Eureka! Institutional Repository

Abstract Beehives’ number in Greece (1 340 000 in 2013) was increased by 3.91% during the period 2000-2013. In the same period honey production was increased by 4.49%, while the beeswax production haven’t changed since 1990 (340 tonnes/year). During the period 1990-2000 beehives’ number and honey production are increasd by 6.05 and 24.88%, respectively. Beekeeping in our country accounts for 2.5% of the total income of Animal Production sector, without taking into account the very significant role of bees in the pollination of agricultural crops. With the beekeeping are engaged 15 000 persons, but only 9.5% are professional beekeepers. Greece holds one of the first places in the World regarding the beehives number, their density per km2 and the honey production per inhabitant. Beehives’ number worldwide during the period 2000-2013 was increased by 14.63%. The largest increase was observed in Asia (28,13%), which has and the largest contribution in the World (44,09%), while in the second place is Europe (9.49% increase and 20.74% contribution). The largest density of beehives per km2 has E.U.(28) (2.76) and Europe (1.65). Honey production, worldwide, during the period 2000-2013 was increased by 32.59%. In Asia was observed the largest increase (69.61%), which has and the greater contribution (45.72%) in the World. The second is Europe with 28,41% increase and a contribution of 22.37%. The largest portion of world honey production (69.61%), is produced only in ten countries with developed beekeeping. Between them Chine takes the first place producing 450 000 tonnes honey (59.15% of Asia and 27.5% of World production). Other countries with significant honey production are Turkey (94 694 tonnes), Argentina (80 694 tonnes), Ukraine (73 713 tonnes), Russian Confederation (68 446 tonnes), and USA (67 812 tonnes). The average honey production per inhabitant/year in the World is 0.23 kg. The largest value of this variable has Oceania (0.77 kg) and Europe (0.50 kg). The beeswax production in the World during the perion 2000-2013 was increased by 9%.