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. UN-led direct talks between the two sides to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the island began in January 2002.

Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N 33 00 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 9,250 km² (of which 3,355 km² are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Water: 10 km²
Land: 9,240 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 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 1,951 m

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

Land use
Arable land: 10.61%
Permanent crops: 4.65%
Other: 84.74% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 400 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts

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

Population: 767,314 (July 2002 est.)
Growth rate: 0.57% (2002 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Cypriot
Adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups: Greek 85.2% Turkish 11.6% other 3.2% (2000)

Languages: Greek Turkish English

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 87,981; female 84,168)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 258,414; female 252,778)
65 years and over: 11% (male 36,607; female 47,366) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.57% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 12.91 births/1000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 7.63 deaths/1000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.43 migrant(s)/1000 population (2002 est.)

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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.71 deaths/1000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.08 years
Female: 79.5 years (2002 est.)
Male: 74.77 years

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: 400 (1999 est.)
Deaths: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97%
Male: 98.7%
Female: 95% (1999)

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
Note: a disaggregation 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 after a Greek junta-based 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; both sides publicly support a settlement based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation (Turkish Cypriot position)

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 Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975

National holiday: Independence Day 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November (1983) 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

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 NA February 2008)
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 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president after the other contender withdrew; 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
Election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%

Legislative branch
Election results: Greek Cypriot area: 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; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP 15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP 24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
Elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)

Judicial branch
Note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area

Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Eurodemocratic Renewal Movement or KEA [Antonis PASCHALIDES]; 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]; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation Party or TKP [Huseyin ANGOLEMLI]; Democratic Party or DP [Salih COSAR]; 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 [Izzet IZCAN]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS
In the us chancery: 2,211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us fax: [1] (202) 483-6,710
In the us note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6,198
In the us consulates general: New York
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-5,772
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 1385, Nikosia, FPO AE 9,836
From the us telephone: [357] (22) 776,400
From the us fax: [357] (22) 780,944

Flag description
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

Economy overview: Economic affairs are affected by the division of the country. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals caused by political instability in the region and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now online. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-half 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. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service which together employ about half of the work force. To compensate for the economy's weakness Turkey provides substantial direct and indirect aid to tourism education industry etc.

Real gdp growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: 2.6% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 0.8% (2000 est.)

Real gdp per capita: Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2000 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Greek cypriot area total: agriculture 4.6%; industry 19.9%; services 75.5% (2001)
Turkish cypriot area total: agriculture 8.3%; industry 20.7%; services 71% (2000)

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: 2.2% (1999); Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (1999) (1999)

Labor force: Greek Cypriot area: 291,000; Turkish Cypriot area: 86,300 (2000)
By occupation Greek Cypriot area  services: 73%
By occupation industry: 22.8%
By occupation agriculture: 20.8% (1998)
By occupation (2000); Turkish Cypriot area  services: 56.4%

Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $2.4 billion (Turkish Cypriot area - $300 million)
Expenditures: Greek Cypriot area - $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $539 million (Turkish Cypriot area - $500 million, including capital expenditures of $60 million) (2001 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: Greek Cypriot area: 1.9% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 53.2% (2001 est.)

Exports: Greek Cypriot area: $851 million f.o.b. (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: $50.7 million f.o.b. (2000)
Commodities: Greek Cypriot area: citrus potatoes grapes wine cement clothing and shoes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus potatoes textiles
Partners: Greek Cypriot area: EU 36% (UK 17% Greece 8%) Russia 8% Syria 7% Lebanon 5% US 2% (2000); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 51% UK 31% other EU 16.5% (1999)

Imports: Greek Cypriot area: $3.5 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $424.9 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Commodities: Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods petroleum and lubricants food and feed grains machinery; Turkish Cypriot area: food minerals chemicals machinery
Partners: Greek Cypriot area: EU 52% (UK 11% Italy 9% Greece 9% Germany 7%) US 10% (2000); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 59% UK 13% other EU 13% (1999)

Debt external: Greek Cypriot area: $NA; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.6518 (January 2002) 0.6427 (2001) 0.6208 (2000) 0.5423 (1999) 0.5170 (1998) 0.5135 (1997); Turkish liras per US dollar - 1,370,629 (January 2002) 1,223,140 (2001) 625,219 (2000) 418,783 (1999) 260,724 (1998) 151,865 (1997)

Electricity
Production: 3.13 billion kWh (1999); Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2000)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source other: 0% (2000)
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 2.911 billion kWh (1999); Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2000)
Exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Imports: 0 kWh (2000)

Telephones
Main lines in use: Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 83,162 (1998)
Mobile cellular: Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000 (1999)

Telephone system
General assessment: 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

Internet
Country code: .cy
Service providers isps: 6 (2000)
Users: 150,000 (2002)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $370 million (FY00)
Percent of gdp: 4.2% (FY00)

Airports: 15 (2001)
With paved runways total: 13
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2002)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Heliports: 10 (2002)

Railways: 0 km

Waterways: none

Merchant marine
Total: 1,254 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,802,712 GRT/36,337,768 DWT
Note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Austria 12, Belgium 2, Bulgaria 2, Canada 3, Chile 2, China 16, Croatia 2, Cuba 11, Finland 1, Germany 229, Greece 607, Guam 1, Hong Kong 6, India 6, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 1, Japan 26, Latvia 14, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands 30, Norway 23, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 19, Portugal 2, Russia 57, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, South Korea 4, Spain 7, Sudan 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United Arab Emirates 13, United Kingdom 6, United States 4, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 438, cargo 378, chemical tanker 24, combination bulk 31, combination ore/oil 2, container 133, liquefied gas 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 131, refrigerated cargo 46, roll on/roll off 41, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3

Disputes international: reunification talks - the first since 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) - have recommenced; there are two UK sovereign base areas mostly within the Greek-Cypriot portion of the island

Illicit drugs: minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; anti-money-laundering laws strengthened but few convictions