Background: A former British colony Cyprus became independent 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 Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983 the Turkish Cypriot-occupied area declared itself the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' ('TRNC') but it is recognized only by Turkey. The election of a new Cypriot president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reopen unification negotiations. In September 2008 the leaders of the two communities began discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The talks are ongoing. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004 although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states.

Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N 33 00 E

Area
Rank: 171
Land: 9,241 km²
Water: 10 km²
Comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries
Border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 47.4 km Dhekelia 103 km (approximately)

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 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 highest point: Mount Olympus 1951 m

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

Land use
Permanent crops: 3.54%
Other: 87.41% (2011)

Irrigated land: 457.9 km² (2007)

Total renewable water resources: 0.78 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts

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

Population: 1,155,403 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 161
Growth rate: 1.52% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 77
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Adjective: Cypriot

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

Languages: Greek (official) Turkish (official) English

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

Age structure
15-24 years: 15.8% (male 99,041/female 83,160)
25-54 years: 46.9% (male 283,599/female 258,130)
55-64 years: 10.6% (male 58,569/female 64,243)
65 years and over: 11% (male 55,036/female 71,589) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 24 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 17.3 %
Potential support ratio: 5.8 (2013)

Median age
Male: 34 years
Female: 37.1 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.52% (2013 est.)
Rank: 77

Birth rate: 11.45 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 169

Death rate: 6.52 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 151

Net migration rate: 10.31 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 12

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 1.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: NICOSIA (capital) 253,000 (2011)

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 signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 27.5 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 153
Male: 10.39 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.17 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 55
Male: 75.38 years
Female: 81.09 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 195

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 2.75 physicians/1000 population (2010)

Hospital bed density: 3.5 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 120
People living with hivaids: fewer than 1000 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 139
Deaths: NA

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 25.5% (2008)
Rank: 53

Education expenditures: 7.9% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 13

Literacy
Total population: 98.7%
Male: 99.3%
Female: 98.1% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 14 years
Female: 14 years (2010)

Country name
Conventional short form: Cyprus
Local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
Local short form: Kypros/Kibris

Government type: republic

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 35 10 N 33 22 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part controlled by Turkish Cyprus) Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district completely controlled by Turkish Cyprus) Larnaka (Larnaca; a small part controlled by Turkish Cyprus) Lemesos (Limassol) Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part controlled by Turkish Cyprus) Pafos (Paphos); note - the five districts of Turkish Cyprus are Gazimagusa (Famagusta) Girne (Kyrenia) Guzelyurt (Morphou) Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Iskele (Trikomo)

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from the 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: ratified 16 August 1960; note - in 1963 the constitution broke down as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC); in 1985 the TRNC approved its own constitution (2013)

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with Greek Orthodox religious law influence

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: President Nicos ANASTASIADES (since 28 February 2013)
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 on 17 and 24 February 2013 (next to be held in February 2018)
Election results: Nicos ANASTASIADES elected president; percent of vote (first round) - Nicos ANASTASIADES 45.46% Stavros MALAS 26.91% Giorgos LILLIKAS 24.93% other 2.7%; (second round) Nicos ANASTASIADES 57.48% Savros MALAS 42.52%

Legislative branch: unicameral - area under government control: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: area under government control: last held on 22 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held on 28 July 2013(next to be held on July 2018)
Election results: area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - DISY 34.3% AKEL 32.7% DIKO 15.8% EDEK 8.9% EURO.KO 3.9% other 4.4%; seats by party - DISY 20 AKEL 19 DIKO 9 EDEK 5 EURO.KO 2 other 1; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 38% UBP 27% DP 23% TDP 7% other 5%; seats by party - CTP 21 UBP 14 DP 12 TDP 3

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges tenure NA; TRNC Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature a 12-member body of judges the attorney general appointees - one each by the president of the TRNC and by the Legislative Assembly and a member elected by the Bar Association; judge tenure NA
Subordinate courts: Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; specialized courts for issues relating to family industrial disputes military and rent control; TRNC Assize Courts; district and family courts

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: Australia Group C CD CE EBRD ECB EIB EMU EU FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS (observer) IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM NSG OAS (observer) OIF OPCW OSCE PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNIFIL UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 2,211 R Street NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-5,772 462-0873
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 483-6,710
In the us consulate general: New York
From the us embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets 2,407 Engomi Nicosia
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 24,536 1385 Nicosia
From the us telephone: [357] (22) 393,939
From the us FAX: [357] (22) 780,944

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

National symbols: Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep); white dove

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS

Economy overview: The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by the service sector which accounts for four-fifths of GDP. Tourism financial services and real estate are the most important sectors. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism the profitability of which can fluctuate with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless the economy in the area under government control has grown at a rate well above the EU average since 2000. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and adopted the euro as its national currency on 1 January 2008. An aggressive austerity program in the preceding years aimed at paving the way for the euro helped turn a soaring fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003) into a surplus of 1.2% in 2008 and reduced inflation to 4.7%. This prosperity came under pressure in 2009 as construction and tourism slowed in the face of reduced foreign demand triggered by the ongoing global financial crisis. Although Cyprus lagged behind its EU peers in showing signs of stress from the global crisis the economy tipped into recession in 2009 contracting by 1.7% and has been slow to bounce back since posting anemic growth in 2010-11 before contracting again by 2.3% in 2012. Serious problems surfaced in the Cypriot financial sector in early 2011 as the Greek fiscal crisis and euro zone debt crisis deepened. Cyprus's borrowing costs have risen steadily because of its exposure to Greek debt. Two of Cyprus's biggest banks are among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and have a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries. Cyprus experienced numerous downgrades of its credit rating in 2012 and has been cut off from international money markets. The Cypriot economy contracted in 2012 following the writedown of Greek bonds. A liquidity squeeze is choking the financial sector and the real economy as many global investors are uncertain the Cypriot economy can weather the EU crisis. The budget deficit rose to 7.4% of GDP in 2011 a violation of the EU's budget deficit criteria - no more than 3% of GDP. In response to the country's deteriorating finances and serious risk of contagion from the Greek debt crisis Nicosia implemented measures to cut the cost of the state payroll curb tax evasion and revamp social benefits and trimmed the deficit to 4.2% of GDP in 2012. In July Nicosia became the fifth euro zone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the 'Troika'. Negotiations over the final details of the plan are ongoing.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 126

