Map of Cyprus | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: Independence from the UK was approved in 1960 with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974 a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983 the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but it is recognized only by Turkey.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers; cool, wet winters

Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south

Elevation

Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Land use: 40% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 10% meadows and pastures; 18% forest and woodland; 25% other; includes 10% irrigated (most irrigated lands are in the Turkish-Cypriot area of the island)

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 700,009 (July 1989), growth rate 1.1% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Cypriot(s; adjective - Cypriot

Ethnic groups: 78% Greek; 18% Turkish; 4% other

Languages: Greek, Turkish, English

Religions: 78% Greek Orthodox; 18% Muslim; 4% Maronite, Armenian, Apostolic, and other

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 19 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: moderate earthquake activity; water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable resources concentrated in the Turkish-Cypriot area)

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 99% (est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus

Government type: republic; a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified following the Turkish invasion of the island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktash declared independence and the formation of a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of government

Capital: Nicosia

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos

Dependent areas

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October

Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently

Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government - President George VASSILIOU (since February 1988; Note - Vice President Rauf R. DENKTAS was proclaimed President of the Turkish area on 13 February 1975

Legislative branch: Cyprus National Guard; Turkish area - Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CCC, Commonwealth, Council of Europe, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO; Turkish Federated State of Cyprus OIC (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Andrew J. JACOVIDES; Chancery at 2,211 R Street NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 462-5,772; there is a Cypriot Consulate General in New York; US - Ambassador Bill K. PERRIN; Embassy at the corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia (mailing address is FPO New York 9,530; telephone Õ357å (2) 465,151

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: These data are for the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus (information on the northern Turkish-Cypriot area is sparse). The economy is small but diversified. Industry contributes about 28% to GDP and employs 35% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes about 55% to GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products and in tourism played an important role in the strong economic recovery achieved over the past decade. While this growth put considerable pressure on prices and the balance of payments (GDP averaged over 6% during 1975-84), the inflation rate has remained low and the balance-of-payments deficit manageable.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: potatoes and other vegetables, grapes, citrus, wheat, carob beans, olives

Industries: mining (iron pyrites, gypsum, asbestos), and manufactures principally for local consumption - beverages, footwear, clothing, cement

Industrial production growth rate: 8.1% (1987)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 3.4% (1987)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $900 million; expenditures $911 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $584 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
Partners: Middle East and North Africa 37%, UK 27%, other EC 11%, US 2%

Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: consumer goods 23%, petroleum and lubricants 12%, food and feed grains, machinery
Partners: EC 60%, Middle East and North Africa 7%, US 4%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $2.8 billion (1988)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds (LC) per US$1 - 0.4759 (January 1989), 0.4663 (1988), 0.4807 (1987), 0.5167 (1986), 0.6095 (1985), and in Turkish area, Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 1,155.4 (February 1988), 857.2 (1987), 674.5 (1986), 522.0 (1985)


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Electricity access

Electricity production

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $177 million, 19% of central government budget (1987 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 13 total, 13 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: 1,187 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,019,398 GRT/33,423,506 DWT; includes 2 passenger, 12 short-sea passenger, 3 passenger-cargo, 483 cargo, 67 refrigerated cargo, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 39 container, 105 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 specialized liquid cargo, 4 liquefied gas, 15 chemical tanker, 28 combination ore/oil, 358 bulk, 4 vehicle carrier, 1 railcar carrier, 48 combination bulk carrier; note - a flag of convenience registry

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous
Areas: the Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government, consisting of 60% of the island, and the Turkish-Cypriot area, consisting of 35% of the island; a UN buffer zone separates the two areas; in addition, there are two UK sovereign base areas, consisting of about 5% of the island

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs