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 administered 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. Talks were suspended in October 2014 but the UN has continued discussions with both sides in an effort to resume talks. 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 area 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

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 9,251 km²
Land: 9,241 km²
Water: 10 km²
Rank: 171
Comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries
Total: 156 km
Border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 48 km Dhekelia 108 km

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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 lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Olympus 1951 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 13.4%
Forest: 18.8%
Other: 67.8%

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: 1,189,197 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 161
Growth rate: 1.43% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 84

Nationality
Noun: Cypriot
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: Orthodox Christian 89.1% Roman Catholic 2.9% Protestant/Anglican 2% Muslim 1.8% Buddhist 1% other (includes Maronite Armenian Church Hindu) 1.4% unknown 1.1% none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.61%
15-24 years: 14.87%
25-54 years: 46.97%
55-64 years: 11.05%
65 years and over: 11.51% (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 41.6%
Youth dependency ratio: 23.4%
Elderly dependency ratio: 18.2%
Potential support ratio: 5.5%

Median age
Total: 36.1 years
Male: 34.7 years
Female: 37.7 years

Population growth rate: 1.43% (2015 est.)
Rank: 84

Birth rate: 11.41 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 172

Death rate: 6.62 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 143

Net migration rate: 9.48 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 11

Urbanization
Urban population: 66.9% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: NICOSIA (capital) 251,000 (2014)

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 Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Marine Dumping Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male/female
15-24 years: 1.19 male/female
25-54 years: 1.11 male/female
55-64 years: 0.92 male/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male/female
Total population: 1.04 male/female

Infant mortality rate
Total: 8.36 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 9.97 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 6.68 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 152

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.51 years
Male: 75.7 years
Female: 81.46 years
Rank: 54

Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2015 est.)
Rank: 202

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 2.33 physicians/1000 population (2012)

Hospital bed density: 3.5 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.06% (2013 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 117
People living with hivaids: 400 (2013 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 125
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2013 est.)
Deaths rank: 124

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 24.5% (2014)
Rank: 53

Education expenditures: 7.2% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 19

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.1%
Male: 99.5%
Female: 98.7%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 14 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 14 years

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
Conventional short form: Cyprus
Local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
Local short form: Kypros/Kibris
Note: the Turkish Cypriot community which administers the northern part of the island refers to itself as the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' or 'TRNC'

Government type: republic
Note: a separation 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 following a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt that 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 DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of a 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' which is recognized only by Turkey

Capital
Name: Nicosia
Geographic coordinates: 35 10 N 33 22 E
Time difference: UTC+2
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) Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots) Lemesos (Limassol) Pafos (Paphos); note - the 5 districts of Turkish Cypriot-administered part of Cyprus are Gazimagusa (Famagusta) Girne (Kyrenia) Guzelyurt (Morphou) Iskele (Trikomo) Lefkosia (Nicosia)

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 recognized only by Turkey

National holiday: Independence Day 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as 'Republic 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 European law supremacy

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Nicos ANASTASIADES ; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; vice president (vacant); note - vice presidency reserved for Turkish Cypriot
Head of government: President Nicos ANASTASIADES
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the 1960 constitution 3 of the ministerial posts reserved for Turkish Cypriots appointed by the vice president; positions currently filled by Greek Cypriots
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 17 and 24 February 2013
Election results: Nicos ANASTASIADES elected president; percent of vote in first round - Nicos ANASTASIADES 45.5% Stavros MALAS(AKEL) 26.9% Giorgos LILLIKAS (SP) 24.9% other 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Nicos ANASTASIADES 57.5% Savros MALAS 42.5%
Note: Mustafa AKINCI elected 'president' of the 'TRNC' on 30 April 2015; percent of vote in first round - Dervis EROGLU (UBP) 28.2% Mustafa AKINCI (TDP) 26.9% other 44.9%; percent of vote in runoff (26 April 2015) - AKINCI 60.5% EROGLU 39.5%; Ozkan YORGANCIOGLU (CTP-BG) became 'TRNC prime minister'

Legislative branch
Description: area under government control: unicameral House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon ; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: area under government control: last held on 22 May 2011 ; 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 17 DP-UG 9 TDP 3

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court of Cyprus ; note - the highest court in the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)' is the 'Supreme Court' (consists of 8 'judges' including the 'court president')
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' - 1 each by the 'president' of the 'TRNC' and by the 'Legislative Assembly' and 1 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) ICCt ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS 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 chief of mission: Ambassador George CHACALLI
In the us chancery: 2,211 R Street NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 462-5,772 462-0873
In the us FAX: [1] 483-6,710
In the us consulate general: New York
In the us note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW Washington DC; telephone [1] 887-6,198
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John M. KOENIG
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] 393,939
From the us FAX: [357] 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
Note: the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' flag retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish national flag but with the colors reversed

