World Facts

conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
Capital: Nicosia
Type of Government: republic-
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 Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701)
Agriculture: citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry, pork, lamb, kids, dairy, cheese
Airports: 17 (2004 est.)
With Paved Runways: total: 13
With Unpaved Runways:
Area: total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus). about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Background: A former British colony, Cyprus received independence 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-sponsored attempt to seize the government 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 direct 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. 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.
Birth rate: 12.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget: revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $6.698 billion (2005 est.), north Cyprus - $231.3 million (2003 est.)
Coastline: 648 km-
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Communications:
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 been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
Currency: Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish New lira (YTL)
Current account balance: Republic of Cyprus: $-849 million (2005 est.)
Death rate: 7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external: Republic of Cyprus: $7.803 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2005 est.)-
Dependency status: -
Dependent areas:
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ronasld B. SCHLICHER
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
Disputes - international: 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 thirty-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-
Distribution of family income: -
Economic aid - donor:
Economic aid - recipient: Republic of Cyprus - NA; north Cyprus - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven (2003-06)
Economy - overview: The Republic of Cyprus has a capitalist 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. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and could adopt the euro within the next two years. Although sluggish tourism and poor fiscal management have resulted in high budget deficits since 2001, the government is pursuing reforms to trim the deficit. As in the Turkish sector, 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, especially with tourism growth and the easing of border restrictions with the Greek Cypriots since April 2003.
Electricity - consumption:
Electricity - exports:
Electricity - imports:
Electricity - production:
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Environment - current 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
Environment - International 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
Ethnic groups: Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.47 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001), Turkish new lira per US dollar 1.426 million (2005), 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001)
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
Exports: Republic of Cyprus: $1.237 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $49.3 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: UK 27.2%, Greece 11.9%, Germany 5%, UAE 4.8% (2004)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Flag description: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
GDP (official exchange rate): Republic of Cyprus: $15.83 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity): Republic of Cyprus: $16.82 billion north Cyprus: $4.54 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 3.8%; industry 20%; services 76.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita: Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $21,600 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $7,135 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: Republic of Cyprus: 3.8% (2005 est.) north Cyprus: 15.4% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Geography - note: the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)-
Government - note:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 1,000 (1999 est.)-
Heliports:
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
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 highly vulnerable to money laundering; identification of benefiting owners and reporting of suspicious transactions by nonresident-controlled companies in offshore sector remains weak
Imports: Republic of Cyprus: $5.552 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $415.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: Greece 15.2%, Italy 10.5%, Germany 8.9%, UK 8.6%, France 6.3%, Japan 4.7%, Israel 4.4%, China 4% (2004)
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey
Industrial production growth rate: Republic of Cyprus: 3.7% (2005 est); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002 est.) (2005 est.)
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
Infant mortality rate: total: 7.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Republic of Cyprus: 2.3% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 9.1% (2004 est.)
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, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet country code: .cy
Internet hosts: 5,901 (2004)
Internet users: 210,000 (2002)
Investment (gross fixed): Republic of Cyprus: 18.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Irrigated land: 382 sq km (2001 est.)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president)
Labor force: Republic of Cyprus: 370,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Land boundaries: total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed
Land use: arable land: 7.79%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
Legislative branch:
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.65 years
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey-
Major infectious diseases:
Manpower available for military service: males age 18-49: 184,352 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49: 150,750 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually: males: 6,578 (2005 est.)
Map references: Middle East
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Median age: total: 34.68 years
Merchant marine: total: 972 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004 DWT-
Military - note:
Military branches: Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $384 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.8% (FY02)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age (2004)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s)-
Natural gas - consumption: -
Natural gas - exports: -
Natural gas - imports:
Natural gas - production: -
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Net migration rate: 0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: Republic of Cyprus: 52,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports: NA (2001)
Oil - imports: Republic of Cyprus: NA (2001)
Oil - production: Republic of Cyprus: 300 bbl/day (2005 est.)-
Oil - proved reserves: -
People - note: -
Political parties and leaders: Republic of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democratic Party or EDEK (formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or EDE [George VASSILIOU]; 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled)
Population: 780,133 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Population growth rate: 0.54% (2005 est.)
Ports and terminals: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos-
Public debt:
Radio broadcast stations: Republic of Cyprus: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); north Cyprus: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)-
Railways: -
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Republic of Cyprus: $3.989 billion $3.989 billion
Roadways: total: 14,110 km (Republic of Cyprus: 11,760 km; north Cyprus: 2,350 km)
Sex ratio:
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system: general assessment: excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and north Cyprus areas
Telephones - main lines in use: Republic of Cyprus: 427,400 (2002); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: Republic of Cyprus: 417,900 (2002); north Cyprus: 143,178 (2002)
Television broadcast stations: Republic of Cyprus: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September 1995); north Cyprus: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)-
Transportation - note:
Unemployment rate: Republic of Cyprus: 3.5% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)-
Waterways: