Statistical information Cyprus 1998Cyprus

Map of Cyprus | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Cyprus - Introduction 1998
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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.


Cyprus - Geography 1998
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Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map referenceMiddle East

Area
Total: 9,250 km² (note_3,355 km² are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Land: 9,240 km²
Water: 10 km²
Comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the 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; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Olympus 1,952 m

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

Land use
Arable land: 12%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 13%
Other: 70% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 390 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity

Geography


Cyprus - People 1998
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Population: 748,982 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.69% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Cypriot(s)
Adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)

Languages: Greek, Turkish, English

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

Demographic profile
Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 25% (male 94,006; female 89,256)
15-64 years: 65% (male 245,739; female 241,935)
65 years and over: 10% (male 33,989; female 44,057) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.69% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 13.93 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 7.51 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifier; increased salinization in the north; water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 7.97 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.79 years
Male: 74.62 years
Female: 79.07 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (1998 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
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94%
Male: 98%
Female: 91% (1987 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


Cyprus - Government 1998
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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
Conventional short form: Cyprus
Note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

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 intervention in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, 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
Note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note_Turkish Cypriot area administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca

Dependent areas

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
Note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October
Note: Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day

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 Cypriot area passed by referendum on 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: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); 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: ead of
Government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); 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 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003)
Election results: Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of vote_Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
Note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results_Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area

Legislative branch
Unicameral Greek Cypriot area total: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats of which only 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May 2001); Turkish area: last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998)
Election results: Greek area: House of Representatives_percent of vote by party_DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK 8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.1%; seats by party_DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic_percent of vote by party_UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats by party_UBP (conservative) 17, DP 15, CTP 13, TKP 5; as of 13 May 1997, seats by party_UBP 18, DP 13, CTP 13, TKP 5, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature
Note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Andros A. NIKOLAIDES
In the us chancery: 2,211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-5,772
In the us fax: [1] (202) 483-6,710
In the us consulates general: New York
In the us note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202) 887-6,198
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL
From the us embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 4,536, FPO AE 9,836
From the us telephone: [357] (2) 776,400
From the us fax: [357] (2) 780,944

Flag descriptionflag of Cyprus: 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 between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


Cyprus - Economy 1998
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Economy overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 22% to GDP and employs 25% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 73% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-third the per capita GDP of 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 and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector. In January 1997, Turkey signed a $250 million economic cooperation accord with the Turkish Cypriot area to support tourism, education, and industry.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.4% (Greek Cypriot area: 2.5%; Turkish Cypriot area: 1.7%) (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $13,500 (Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity: $15,000; Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity: $8,000) (1997 est.)

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables

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

Industrial production growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: -4% (1996; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.1% (1995)

Labor force
Total: Turkish Cypriot area: 76,500 (1996)
By occupation services: 66%
By occupation industry: 11%
By occupation agriculture: 23% (1995)
Labor force

Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1997 est.), Turkish Cypriot area: 6.4% (1996)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: Greek Cypriot area: $2.9 billion, Turkish Cypriot area: $171 million
Expenditures: Greek Cypriot area: $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $345 million, Turkish Cypriot area: $306 million, including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.)

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: total value:Greek Cypriot area: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
Partners: Russia 19.1%, Bulgaria 16.4%, UK 11.3%, Greece 6.3%, Germany 4.8%
Partners total value: Turkish Cypriot area: $70.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Imports
Commodoties: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
Partners: Turkey 55.3%, UK 13.8%, other EU 11.6%: total value:Greek Cypriot area: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Partners total value: Turkish Cypriot area: $318.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: Greek Cypriot area: $1.56 billion (1997)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US1$ 0.5326 (January 1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993; Turkish liras (TL) per US$1_187,477 (November 1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993)


Cyprus - Energy 1998
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Electricity
Capacity: 666,000 kW (1995)
Production: 2.6 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 3,530 kWh (1995)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


Cyprus - Communication 1998
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Telephones: Greek Cypriot area: 367,000 (1996 est.), Turkish Cypriot area: 80,000 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas
Domestic: open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
International: 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

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


Cyprus - Military 1998
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $405 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 5.4% (1996)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


Cyprus - Transportation 1998
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 15 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 12
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Heliports: 4 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 1,533 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,330,565 GRT/37,272,825 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 471, cargo 568, chemical tanker 23, combination bulk 48, combination ore/oil 12, container 139, liquefied gas tanker 5, oil tanker 142, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 54, roll-on/roll-off cargo 42, short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 2
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 45 countries among which are Greece 673, Germany 159, Russia 57, Latvia 28, Netherlands 25, Japan 24, Cuba 22, China 18, Belgium 17, and Poland 14; Cyprus owns 78 additional ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,623,560 DWT that operate under the registries of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Liberia, Malta, Panama, and Philippines (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


Cyprus - Transnational issues 1998
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Disputes international: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island; there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well


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