Greeks of Melbourne

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Greeks of Melbourne (Greek: Έλληνες της Μελβούρνης) compose one of the largest Greek diaspora communities in the world and Melbourne hosts the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Greece and Cyprus. According to the 2016 Australian census, Melbourne has the largest Greek population in Australia with 173,598 Greeks, making up 3.87% of Greater Melbourne's population.^[1] In Greek Australians, the Hellenic identity and values are passed down from one generation to the next. As such, 88% of Greek Australians (regardless of country of birth) speak Greek and 91% are members of the Greek Orthodox Church.^[2]

As a result of the extensive historical and cultural ties between the Greek community of Melbourne and their Greek homeland, Melbourne is a sister city to Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city and one of Europe's most important cultural centres.^[3] The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade estimates that economic activity (including tourism) between Greece and Australia generates more than $800 million annually with an additional $700 million in investment between the two nations annually, totaling $1.5 billion.^{[as of?][4]}

Melbourne makes up one of the eight important Greek population centres worldwide. The others are Sydney, Toronto, Montreal, New York City, Chicago, Boston and London.^{[citation needed]} In the 21st century, most Greeks outside of Greece and Cyprus live in one of these eight cities.^{[citation needed]}