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 210

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 57

Gross national saving:
Rank: 137

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 20.1%
Investment in fixed capital: 12.8%
Investment in inventories: 0.3%
Exports of goods and services: 45.5%
Imports of goods and services: -45.4%: (2012 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 15.4%
Services: 82.3% (2012 est.)

Agriculture products: citrus vegetables barley grapes olives vegetables; poultry pork lamb; 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: -12.5% (2012 est.)
Rank: 177

Labor force: 428,900 (2012 est.)
Rank: 158
By occupation industry: 20.5%
By occupation services: 71% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7.9% (2011 est.)
Rank: 124

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Distribution of family income gini index: 29 (2005)
Rank: 118

Budget
Expenditures: $10.68 billion (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -6.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 179

Taxes and other revenues: 40.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 42

Public debt: 71.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 22

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.3% (2011 est.)
Rank: 60

Central bank discount rate: 1.75% (31 December 2010)
Rank: 120

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 6.83% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 130

Stock of narrow money: $14.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 69

Stock of broad money: $52.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 66

Stock of domestic credit: $53.74 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 63

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 78

Current account balance: $-807.7 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 130

Exports: $2.748 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 136
Commodities: citrus potatoes pharmaceuticals cement clothing
Partners: Greece 23% UK 10.1% (2012)

Imports: $7.951 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 114
Commodities: consumer goods petroleum and lubricants machinery transport equipment
Partners: Greece 21.6% Israel 11.9% Italy 8.3% UK 7.3% Germany 7.1% Netherlands 6.7% France 6% China 4.5% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.207 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 129

Debt external: $106.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 46

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $25.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 63

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $11.49 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 51

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 4.571 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 120
Consumption: 4.794 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 116
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 187
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 178
Installed generating capacity: 1.527 million kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 115
Generation sources fossil fuels: 94.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 69
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 73
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 165
Generation sources other renewable sources: 5.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 38

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 8.47 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 133
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 104
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 177
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 121

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 168
Products consumption: 58,430 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 94
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 168
Products imports: 58,310 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 63

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 121
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 136
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 88
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 183
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 129

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 9.503 million Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 102

Telephones
Main lines in use: 373,200 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 108
Mobile cellular: 1.11 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 155

Telephone system
Domestic: open-wire fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
International: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables including the SEA-ME-WE-3 combine to provide connectivity to Western Europe the Middle East and Asia; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean 2 Eutelsat 2 Intersputnik and 1 Arabsat)

Broadcast media: mixture of state and privately run TV and radio services; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations; 6 private TV broadcasters satellite and cable TV services including telecasts from Greece and Turkey and a number of private radio stations are available; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots there are 2 public TV stations 4 public radio stations and privately owned TV and radio broadcast stations (2007)

Internet
Country code: .cy
Hosts: 252,013 (2012)
Hosts rank: 67
Users: 433,900 (2009)
Users rank: 120

Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2012) (U)
Rank: 68

Military service age and obligation: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of age for voluntary service; length of service obligation is 25 months; women may volunteer for a 3-year term (2013)

Airports: 15 (2013)
Rank: 145
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways: 2 (2013)

Heliports: 9 (2013)

Roadways
Rank: 108
Government control: 13,006 km (includes 2,277 km of expressways)
Paved: 8,564 km
Unpaved: 4,442 km
Turkish Cypriot control: 7,000 km (2011)

Merchant marine
Rank: 13
By type: bulk carrier 278 cargo 163 chemical tanker 77 container 201 liquefied gas 11 passenger 3 passenger/cargo 25 petroleum tanker 62 refrigerated cargo 5 roll on/roll off 9 vehicle carrier 4
Foreign owned: 622 (Angola 1 Austria 1 Belgium 3 Bermuda 1 Canada 2 China 6 Denmark 6 Estonia 6 France 16 Germany 192 Greece 201 Hong Kong 2 India 4 Iran 10 Ireland 3 Italy 6 Japan 16 Netherlands 23 Norway 14 Philippines 1 Poland 24 Portugal 2 Russia 46 Singapore 1 Slovenia 5 Spain 6 Sweden 5 Turkey 1 UAE 3 UK 7 Ukraine 3 US 5)
Registered in other countries: 152 (Bahamas 23 Cambodia 4 Comoros 2 Finland 1 Gibraltar 1 Greece 3 Hong Kong 3 Liberia 9 Malta 32 Marshall Islands 40 Norway 1 Panama 5 Russia 13 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3 Sierra Leone 2 Singapore 6 unknown 4) (2010)

Disputes international: hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004 Cyprus entered the European Union still divided with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007

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; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation remains vulnerable to money laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector remains weak (2008)