Statistical information Cyprus 1990

Cyprus in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south
ElevationNatural 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 landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 707,776 (July 1990), growth rate 1.0% (1990)
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 profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 19 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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 pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 99% (est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry 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 areasIndependence: 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; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own Constitution and governing bodies within the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, which was renamed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983; a new Constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum in May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government--President George VASSILIOU (since February 1988; note--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: Supreme Court; note--there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area
Political parties and leadersInternational 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 representationIn the us: Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS; 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--(vacant; Embassy at the corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia (mailing address is FPO New York 9,530; telephone p357o (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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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, diversified, and prosperous. 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 have played important roles in the average 6% rise in GDP in recent years. While this growth put considerable pressure on prices and the balance of payments, the inflation rate has remained low and the balance-of-payments deficit manageable.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 8% of GDP and employs 22% of labor force; major crops--potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, and citrus fruits; vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues
Industries: mining (iron pyrites, gypsum, asbestos; manufactured products--beverages, footwear, clothing, and cement--are principally for local consumption
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1988)
Labor force:
Greek area--251,406; 42%
services, 33%
industry, 22% agriculture; Turkish area--NA (1986)
Unemployment rate: 2.8% (1988)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $178 million (1989 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $767 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
Partners: Middle East and North Africa 37%, UK 27%, other EC 11%, US 2%
Imports: $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
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 goldDebt external: $2.8 billion (1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Cypriot pounds (LC) per US$1--0.4854 (January 1990), 0.4933 (1989), 0.4663 (1988), 0.4807 (1987), 0.5167 (1986), 0.6095 (1985; in Turkish area, Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--2,314.7 (November 1989), 1,422.3 (1988), 857.2 (1987), 674.5 (1986), 522.0 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 620,000 kW capacity; 1,770 million kWh produced, 2,530 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: 2% of GDP, or $84 million (1990 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 13 total, 13 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 1,100 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,093,340 GRT/32,148,550 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 12 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 434 cargo, 61 refrigerated cargo, 18 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 40 container, 94 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 specialized cargo, 3 liquefied gas, 13 chemical tanker, 29 combination ore/oil, 341 bulk, 3 vehicle carrier, 48 combination bulk carrier; note--a flag of convenience registry; Cuba owns at least 20 of these ships and Yugoslavia owns 1
Ports and terminalsCyprus - Transnational issues 1990
top of pageDisputes international: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas--a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (60% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (35% of the island) that are separated by a narrow UN buffer zone; in addition, there are two UK sovereign base areas (about 5% of the island's land area)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs