Greece has many islands, with estimates ranging from somewhere around 1,200 to 6,000, depending on the minimum size to take into account. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227.
The largest Greek island by both area and population is Crete, located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The second largest island in area is Euboea or Evia, which is separated from the mainland by the 60 m wide Euripus Strait, and is administered as part of the Central Greece region. After the third and fourth largest Greek islands, Lesbos and Rhodes, the rest of the islands are two-thirds of the area of Rhodes, or smaller.
The Greek islands are traditionally grouped into the following clusters: the Saronic Islands (pink) in the Saronic Gulf near Athens; the Cyclades (purple), a large but dense collection occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea; the North Aegean islands (yellow, and emerald), a loose grouping off the west coast of Turkey; the Dodecanese (red), another loose collection in the southeast between Crete and Turkey; the Sporades (olive), a small tight group off the coast of Euboea; and the Ionian Islands (light red), chiefly located to the west of the mainland in the Ionian Sea. Crete with its surrounding islets and Euboea are traditionally excluded from this grouping.
Some Greek islands are often located off the coasts of modern countries whose shores were already inhabited by Greeks before antiquity, such as the coasts of Asia Minor and northern Epirus. It was only in the 20th century that the displacement of Greek populations led to a change in the ethnic landscape: today, Greek-populated islands are situated near regions now inhabited by other ethnic groups, such as in Turkey (Asia Minor) and southern Albania (Northern Epirus).
This article excludes the Peloponnese, which has technically been an island since the construction of the Corinth Canal in 1893, but is rarely considered to be an island due to its artificial origins.
Islands of Greece by size
The following are the 50 largest Greek islands listed by surface area.
Island Greek name Area(km2) Area(miles2) Cluster 1 Crete Κρήτη Cretan 2 Euboea Εύβοια Euboean 3 Lesbos Λέσβος North Aegean Islands 4 Rhodes Ρόδος Dodecanese 5 Chíos Χίος North Aegean Islands 6 Kefalonia Κεφαλονιά Ionian Islands 7 Corfu Κέρκυρα Ionian Islands 8 Lemnos Λήμνος North Aegean Islands 9 Samos Σάμος North Aegean Islands 10 Naxos Νάξος Cyclades 11 Zakynthos Ζάκυνθος Ionian Islands 12 Thasos Θάσος North Aegean Islands 13 Andros Άνδρος Cyclades 14 Lefkada Λευκάδα Ionian Islands 15 Karpathos Κάρπαθος Dodecanese 16 Kos Κως Dodecanese 17 Kythira Κύθηρα Ionian Islands 18 Ikaria Ικαρία North Aegean Islands 19 Skyros Σκύρος Sporades 20 Paros Πάρος Cyclades 21 Tinos Τήνος Cyclades 22 Samothrace Σαμοθράκη North Aegean Islands 23 Milos Μήλος Cyclades 24 Kea Κέα Cyclades 25 Amorgos Αμοργός Cyclades 26 Kalymnos Κάλυμνος Dodecanese 27 Ios Ίος Cyclades 28 Kythnos Κύθνος Cyclades 29 Astypalaia Αστυπάλαια Dodecanese 30 Ithaca Ιθάκη Ionian Islands 31 Salamis Σαλαμίνα Argo-Saronic 32 Skopelos Σκόπελος Sporades 33 Mykonos Μύκονος Cyclades 34 Syros Σύρος Cyclades 35 Aegina Αίγινα Argo-Saronic 36 Santorini Σαντορίνη Cyclades 37 Serifos Σέριφος Cyclades 38 Sifnos Σίφνος Cyclades 39 Kasos Κάσος Dodecanese 40 Alonnisos Αλόννησος Sporades 41 Tilos Τήλος Dodecanese 42 Symi Σύμη Dodecanese 43 Leros Λέρος Dodecanese 44 Hydra Ύδρα Argo-Saronic 45 Skiathos Σκιάθος Sporades 46 Agios Efstratios Άγιος Ευστράτιος North Aegean Islands 47 Sikinos Σίκινος Cyclades 48 Nisyros Νίσυρος Dodecanese 49 Psara Ψαρά North Aegean Islands 50 Anafi Ανάφη Cyclades
Islands of Greece by population Island Population Crete 624,408 Euboea 191,206 Rhodes 125,113 Corfu 99,134 Lesbos 83,755 Chios 50,361 Zakynthos 41,180 Salamis 37,220 Kos 37,089 Kefalonia 36,064 Samos 32,642 Lefkada 21,900 Syros 21,507 Naxos 20,578 Kalymnos 17,752 Lemnos 16,411 Santorini 15,480 Paros 14,520 Thasos 13,104 Aegina 12,911 Mykonos 10,704 Tinos 8,934 Ikaria 8,843 Andros 8,826 Leros 7,992 Karpathos 6,567 Skiathos 5,802 Milos 5,302 Skopelos 4,960 Aitoliko 4,518 Spetses 3,748 Kythira 3,644 Patmos 3,283 Poros 3,261 Alonnisos 3,138 Skyros 3,052 Ithaca 2,862 Sifnos 2,777 Symi 2,603 Samothrace 2,596 Paxos 2,466 Kea 2,335 Ios 2,299 Hydra 2,070 Amorgos 1,961 Kythnos 1,586 Astypalaia 1,376 Fournoi Korseon 1,343 Antiparos 1,265 Serifos 1,241 Kasos 1,223 Agistri 1,131 Nisiros 1,046 Meganisi 926 Oinousses 911 Elafonisos 898 Kimolos 810 Leipsoi 778 Tilos 746 Folegandros 719 Kastellorizo 584 Ammouliani 521 Halki 475 Ereikoussa 447 Psara 420 Koufonisia 391 Othonoi 386 Kalamos 342 Anafi 293 Agios Efstratios 257 Sikinos 253 Therasia 249 Schoinoussa 227 Donousa 213 Agathonisi 202 Thymaina 191 Mathraki 174 Gavdos 142
Islands of the Aegean Sea
Argo-Saronic Islands
This list includes Argo-Saronic islands, which are located in the Saronic Gulf. The largest Argo-Saronic island is Salamis. The names of the main islands are in bold. Uninhabited islands are indicated, including those that may have been inhabited in the past:
Aegina (), Agios Georgios (uninhabited), Agios Georgios Salaminos (St. George's Island, uninhabited), Google Maps Agios Ioannis Diaporion (uninhabited) Agios Thomas Diaporion (uninhabited), Agistri (), Alexandros Hydras, Atalanti Island, Dia (uninhabited) Dokos (), Falkonera (uninhabited), Fleves (uninhabited), Hydra (), Katramoniso (Nisís Idhroúsa, uninhabited), Kyra Aiginis (Nisída Kyrá) (uninhabited), Laousses Islets (Nísoi Laoúses, uninhabited), Leros Salaminos (uninhabited), Modi Porou (uninhabited), Moni Aiginas (uninhabited), Patroklos (uninhabited), Pera Island (Arta), Platia (uninhabited), Platia Aeginis (uninhabited), Poros (), Psili (uninhabited) Psyttaleia (uninhabited), Revythousa (uninhabited), Romvi (Nisida Romvi) (uninhabited), Salamis (), Spetses (), Spetsopoula (uninhabited), Stavronisi Hydras (uninhabited), Trikeri Hydras (uninhabited), Velopoula (Nisída Velopoúla) (uninhabited), Ypsili Diaporion (uninhabited) Ypsili Argolidos (uninhabited)
Cretan islands The two lists below show the islands, islets, and rocks that surround the island of Crete that are in the Aegean Sea or Libyan Sea.
Cretan islands of the Aegean Sea
Afendis Christos, Agia Varvara, Agioi Apostoloi, Agioi Pandes, Agioi Theodoroi, Agios Nikolaos, Agriomandra, Anavatis, Arnaouti, Avgo (uninhabited islet), Crete, Daskaleia (uninhabited islet), Dia (Zeus, uninhabited), Diapori, Dionysades (group of islands), Gianysada, Dragonada, Paximada, Paximadaki, Elasa, Ftena Trachylia, Glaronisi, Gramvoussa, Agria Gramvousa, Imeri Gramvousa, Grandes (group of islands), Kalydon (Spinalonga), Karavi (uninhabited), Karga (uninhabited), Katergo (uninhabited), Kavaloi (three uninhabited islands), Anavatis, Kavallos, Kefali, Kolokytha, Koursaroi, Kyriamadi (Peninsula), Lazaretta, Leon (Islet), Mavros (Uninhabited islet), Megatzedes (Uninhabited islet), Mochlos, Nikolos, Palaiosouda (Islet), Peristeri (Islet), Peristerovrachoi (Uninhabited rocks), Petalida (Islet), Petalouda (Uninhabited islet), Pontikaki (Uninhabited islet), Pondikonisi (Uninhabited islet), Praso Kissamou (Islet), Prosfora (Uninhabited islet), Pseira, Sideros (Uninhabited rock), Souda (Islet), Valenti (Rock), Vryonisi (Uninhabited islet),
Cretan islands of the Libyan Sea
Islands on the south coast of Crete are considered in the Libyan Sea.
Agia Eirini, Ammoudi tous Volakous, Artemis (Uninhabited islet), Aspros Volakas (rock), Chrysi (uninhabited), Elafonisi, Fotia (Uninhabited islet), Gaidouronisi (Uninhabited), Gavdopoula, Gavdos (Southernmost point of Greece), Koufonisi (Lefki) (Uninhabited islet), Loutro (Rocky islet), Makroulo (Uninhabited islet), Marmaro (Uninhabited islet), Mavros Volakas (Large rock), Megalonisi (Uninhabited islet), Mikronisi (Islet), Papadoplaka (Reef islet), Paximadia (Two small uninhabited islands), Prasonisi, Gavdou (Islet), Prasonisi, Rethymno (Islet), Psarocharako (Rock), Psyllos (Uninhabited islet), Schistonisi (Islet), Strongyli (Uninhabited islet), Thetis (Islet), Trachilos (Uninhabited islet), Trafos (Islet), Treis Volakous (Rocks),
Cyclades islands
The Cyclades islands comprise around 220 islands and islets. The main islands are indicated in bold below.
Ágios Nikólaos (Máchaires), Prasíni (Agía Paraskeví), Strongyló (Strongylí), Amorgos (), Ananes, Anafi (), Andros (), Aniros (Anydros) Ano Antikeros Antimilos, Antiparos, Anydros Amorgou Askania, Christiana (uninhabited), Delos, Despotiko (uninhabited), Donousa (), Eschati, Folegandros (), Glaronisi, Gyaros, Hristiana Htapodia Mykonou Ios (), Iraklia, Kalogiros Kardiotissa, Kato Antikeros, Kato Koufonisi, Kea (), Keros, Kimolos, Kitriani, Koufonisia, Kramvonisi Kythnos (), Liadi Island, Makares, Makronissos, Megalo, Milos (), Mykonos, Naxos (), Nea Kameni, Nikouria, Nisida Prasini, Ofidousa, Pahia Anaphis Palea Kameni, Paros (), Polyaigos, Rhineia, Saliagos, Santorini (Thera), Schoinoussa, Serifopoula, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Skilonisi, Stroggyli Parou, Syros, Therasia, Tinos (), Vous, Vrachoi Bouvais,
Dodecanese islands
There are 164 total Dodecanese Islands of which 26 are inhabited. There are 12 main islands, listed in bold below:
Agathonissi, Agioi Theodoroi Halkis
Agreloussa Alimia, Antitilos Anydros Patmou Arefoussa Arhangelos Arkoi, Armathia, Astakida Astypalaia, Faradonesia Farmakonisi, Fokionissia Fragos Gaidourosnissi Tilou Glaros Kinarou Gyali, Halavra Halki, Hiliomodi Patmou Hondro Htenies Imia (uninhabited), Kalavros Kalymnou Kalolimnos, Kalovolos Kalymnos, Kamilonisi Kandeloussa Karavolas Rodhou Karpathos (), Kasos, Kastellorizo (Megisti), Kinaros, Kos (), Koubelonisi Kouloundros Kouloura Leipson Kounoupoi Koutsomytis Leipsoi, Leros, Levitha, Makronisi Leipson Makronissi Kasou Makry Aspronisi Leipson Makry Halkis Marathos, Marmaras Mavra Levithas Megalo Aspronisi Leipson Megalo Glaronisi Megalo Sofrano Mesonisi Seirinas Mikro Glaronisi, Mikro Sofrano, Nerónisi, Nimos, Nisídes Adelfoí, Nisyros, Paheia Nisyrou Patmos, Pergoussa Piganoussa Pitta Plati Kasou Plati Pserimou Plati Symis Pontikoussa Prasonissi Rodhou Prasouda Pserimos, Ro, Rhodes (), Safonidi Saria, Seirina Sesklio
Strongyli Megistis (Easternmost point of Greece), Strongyli Kritinias Strongyli Kasou Symi, Syrna, Telendos, Tilos, Tragonisi Zaforas,
Euboea and surrounding islands
Atalanti (uninhabited), Euboea, Hersonisi Kavalliani (uninhabited), Lichades, Lithari Mandilou Monoliá, Megalos Petalios Petalioi (10 small uninhabited islands/islets), Stouronisi,
North Aegean islands
Agios Efstratios, Chios, Icaria, Lesbos, Lemnos, Oinousses, Pasas, Psara, Antipsara, Samos, Samiopoula, Fournoi Korseon () Agios Minas () Thymaina ()
There are also two North Aegean islands in the Thracian Sea:
Samothrace, Thassos,
Sporades islands
The 30 islands in the Sporades are listed below, with the four major islands in bold. The largest Sporades island is Skyros.
Adelfoi Islets, Agios Georgios Skopelou Alonissos (), Arkos (Skiathos Municipality), Aspronisi (Skiathos Municipality) Dasia Erinia (Rineia Skyrou), Gioura, Grammeza, Korakas Alonissou Kyra Panagia, Lekhoussa, Manolas Alonissou Maragos (Skiathos Municipality) Peristera, Piperi, Polemika Alonissou Praso Skantzouras Psathoura, Repi, Sarakino, Skandili, Skantzoura, Skiathos ( in Municipality), Skopelos (), Skyropoula (Skyros Municipality), Skyros (),