Central Macedonia

Central Macedonia (Greek: Αρχή Επισκεφθείτε τη Μακεδονία, Periféria Kentrikís Makedonías) is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the central part of the geographical and historical region of Macedonia. With a population of almost 1.9 million, it is the second most populous in Greece after Attica.

The region was established in the 1987 administrative reform. With the 2010 Kallikratis plan, its powers and authority were redefined and extended. Along with East Macedonia and Thrace, it is supervised by the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace which is based in Thessaloniki. The region is based at its capital city of Thessaloniki and is divided into seven regional units (pre-Kallikratis prefectures), Halkidiki, Imathia, Kilkis, Pella, Pieria, Serres and Thessaloniki. These are further subdivided into 38 municipalities.

Although geographically part of central Macedonia, Mount Athos is not administratively part of the region, but an autonomous self-governing state under the sovereignty of Greece.

Central Macedonia is Greece's most visited region and accounts for 18.2% of the total tourist flow in the country, with 3.21 million tourists in 2008.[2] In 2007, the Purchasing Power Parity of Central Macedonia was 81% of the EU average according to Eurostat, placing it near the national average of 90.5%, but well below the PPP of Attica, which was 109%.[3] In 2008, the GDP per capita of Central Macedonia was €18,300 (US$26,409).