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

National anthem
Name: 'Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian'
Lyrics and music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars:
Economy overview: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU implementation of the EU 'acquis communautaire' has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots known locally as the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. The market-based economy of the TRNC is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. In 2012 - the latest year for which data are available - the services sector which includes the public sector trade tourism and education contributed 58.7% to economic output. In the same year light manufacturing and agriculture contributed 2.7% and 6.2% respectively. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages furniture and fixtures construction materials metal and non-metal products textiles and clothing. The “TRNC” maintains few economic ties with the Republic of Cyprus outside of trade in construction materials. Since its creation the 'TRNC' has heavily relied on financial assistance from Turkey which supports the 'TRNC' defense telecommunications water and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. The 'TRNC' remains vulnerable to the Turkish market and monetary policy because of its use of the Turkish Lira. The 'TRNC' weathered the European financial crisis relatively unscathed - compared to the Republic of Cyprus - because of the lack of financial sector development the health of the Turkish economy and its separation from the rest of the island. The TRNC economy experienced growth estimated at 2.8% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014 and is projected to grow 3.8% in 2015.
GDP: $1.829 billion (2007 est.)

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 60

Gross national saving:
Rank: 151

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 71.5%
Government consumption: 18.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 10.6%
Investment in inventories: -0.5%
Exports of goods and services: 46.8%
Imports of goods and services: -46.5%: (2014 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.9%
Industry: 16%
Services: 80.1%
Of origin: NA%
Agriculture products: citrus fruit dairy potatoes grapes olives poultry lamb
Industries: foodstuffs textiles clothing ship repair clay gypsum copper furniture
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3%
Labor force: 95,030
Labor force by occupation:
Unemployment rate: 9.4%
Population below poverty line: %NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.5%
Highest 10: 26.4%

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 105
Revenues: $8.381 billion
Expenditures: $9.448 billion
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.5 billion

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -5% of GDP (2014 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 166

Taxes and other revenues: 39.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 40

Public debt:
Note: data cover general government debt and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds such as for retirement medical care and unemployment
Rank: 8

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 15

Central bank discount rate:
Note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Rank: 134

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 130

Stock of narrow money:
Note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Rank: 105

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 72

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 63

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 101

Current account balance:
Rank: 94
Exports: $68.1 million f.o.b.

Exports
Commodities: citrus potatoes pharmaceuticals cement clothing
Partners:
Partners Imports: $1.2 billion f.o.b.

Imports
Commodities: consumer goods petroleum and lubricants machinery transport equipment
Partners:
Partners Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $N/A
Partners Debt external: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
Rank: 74

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
Rank: 53
Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.9 1.8 (2012) 1.668 (2011) 1.5026 (2010) 1.55 (2009)

Electricity
Production: 3.942 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Production rank: 125
Consumption: 4.409 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 119
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 130
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 137
Installed generating capacity: 1.11 million kW (2011 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 121
Generation sources fossil fuels: 86.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 83
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 75
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 167
Generation sources other renewable sources: 13.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 23

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 167
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 101
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 177
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 123

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 136
Products consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products consumption rank: 96
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 170
Products imports: 58,310 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 65

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 122
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 136
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 85
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 184
Proven reserves: 141.6 billion m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 129

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 8.801 million Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 107

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 330,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28
Fixed lines rank: 112
Mobile cellular total: 1.1 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95
Mobile cellular rank: 157

Telephone system
General assessment: excellent in both area under government control and area administered by Turkish Cypriots
Domestic: open-wire fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
International: country code - 357 ; 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
Users total: 738,900
Users percent of population: 63.0%
Users rank: 127

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; 2-year service obligation (2014)

Airports: 15 (2013)
Rank: 145
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 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways: 2 (2013)

Heliports: 9 (2013)

Roadways
Total: 20,006 km
Government control: 13,006 km
Paved: 8,564 km
Unpaved: 4,442 km
Turkish Cypriot control: 7,000 km
Rank: 108

Merchant marine
Total: 838
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
Registered in other countries: 152 (2010)
Rank: 13

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: area under government control: Larnaca Limassol Vasilikos; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta Kyrenia

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 212,400 (2015) (2014)

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)