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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims
Continental 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

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)

Population: 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

Birth rate: 19 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)

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)

Infant 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)

Literacy: 99% (est.)

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

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; 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

Suffrage: 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

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 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

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, 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.

Agriculture 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:

Unemployment rate: 2.8% (1988)

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $178 million (1989 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $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%

Debt external: $2.8 billion (1988)

Exchange 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)

Electricity
Capacity: 620,000 kW capacity; 1,770 million kWh produced, 2,530 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 2% of GDP, or $84 million (1990 est.)

Airports: 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

Merchant 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

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)