2000 Edition

Background

Independence from the UK was approved in 1960 with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974 a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983 the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but it is recognized only by Turkey. Cyprus talks resumed in December 1999 to prepare the ground for a comprehensive settlement.

Area

land

9,240 sq km

total

9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)

water

10 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Climate

temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, winters

Coastline

648 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Olympus 1,951 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Irrigated land

390 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

12%

forests and woodland

13%

other

70% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

5%

permanent pastures

0%

Location

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

moderate earthquake activity

Natural resources

copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Terrain

central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Age structure

0-14 years: 23% (male 91,075; female 86,832) 15-64 years: 66% (male 252,252; female 247,464) 65 years and over: 11% (male 35,149; female 45,591) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

13.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)

Infant mortality rate

8.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Greek, Turkish, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.1 years (2000 est.)

male

74.43 years

total population

76.71 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91% (1987 est.)

male

98%

total population

94%

Nationality

adjective

Cypriot

noun

Cypriot(s)

Net migration rate

0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

758,363 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.6% (2000 est.)

Religions

Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.95 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Capital

Nicosia

note

the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)

Constitution

16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cyprus

conventional short form

Cyprus

note

the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Data code

CY

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Donald K. BANDLER

embassy

corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia

mailing address

P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836

telephone

(2) 776400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS

telephone

(202) 462-5772

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president

chief of state

President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); 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

election results

Glafcos CLERIDES reelected president; percent of vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003)

head of government

President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); 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

note

Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president; pecent of vote - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area

FAX

(202) 483-6710

(2) 780944

consulate(s) general

New York

note

representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone (202) 887-6198

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 Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field

Government type

republic

note

a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified following the Turkish intervention in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, which 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 DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system (Greek Cypriot position) or confederate system (Turkish Cypriot position) of government

Independence

16 August 1960 (from UK)

note

Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus

International organization participation

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature

note

there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area

Legal system

based on common law, with civil law modifications

Legislative branch

unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: 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); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK 8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party - DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP 15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP 24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6

elections

Greek Cypriot area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May 2001); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held December 2003)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October; note - Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day

Political parties and leaders

Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DIKO ; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Ecologists ; New Horizons ; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) ; United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK ; United Democrats Movement or EDI (formerly Free Democrats Movement or KED) ; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation Party or TKP ; Democratic Party or DP ; National Birth Party or UDP ; National Unity Party or UBP ; Our Party or BP ; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH ; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables

Budget

expenditures

Greek Cypriot area - $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $345 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $306 million, including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.)

revenues

Greek Cypriot area - $2.9 billion (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $171 million (1997 est.)

Currency

Greek Cypriot area: 1 Cypriot pound = 100 cents; Turkish

Cypriot area

purchasing power parity - $820 million (1998 est.)

6.4% (1997)

$63.9 million (f.o.b., 1998)

$374 million (f.o.b., 1997)

food, minerals, chemicals, machinery (1997)

1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Debt - external

Greek Cypriot area: $1.27 billion; Turkish Cypriot

area

$NA (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97) that are usually forgiven

Economy - overview

Economic affairs are dominated by the division of the country into the southern (Greek) area controlled by the Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered area. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy in the south is focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector, water shortage is a growing problem, and several desalination plants are planned. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to tourism, education, industry, etc.

Electricity - consumption

Greek Cypriot area: 2.488 billion kWh;

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

Greek Cypriot area: 2.675 billion kWh;

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Cypriot pounds per US$1 - 0.5688 (January 2000), 0.5423 (1999), 0.5170 (1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 545,584 (January 2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995)

Exports

Greek Cypriot area: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.); Turkish

Exports - commodities

Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, textiles (1998)

Exports - partners

Greek Cypriot area: UK 14.5%, Russia 14.5%, Greece 9.8%, Lebanon 5.5%, UAE 4.9%; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 47%, UK 26%, other EU 15% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9 billion; Turkish

GDP - composition by sector

Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 6.3%, industry 22.4%, services 71.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 11.8%, industry 20.5%, services 67.7% (1998)

GDP - per capita

Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,400; Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

Greek Cypriot area: 3.0%; Turkish Cypriot

area

5.3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

Greek Cypriot area: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.); Turkish

Imports - commodities

Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery (1998); Turkish

Imports - partners

Greek Cypriot area: US 12.5%, UK 11.3%, Italy 9.4%, Germany 8.5%, Greece 8.2% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 56.4%, UK 13.5%, other EU 12.2% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

Greek Cypriot area: 2.4% (1998);

Industries

food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Greek Cypriot area: 2.3% (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 66% (1998 est.)

Labor force

Greek Cypriot area: 289,400; Turkish Cypriot area: 80,200 (1998)

Labor force - by occupation

Greek Cypriot area: services 66.6%, industry 23.2%, agriculture 10.2% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: services 55.4%, industry 21.6%, agriculture 23% (1997)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Turkish Cypriot area

5.1% (1997)

NA kWh (1998)

Unemployment rate

Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1998 est.); Turkish

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994)

Telephone system

excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas

domestic

open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay

international

tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

Telephones - main lines in use

Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998);

Telephones - mobile cellular

Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998);

Television broadcast stations

Greek Cypriot area: 4 plus 225 low-power repeaters; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 plus 5 repeaters (September 1995)

Televisions

Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994)

Turkish Cypriot area

70,845 (1996)

70,000 (1999)

Airports

15 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Heliports

6 (1999 est.)

Highways

area

2,350 km (1996 est.)

area

980 km (1996 est.)

paved

Greek Cypriot area: 6,249 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km (1996 est.)

total

Greek Cypriot area: 10,663 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot

unpaved

Greek Cypriot area: 4,414 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 37 countries among which are Greece 611, Germany 129, Russia 49, Latvia 278, Netherlands 20, Japan 28, Cuba 16, China 15, Hong Kong 13, and Poland 15 (1998 est.)

ships by type

barge carrier 2, bulk 442, cargo 495, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 40, combination ore/oil 8, container 144, liquified gas 6, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 142, refrigerated cargo 41, roll-on/roll-off 45, short-sea passenger 13, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)

total

1,414 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,497,776 GRT/37,331,506 DWT

Ports and harbors

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos

Railways

0 km

Military branches

Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish mainland army units

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$320 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 196,317 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 134,865 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

6,541 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas mostly within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island

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

CZECH REPUBLIC