Background: By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus the UK retained full sovreignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

Geographic coordinates: 34 59 N 33 45 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 130.8 km²
Note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington DC

Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot dry summers and cool winters

Geography
Note: British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

Population
Note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

Environment
Current issues: netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn

Country name
Conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
Conventional short form: Dhekelia

Capital: Episkopi; located in Akrotiri

Legal system: the laws of the UK where applicable apply

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003) note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description: the flag of the UK is used

Economy overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.