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 overthrow the elected president 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. In February 2014 after a hiatus of nearly two years the leaders of the two communities resumed formal 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 48 km Dhekelia 108 km

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: 1,172,458 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 161
Growth rate: 1.48% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 82
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Adjective: Cypriot

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

Languages: Greek (official) 80.9% Turkish (official) 0.2% English 4.1% Romanian 2.9% Russian 2.5% Bulgarian 2.2% Arabic 1.2% Filippino 1.1% other 4.3% unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)

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

Age structure
15-24 years: 15.3% (male 97,773/female 82,053)
25-54 years: 46.9% (male 288,673/female 261,651)
55-64 years: 10.8% (male 60,639/female 66,336)
65 years and over: 11% (male 57,188/female 74,534) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 23.7 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 17.7 %
Potential support ratio: 5.6 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 34.4 years
Female: 37.4 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.48% (2014 est.)
Rank: 82

Birth rate: 11.44 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 172

Death rate: 6.57 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 147

Net migration rate: 9.89 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 14

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: 1.1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 28.5

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 152
Male: 10.1 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 6.91 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 54
Male: 75.54 years
Female: 81.27 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 198

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: 134
People living with hivaids: fewer than 1000 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 146
Deaths: NA

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

Education expenditures: 7.3% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 19

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 (2011)

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 administered by Turkish Cypriots) Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district completely administered by Turkish Cypriots) Larnaka (Larnaca; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots) Lemesos (Limassol) Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots) Pafos (Paphos); note - the five districts of Turkish Cypriot-administered part of 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 was partly suspended 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 by the president; note - under the 1960 constitution three of the ministerial posts are reserved for Turkish Cypriots appointed by the Vice President but the positions are currently filled by Greek Cypriots
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% KS-EDEK 8.9% EVROKO 3.9% other 4.4%; seats by party - DISY 20 AKEL 19 DIKO 9 KS-EDEK 5 EVROKO 2 KOP 1; note - as of 1 January 2014 the composition of the Cypriot House of Representatives was DISY 20 AKEL 19 DIKO 8 KS-EDEK 5 EVROKO 1 SP 1 KOP 1 independent 1; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 'Assembly of the Republic' - percent of vote by party - CTP-BG 38% UBP 27% DP-UG 23% TDP 7% other 5%; seats by party - CTP-BG 21 UBP 14 DP-UG 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 is until the age of 68; '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: United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN]

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 have traditionally been the most important sectors. Cyprus has been a member of the European Union (EU) since May 2004 and adopted the euro as its national currency in January 2008. During the first five years of EU membership the Cyprus economy grew at an average rate of about 4% with unemployment between 2004 and 2008 averaging about 3%. An overextended banking sector with excessive exposure to Greek debt resulted in a contraction in economic growth. Two of Cyprus' biggest banks were among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and had a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries. Following numerous downgrades of its credit rating Cyprus lost access to international capital markets in May 2011. The economy contracted by an accumulated 8.2% between 2009 and 2013 and is not expected to return to positive growth before 2015. Unemployment is currently over 17% and expected to reach 19% in 2014. In July 2012 Cyprus became the fifth eurozone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the 'Troika'. Shortly after the election of President Nicos ANASTASIADES in February 2013 Cyprus faced an economic crisis and agreed with the Troika to a $13 billion bailout that included losses on uninsured bank deposits. The bailout triggered a two-week bank closure and the imposition of capital controls some of which remained in place through 2014. Cyprus' two largest banks merged and the combined entity was recapitalized through conversion of some large bank deposits to shares and imposition of losses on some bank bondholders. The Troika conditioned the bailout on progress in financial and structural reforms and privatization of state-owned enterprises. Cyprus has downsized and restructured its banking sector significantly. Three positive reviews by the Troika since May 2013 indicate that Cyprus’ bailout program is on track with a fourth review scheduled in May 2014. In October 2013 Cyprus completed preliminary appraisal of hydrocarbon deposits in its territorial waters which revealed less than anticipated natural gas reserves. Additional exploration drilling is likely to continue in 2014-2015.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 130

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 220

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 62

Gross national saving:
Rank: 143

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 20.1%
Investment in fixed capital: 10.5%
Investment in inventories: -4.8%
Exports of goods and services: 45.5%
Imports of goods and services: -38.5%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 15.9%
Services: 81.7% (2013 est.)

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

Industries: tourism food and beverage processing cement and gypsum ship repair and refurbishment textiles light chemicals metal products wood paper stone and clay products

Industrial production growth rate: -3.5% (2013 est.)
Rank: 187

Labor force: 443,500 (2013 est.)
Rank: 157
By occupation industry: 20.5%
By occupation services: 71% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11.9% (2012 est.)
Rank: 153

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Distribution of family income gini index: 29 (2005 est.)
Rank: 113

Budget
Expenditures: $10.04 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -5.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 176

Taxes and other revenues: 40.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 38

Public debt: 85.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 10

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: $N/A (2012 est.)
Rank: 9

Central bank discount rate: 1.5% (31 December 2010)
Rank: 126

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 7.05% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 118

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

Stock of broad money: $50.06 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 71

Stock of domestic credit: $54.29 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 60

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 86

Current account balance: -$1.506 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 95

Exports: $2.602 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 137
Commodities: citrus potatoes pharmaceuticals cement clothing
Partners: Greece 23% UK 10.1% (2012)

Imports: $6.755 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 132
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: $1.191 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 140

Debt external: $103.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 50

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $26.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 63

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $11.16 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 51

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 4.443 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Production rank: 121
Consumption: 4.356 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 120
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 127
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 135
Installed generating capacity: 1.493 million kW (2012 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 117
Generation sources fossil fuels: 94.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 70
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 74
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 166
Generation sources other renewable sources: 5.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 40

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 8.47 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 130
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 103
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 177
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 122

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 136
Products consumption: 58,430 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 94
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 170
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: 138
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 88
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 183
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 129

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

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:
Rank: 37

Military service age and obligation: Cypriot National Guard (CNG): 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 24 months (2014)

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)