2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.9% (male 86,446; female 82,769) 15-64 years: 67% (male 261,404; female 255,409) 65 years and over: 11.1% (male 37,345; female 48,284) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

16 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

under 914 m

1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 3

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

2 (2002)

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

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. UN-led direct talks between the two sides to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the island began in January 2002. Geography Cyprus

Birth rate

12.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.7 billion, Greek Cypriot area - $539 million, including capital expenditures of $539 million, Turkish Cypriot area - $432.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

revenues

Greek Cypriot area - $4.4 billion, Turkish Cypriot area - $231.3 million (2002 est.)

Capital

Nicosia

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Coastline

648 km

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)

Currency code

CYP; TRL

Cypriot area

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Death rate

7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael KLOSSON

embassy

corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia

mailing address

P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia

telephone

[357] (22) 776400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES

Disputes - international

hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot area, separated by a UN buffer zone; UN deadline on sides accepting a federation plan for reunification have expired, diminishing chances of Turkish-Cypriot participation in EU membership in 2004

Economic aid - recipient

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

Economy - overview

The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability in the region and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now online. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing and investment. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides grants and loans to support economic development. Ankara provided $200 million in 2002 and pledged $450 million for the 2003-05 period. Future events throughout the island will be highly influenced by the outcome of negotiations on the UN-sponsored agreement to unite the Greek and Turkish areas and by the arrangements under which the island joins the EU.

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

3.401 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Desertification, 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

Ethnic groups

Greek 85.2%, Turkish 11.6%, other 3.2% (2000)

Exchange rates

Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.61 (2002), 0.64 (2001), 0.62 (2000), 0.54 (1999), 0.52 (1998), Turkish lira per US dollar NA (2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president

chief of state

President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); 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

Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held NA February 2008)

head of government

President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); 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 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president after the other contender withdrew; 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

Exports - partners

UK 28.2%, Greece 7%, UAE 5.3%, France 5.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 483-6710

[357] (22) 780944

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

New York

note

representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198

telephone

[1] (202) 462-5772

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Cyprus

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 Economy Cyprus

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Geography - note

the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) People Cyprus

Government type

republic

note

a disaggregation 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 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt 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), recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation (Turkish Cypriot position)

Greek Cypriot area

Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or EDE [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Izzet IZCAN]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]

purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (2001

1.7% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2.6% (2002 est.)

purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.);

agriculture 4.6%; industry 19.9%; services 19.9%

2.8% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 24.5% (2002 est.)

291,000; Turkish Cypriot area: 86,300 (2000)

services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (2000); Turkish Cypriot area: services 56.4%, industry 22.8%, agriculture 20.8% (1998)

3.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (2002 est.)

-1.4% (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (2002)

3.163 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)

$1.03 billion f.o.b. Turkish Cypriot area: $46 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing and cigarettes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, textiles

$3.9 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $301 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; Turkish Cypriot

$8 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (2002)

Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish lira (TRL)

405,000 (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area: 83,162 (1998)

68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000 (1999)

AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish

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

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

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

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police

area

food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

est.); Turkish Cypriot area

purchasing power parity - $787 million (2002 est.)

Heliports

10 (2002) Military Cyprus

Highways

note

Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km

paved

Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km

total

13,491 km

unpaved

Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km (2000/1996)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 1,000 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

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; anti-money-laundering laws strengthened but few convictions This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports - partners

Russia 17.9%, Greece 7.4%, Germany 6.7%, France 6.6%, UK 6.6%, Italy 6.6%, South Korea 5.7%, Japan 5.3% (2002)

Independence

16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

5.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

9.43 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.54 deaths/1,000 live births

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.cy

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

150,000 (2002) Transportation Cyprus

Irrigated land

400 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president)

note

there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

10.61%

other

84.74% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

4.65%

Languages

Greek, Turkish, English

Legal system

based on common law, with civil law modifications

Legislative branch

election results

Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; 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 27 May 2001 (next to be

held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area

last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)

terms); Turkish Cypriot area

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.71 years (2003 est.)

male

74.94 years

total population

77.27 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.3% (2003 est.) Government Cyprus

male

98.9%

total population

97.6%

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

Median age

female

35.2 years (2002)

male

33.1 years

total

34.2 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Austria 12, Belgium 2, Bulgaria 2, Canada 3, Chile 2, China 16, Croatia 2, Cuba 11, Finland 1, Germany 229, Greece 607, Guam 1, Hong Kong 6, India 6, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 1, Japan 26, Latvia 14, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands 30, Norway 23, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 19, Portugal 2, Russia 57, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, South Korea 4, Spain 7, Sudan 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United Arab Emirates 13, United Kingdom 6, United States 4, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 421, cargo 325, chemical tanker 25, combination bulk 24, combination ore/oil 2, container 151, liquefied gas 2, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 124, refrigerated cargo 45, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3

total

1,180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 23,106,229 GRT/37,032,163 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$384 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.8% (FY02) Transnational Issues Cyprus

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

201,606 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

138,336 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

6,638 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Nationality

adjective

Cypriot

noun

Cypriot(s)

Natural hazards

moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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)

Population

771,657 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.56% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos

Railways

0 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas

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

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Turkish Cypriot area

purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2002 est.)

agriculture 75.5%; industry 20.7%; services 71% (2001)

Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)

Waterways

none