Cyprus Population: 1,155,403
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| The third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) | |
| Location: | Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey |
| Geographic coordinates: | 35 00 N, 33 00 E |
| Area: | total: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) land: 9,241 sq km water: 10 sq km Size comparison: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 150.4 km (approximately) border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia 103 km (approximately) |
| 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 highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m |
| Natural resources: | copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment |
| Land use: | arable land: 10.81% permanent crops: 4.32% other: 84.87% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 460 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | moderate earthquake activity; droughts |
| Current Environment 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 Environment 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 1,155,403 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 15.8% (male 93,644/female 88,392) 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.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 35.1 years male: 33.8 years female: 36.9 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.571% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 11.44 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 6.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 10.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 9.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 78 years male: 75.21 years female: 80.92 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.46 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot |
| Ethnic groups: | Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001) |
| Religions: | Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and Armenian Apostolic) 4% |
| Languages: | Greek (official), Turkish (official), English |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98.9% female: 96.3% (2001 census) |
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| Government | |
| 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" (Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti or KKTC) |
| 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" ("TRNC"), which is recognized only by Turkey |
| Capital: | name: Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa) 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: | 16 August 1960 note: from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which they then called the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)" when the Turkish Cypriots declared independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985, although the "TRNC" remains unrecognized by any country other than Turkey |
| Legal system: | mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with Greek Orthodox religious law influence |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Nicos ANASTASIADES (since 28 February 2013); 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 Nicos ANASTASIADES (since 28 February 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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% note: Dervis EROGLU became "president" of the "TRNC" on 23 April 2010 after "presidential" elections on 18 April 2010; results - Dervis EROGLU 50.4%, Mehmet Ali TALAT 42.9%; Irsen KUCUK is "TRNC acting prime minister" |
| 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 19 April 2009 (next to be held in 2014) 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 4.5%; 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 - UBP 44.1%, CTP 29.3%, DP 10.6%, other 16%; seats by party - UBP 26, CTP 15, DP 5, other 4 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president); subordinate courts note: there is also a "Supreme Court" in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots |
| Political parties and leaders: | area under government control: Democratic Party or DIKO [Marios KAROYIAN]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADES]; European Party or EURO.KO [Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDES]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for Social Democrats or EDEK [Yiannakis OMIROU]; Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Andros KYPRIANOU]; United Democrats or EDI [Praxoula ANTONIADOU] area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mehmet CAKICI]; Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Yusuf ALKIM]; Democratic Party or DP [Serdar DENKTAS]; Freedom and Reform Party or ORP [Turgay AVCI]; National Unity Party or UBP [Irsen KUCUK]; Nationalist Justice Party or MAP [Ata TEPE]; New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI]; Politics for the People Party or HIS [Ahmet YONLUER]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Ferdi Sabit SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled) |
| 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: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Olympia NEOCLEOUS chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 consulate(s) general: New York note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador John M. KOENIG embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia telephone: [357] (22) 393939 FAX: [357] (22) 780944 |
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| Economy | |
| 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $23.57 billion (2012 est.) $24.11 billion (2011 est.) $23.99 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $22.45 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -2.3% (2012 est.) 0.5% (2011 est.) 1.1% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $26,900 (2012 est.) $28,000 (2011 est.) $28,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 2.4% industry: 16.7% services: 80.9% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 416,900 (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 8.5% industry: 20.5% services: 71% (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 8% (2012 est.) 7.9% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 29 (2005) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (2012 est.) 3.3% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 16.8% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues:: $9.645 billion expenditures:: $10.59 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 80.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 71.6% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) 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 |
| 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: | 0.7% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 4.887 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 4.698 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$1.963 billion (2012 est.) -$2.546 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $1.889 billion (2012 est.) $1.957 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing |
| Exports - partners: | Greece 27.4%, UK 10.2%, Germany 5.5% (2011) |
| Imports: | $7.716 billion (2012 est.) $8 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, machinery, transport equipment |
| Imports - partners: | Greece 21.7%, Israel 10.4%, UK 9%, Italy 8.3%, Germany 8.3%, France 5.7%, China 4.8%, Netherlands 4.6% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $1.207 billion (2011 est.) $1.207 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $106.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $113.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $29.38 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $27.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $13.62 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $12.62 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $2.853 billion (31 December 2011) $6.834 billion (31 December 2010) $4.993 billion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 405,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 105 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1.09 million (2011) |
| 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 (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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .cy |
| Internet hosts: | 252,013 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 433,900 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 15 (2012) country comparison to the world: 145 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 9 (2012) |
| Roadways: | total: 14,671 km 12,321 km under government control (includes 257 km of expressways), 2,350 km administered by Turkish Cypriots (2008) |
| 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 (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) |
| Ports and terminals: | area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF; includes naval and air elements); Northern Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK) (2013) |
| 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 (2009) |
| Manpower available for military service: | Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): males age 16-49: 327,875 females age 16-49: 287,891 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): males age 16-49: 275,842 females age 16-49: 239,862 (2010 est.) |
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