Map of Cyprus | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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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. Although only the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004 every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen. EU laws however will 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.


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Location: Middle East island in the Mediterranean Sea south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N 33 00 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 9,250 km² (of which 3,355 km² are in north Cyprus)
Land: 9,240 km²
Water: 10 km²
Comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries
Total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed
Border countries: (1) Akrotiri 47.4 km

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot dry summers and cool 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: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

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

Land use
Arable land: 7.79%
Permanent crops: 4.44%
Other: 87.77% (2001)

Irrigated land: 382 km² (2001 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Geography
Note: the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)


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Population: 780,133 (July 2005 est.)
Growth rate: 0.54% (2005 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Cypriot
Adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups: Greek 77% Turkish 18% other 5% (2001)

Languages: Greek Turkish English

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 38,766/female 50,118) (2005 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 34.68 years
Male: 33.64 years
Female: 35.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.54% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: 12.57 births/1000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: 7.64 deaths/1000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.43 migrant(s)/1000 population (2005 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 aquifer increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female (2005 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.18 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 8.94 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.33 deaths/1000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.65 years
Male: 75.29 years
Female: 80.13 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: less than 1000 (1999 est.)
Deaths: NA

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: 97.6%
Male: 98.9%
Female: 96.3% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
Conventional short form: Cyprus
Note: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itself as the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC)

Government type
Note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt 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), recognized only by Turkey

Capital: Nicosia

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

Dependent areas

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

National holiday: Independence Day 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

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

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 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
Head of government: 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
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 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
Election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%
Note: Mehmet Ali TALAT becomes 'president' of north Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after 'presidential' elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is 'prime minister'; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in north Cyprus, appointed by the 'prime minister'

Legislative branch
Elections: Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held May 2006); north Cyprus: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
Election results: Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7

Judicial branch
Note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus

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 Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [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]

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 WEU (observer affiliate) WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
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 community in the US is Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6,198
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
From the us embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2,407 Nicosia
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 24,536, 1385 Nikosia
From the us telephone: [357] (22) 393,939
From the us fax: [357] (22) 780,944

Flag description
Note: the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' 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


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Economy overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. The service sector mainly tourism and financial services dominates the economy; 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. Economic policy is focused on meeting the criteria to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) within the next two years although sluggish tourism and poor fiscal management have resulted in growing budget deficits since 2001. 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 2.6% 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. Ankara provides around $300 million a year directly into the 'TRNC' budget and regularly provides additional financing for large infrastructure projects. Agriculture and government service together employ almost half of the work force and the potential for tourism is promising especially with the easing of border restrictions with the Greek Cypriots in April 2003.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $15.71 billion north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $4.54 billion (2004 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: Republic of Cyprus: 3.2% north Cyprus: 2.6% (2004 est.)

Real gdp per capita: Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2004 est.); north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $7,135 (2004 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Republic of cyprus: agriculture 4.1%; industry 19.9%; services 76%
North cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9% (2004)

Agriculture products: citrus vegetables barley grapes olives vegetables poultry pork lamb kids dairy cheese

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

Industrial production growth rate: Republic of Cyprus: 0.4% (2002); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002)

Labor force: Republic of Cyprus: 330,000 north Cyprus: 95,025 (2004 est.)
By occupation republic of cyprus: agriculture 4.9%, industry 19.4%, services 75.6%
By occupation north cyprus: agriculture 15.1%, industry 27%, services 57.9% (2003 est.)