, olives, rice, and cotton are also widespread, while the orange groves of Laconia, Argolida, and Corinth are significant world exporters. The sub-regions of Messinia and Laconia are famous for their extra virgin olive oil — of the Koronean variety — considered to be one of the best in the world, while Kalamata is known for its world-famous olives.
Learn more about Agri-Food in Greece
Peloponnese
In Numbers
The Peloponnese is benefiting from recent investments in public works projects.
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€8,245 million
GDP in 2018, in current prices
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€14,300
Per capita GDP in 2018, in current prices
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2nd
Regional ranking in terms of installed wind energy capacity (2019, HWEA)
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65.4%
Regional gross value added of the tertiary sector (2016)
Peloponnese Demographics
The Peloponnese has seen its population stabilise as agriculture and tourism have developed.
Once a source of Greek emigrants in the 19th century, the Peloponnese has seen its population stabilise in recent years as the region developed its agricultural and tourism potential. The region hosts five major towns – Kalamata, Tripoli, Corinth, Sparta, and Argos – that are home to roughly a third of the total population.
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574,447
Population (2019)
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5.36%
Share of Greek population (2019)
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23.8%
Tertiary Educational Attainment of population aged between 25-64 (2018)
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37.2/km2
Population Density (2018)
Sources: Eurostat, Hellenic Statistical Authority, European Commission, Regional Governments, SETE, Enterprise Greece, and HWEA
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