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Background: A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under direct Republic of Cyprus control, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. At present, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport has the status of a European citizen; however, EU laws do not apply to north Cyprus. Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.
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Common Name: Cyprus
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Local Official Name: Kypros/Kibris
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Abbreviated Name: Republic of Cyprus
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Official Name: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
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Official Script Name: Cyprus
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Local Common Name: Cyprus
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Former Name: Cyprus
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: President Glafcos CLERIDES
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Government Type: republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-suppor
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Independence: 1960 August 16 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 1975 February 13
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Constitution: 16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have bee
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National Holiday: Independence Day, 1 October
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International Organization Participation: Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Administrative Divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: based on common law, with civil law modifications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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Suffrage: 18 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of north Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "prime minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in north Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"
Legislative Branch:
chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of north Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "prime minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in north Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"
Judicial Branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus
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Party Leaders: Republic of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; European Democracy or EURO.DE [Prodromos PRODROMOU] (evolved from For Europe which merged with New Horizons); European Party or EURO.KO [Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for Social Democracy United Democratic Union of Center or KISOS [Yannakis OMIROU]; Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; United Democrats Movement or EDE [Michalis PAPAPETROU]; north Cyprus: Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]
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International Disputes: hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; March 2003 reunification talks failed, but Turkish-Cypriots later opened their borders to temporary visits by Greek Cypriots; on 24 April 2004, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities voted in simultaneous and parallel referenda on whether to approve the UN-brokered Annan Plan that would have ended the 30-year division of the island by establishing a new "United Cyprus Republic," a majority of Greek Cypriots voted "no"; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north
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Illicit Drugs: minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector remains weak
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Location of Cyprus: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
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Continent: Europe
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Land Area Total: 9,250 sq km
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Region: Medditeranean |
Land Area Land: 9,240 sq km
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Capitol City: Nicosia
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Land Area Water: 10 sq km
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Current: +2
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Latitude: 035 00 N
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 033 00 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 648 km
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Arable Land: 10.81 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 4.32 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 1,951 m
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Location: Mount Olympus
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Mediterranean Sea
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Largest City in Cyprus: Nicosia
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Nicosia Largest City Population: 193,000
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Threatened Species: 16
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Environmental Issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
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Environmental Agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Irrigated Land: 400
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
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Geographical Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
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Comparative Area of Cyprus: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
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Cyprus's Geography: the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Cyprus.
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General Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
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Natural Hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts
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Economic Overview: The Republic of Cyprus has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for 76% of GDP. Tourism and financial services are the most important sectors; erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy grew a healthy 3.7% per year in 2004 and 2005, well above the EU average. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005. The government has initiated an aggressive austerity program, which has cut the budget deficit to below 3% but continued fiscal discipline is necessary if Cyprus is to meet its goal of adopting the euro on 1 January 2008. As in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial rainfall from 2001-03 alleviating immediate concerns. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given north Cyprus's relative isolation, bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew 15.4% in 2004, fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors, as well as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish Government. Under the 2003-06 economic protocol, Ankara plans to provide around $550 million to the "TRNC." Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the work force.
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GDP: $16,780,000,000 USD
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Currency: Cypriot pound ; Turkish lira
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GDP per Capita: $21,500 USD
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Currency Code: CYP
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GDP Growth Rate: 3.80 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% CYP
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Currency Exchange Rate History: Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001), Turkish lira per US dollar - 1.36 (2005), 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 7.40 %
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GDP of Industry: 38.20 %
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GDP of Services: 54.40 % |
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Inflation Rate: 2.60 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 4.00 %
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Tourism: 2,434,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $6,698,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $7,122,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 3,801,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 3,535,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 300 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 520,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $10,530,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese
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Primary Industries: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products
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Industrial Growth Rate: 0.40 %
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Import Amount in USD: $5,552,000,000 USD - Republic of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
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Import Partners: Greece 17.3%, Italy 10.3%, UK 9%, Germany 8.4%, Israel 7.1%
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Export Amount in USD: $1,237,000,000 USD - Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, textiles
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Export Partners: France 17.7%, UK 17%, Greece 12.2%, Germany 5.7%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 370,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture 7.4%, industry 38.2%, services 54.4%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 81 |
Number of People with Radios: 366,450 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 8 |
Number of People with Televisions: 300,300 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 418,400 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 640,500 |
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Internet Service Providers: 46,863 |
Internet Users: 298,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .cy |
Newspapers: 111 |
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Two Letter Country Code: CY |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 357 |
Electricity Voltage: 240 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and north Cyprus areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
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Highways: 13 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 13 |
Heliports: 10
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Motor Vehicles: 479 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 5,456,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.19 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 884 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,477,944 GRT/31,157,473 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 354, cargo 210, chemical tanker 44, container 145, liquefied gas 8, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 23, petroleum tanker 64, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 777 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 11, Croatia 2, Cuba 2, Denmark 1, Estonia 6, Germany 214, Greece 337, Greenland 1, Hong Kong 1, India 5, Iran 2, Ireland 3, Israel 3, Italy 2, Japan 17, South Korea 1, Latvia 4, Netherlands 18, Norway 16, Philippines 1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 53, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1, Slovenia 4, Spain 7, Sweden 3, Switzerland 4, Syria 3, UAE 11, UK 6, Ukraine 4, US 7, unknown 1)
registered in other countries: 87 (Bahamas 13, Belize 2, Cambodia 12, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 1, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 3, Malta 15, Marshall Islands 15, Norway 2, Panama 14, Portugal 1, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Turkey 2)
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Ports and Harbors: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos
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Population: 784,301 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 12.56 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 87.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 7.68 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 0.53% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 1.82 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 81,776 |
Population Female 0-14: 78,272 |
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Population Male 15-64: 270,254 |
Population Female 15-64: 263,354 |
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Population Male 65+: 39,536 |
Population Female 65+: 51,109 |
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Population 0-14: 20.40% |
Literacy Rate: 97.60% |
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Population 15-64: 68.00% |
Literacy rate of Males: 98.90% |
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Population 65+: 11.60% |
Literacy rate of Females: 96.30% |
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Population that is Male: 50.00
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Population that is Female: 50.00% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 77.82 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 7.04 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 75.44 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 80.31 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.10%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 0.42
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Nationality: CYPRIOT
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Ethnic Groups: Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5%
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Primary Language: Greek
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Other Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
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Primary Religion: Greek Orthodox
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Other Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
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Branches: Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements)
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years
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Manpower Available: 359,919 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 295,094 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 12,778 People per year
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Expenditures: $384,000,000 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 3.80
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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