Map of Cyprus | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | 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: Middle East, in the eastern Mediterreanean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of Turkey

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 9,250 km²
Land: 9,240 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200-m depth 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

Elevation

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

Land use
Arable land: 40%
Permanent crops: 7%
Meadows and pastures: 10%
Forest and woodland: 18%
Other: 25%

Irrigated land: 350 km² (1989)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity

Geography


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Population: 730,084 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 0.91% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Cypriot(s)

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

Languages: Greek, Turkish, English

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.91% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 16.69 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 7.61 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable resources concentrated in the Turkish Cypriot area; water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.22 years
Male: 73.97 years
Female: 78.58 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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: age 15 and over can read and write (1987 est.)
Total population: 94%
Male: 98%
Female: 91%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form:

Government type: republic
Note: 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" (TRNC), 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 (15 November (1983) is celebrated as Independence Day in the Turkish area)

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 5 May 1985

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Glafkos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held February 1998; results - Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George VASSILIOU 49.7%

Legislative branch: unicameral
Greek Area: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon):elections last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held NA); results - DISY 35.8%, AKEL (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10.9%; others 3.2%; seats - (56 total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7
Turkish Area: Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi):elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50 total) UBP (conservative) 17, DP 15, CTP 13, TKP 5
Greek area total: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish area total: Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; note - there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Richard BOUCHER
From the us chancery: 2,211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
From the us telephone: [357] (2) 476,100
From the us consulates general: New York
From the us note: Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington DC, telephone (202) 887-6,198
From the us embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Nicosia
From the us mailing address: APO AE 9,836
From the us FAX: [357] (2) 465,944

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
Note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom with a red crescent and red star on a white field

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry contributes 16% to GDP and employs 29% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 60% to GDP and employs 57% of the labor force. An average 6.8% rise in real GDP between 1986 and 1990 was temporarily checked in 1991, because of the adverse effects of the Gulf War on tourism. Economic growth surged again in 1992, bolstered by strong foreign and domestic demand. As the economy gained momentum, however, it began to overheat; inflation reached 6.5%. The economy has likely recorded a sharp drop in growth in 1993, due to the recession in Western Europe, Cyprus' main trading partner, but probably will pick up again in 1994. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP in the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture, which employs more than one-quarter of the workforce. Moreover, because the Turkish lira is legal tender, the Turkish Cypriot economy has suffered the same high inflation as mainland Turkey. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support has reached about one-third of Turkish Cypriot GDP.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate
Greek area total: 8.2% (1992)
Turkish area total: 7.3% (1992)

Real gdp per capita
Greek area total: $11,390 (1992)
Turkish area total: $3,130 (1992)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: contributes 7% to GDP and employs 26% of labor force in the south; major crops - potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, citrus fruits; vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1993 est.), accounts for 16.0% of GDP

Labor force
Greek area total: 285,500
Turkish area total: 75,000
By occupation Greek area total: services 57%, industry 29%, agriculture 14% (1992)
By occupation Turkish area total: services 52%, industry 22%, agriculture 26% (1992)

Unemployment rate
Greek area total: 1.8% (1992)
Turkish area total: 1.2% (1992)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues:Greek area - $1.7 billion Turkish area - $273 million

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

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: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
Partners: UK 19%, Greece 8%, Lebanon 2%, Egypt 7%

Imports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery
Partners: UK 11%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%, Germany 9%, US 8%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $1.6 billion (1992)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per $US1 - 0.5148 (December 1993), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4615 (1991), 0.4572 (1990), 0.4933 (1989; Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 15,196.1 (January 1994), 10,983.3 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991), 2,608.6 (1990), 2,121.7 (1989)


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Electricity
Capacity: 620,000 kW
Production: 1.77 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 2,530 kWh (1991)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $407 million, 6.5% of GDP (1993)

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: 14
Usable: 14
With permanentsurface runways: 11
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 7
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: 1,399 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,743,484 GRT/39,874,985 DWT, bulk 469, cargo 496, chemical tanker 27, combination bulk 48, combination ore/oil 32, container 82, liquefied gas 3, multifunction large load carrier 4, oil tanker 122, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 67, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 12, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3
Note: a flag of convenience registry; Cuba owns 26 of these ships, Russia owns 61, Latvia owns 7, Croatia owns 2, and Romania owns 4

Ports and terminals


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Disputes 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 persons

Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey