2005 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 Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 38,766/female 50,118) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry, pork, lamb, kids, dairy, cheese

Airports

17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Area

land

9,240 sq km

total

9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)

water

10 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Background

A former British colony, Cyprus received independence 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-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. Although only the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen. EU laws, however, will not apply to north Cyprus. Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support reunification. Geography Cyprus

Birth rate

12.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

Republic of Cyprus - $685.7 million, including capital expenditures of $685.7 million, north Cyprus - $775.7 million, including capital expenditures of $91.4 million (2004 est.)

revenues

Republic of Cyprus - $5.616 billion (2004 est.), north Cyprus - $404.3 million (2003 est.)

Capital

Nicosia

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Coastline

648 km

Constitution

16 August 1960; 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 became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cyprus

conventional short form

Cyprus note: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Currency (code)

Greek Cypriot area

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

Currency code

CYP; TRL

Current account balance

$-619.9 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

Republic of Cyprus

$7.327 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael KLOSSON

embassy

corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia

FAX

[357] (22) 780944

mailing address

P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia

telephone

[357] (22) 393939

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 483-6710

telephone

[1] (202) 462-5772

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 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; March 2003 reunification talks failed, but Turkish-Cypriots later opened their borders to temporary visits by Greek Cypriots; on 24 April 2004, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities voted in simultaneous and parallel referenda on whether to approve the UN-brokered Annan Plan that would have ended the thirty-year division of the island by establishing a new "United Cyprus Republic," a majority of Greek Cypriots voted "no"; 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

Economic aid - recipient

Republic of Cyprus - $17 million (1998); north Cyprus - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven (2003)

Economy - overview

The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. The service sector, mainly tourism and financial services, dominates the economy; erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting the criteria to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) within the next two years although sluggish tourism and poor fiscal management have resulted in growing budget deficits since 2001. As in the Turkish sector, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now on-line. After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial rainfall from 2001-03, alleviating immediate concerns. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given north Cyprus's relative isolation, bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew 2.6% in 2004, fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors as well as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish government. Ankara provides around $300 million a year directly into the "TRNC" budget and regularly provides additional financing for large infrastructure projects. Agriculture and government service, together employ almost half of the work force, and the potential for tourism is promising, especially with the easing of border restrictions with the Greek Cypriots in April 2003.

Electricity - consumption

Republic of Cyprus

3.663 billion kWh (2003); north Cyprus: 602 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

4 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount 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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Exchange rates

Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001), 0.6224 (2000), Turkish lira per US dollar 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001), 625,200 (2000)

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% note: Mehmet Ali TALAT becomes "president" of north Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "prime minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in north Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"

elections

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

Exports

Republic of Cyprus

$1.094 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $49.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

Republic of Cyprus

citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, textiles

Exports - partners

UK 27.2%, Greece 11.9%, Germany 5%, UAE 4.8% (2004)

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 Republic of Northern Cyprus" 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

GDP - composition by sector

north Cyprus

agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9% (2004)

Republic of Cyprus

agriculture 4.1%; industry 19.9%; services 76%

GDP - per capita

north Cyprus

purchasing power parity - $7,135 (2004 est.)

Republic of Cyprus

purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2004 est.);

GDP - real growth rate

Republic of Cyprus

3.2% north Cyprus: 2.6% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

Cyprus

purchasing power parity - $4.54 billion (2004 est.)

Republic of Cyprus

purchasing power parity - $15.71 billion north

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 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 that followed a Greek junta-supported 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

Heliports

10 (2004 est.) Military Cyprus

Highways

paved

Republic of Cyprus: 7,211 km; north Cyprus: 1,370 km

total

13,943 km (Republic of Cyprus: 11,593 km; north Cyprus: 2,350 km)

unpaved

Republic of Cyprus: 4,382 km; north Cyprus: 980 km (2002/1996 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 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

lowest 10%: NA% highest 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; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains highly vulnerable to money laundering; identification of benefiting owners and reporting of suspicious transactions by nonresident-controlled companies in offshore sector remains weak This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

Republic of Cyprus

$5.258 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $415.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

Republic of Cyprus

consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

Imports - partners

Greece 15.2%, Italy 10.5%, Germany 8.9%, UK 8.6%, France 6.3%, Japan 4.7%, Israel 4.4%, China 4% (2004)

Independence

16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

Industrial production growth rate

Republic of Cyprus

0.4% (2002); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002)

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

Infant mortality rate

female

5.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

8.94 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Republic of Cyprus

2.4% (2003 est.); north Cyprus: 12.6% (2003 est.)

International organization participation

Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.cy

Internet hosts

5,901 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

210,000 (2002) Transportation Cyprus

Investment (gross fixed)

Republic of Cyprus

17.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

382 sq km (2001 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president) note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus

Labor force

Republic of Cyprus

330,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

north Cyprus

agriculture 15.1%, industry 27%, services 57.9% (2003 est.)

Republic of Cyprus

agriculture 4.9%, industry 19.4%, services 75.6%

Land boundaries

border countries

Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA

total

NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed

Land use

arable land

7.79%

other

87.77% (2001)

permanent crops

4.44%

Languages

Greek, Turkish, English

Legal system

based on common law, with civil law modifications

Legislative branch

election results

Republic of Cyprus: 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; north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7

elections

Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held May 2006); north Cyprus: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)

unicameral - Republic of Cyprus

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.13 years (2005 est.)

male

75.29 years

total population

77.65 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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 184,352 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 150,750 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

6,578 (2005 est.)

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

35.7 years (2005 est.)

male

33.64 years

total

34.68 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 384, cargo 248, chemical tanker 45, container 125, liquefied gas 4, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 19, petroleum tanker 103, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 12, vehicle carrier 5

foreign-owned

899 (Austria 2, Belgium 1, Canada 10, China 8, Croatia 3, Cuba 5, Egypt 1, Estonia 3, France 1, Germany 236, Greece 396, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 2, Israel 3, Japan 18, Latvia 7, Monaco 1, Netherlands 12, Norway 14, Philippines 1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 56, Singapore 2, Slovenia 4, South Korea 1, Spain 4, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Syria 2, Ukraine 3, UAE 11, United Kingdom 24, United States 31, Vietnam 1)

registered in other countries

54 (2005)

total

972 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004 DWT

Military branches

north Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)

Republic of Cyprus

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$384 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.8% (FY02) Transnational Issues Cyprus

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 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 (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

Republic of Cyprus

49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Republic of Cyprus

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]; north Cyprus: 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 [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; 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)

Population

780,133 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.54% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos

Public debt

Republic of Cyprus

74.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

Republic of Cyprus

AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); north Cyprus: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

Greek Cypriot area

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for over 30 years) (2004)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

north Cyprus

$941.6 million (2004 est.)

Republic of Cyprus

$3.385 billion

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and north Cyprus areas

international

country code - 357; 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

Republic of Cyprus

427,400 (2002); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Republic of Cyprus

417,900 (2002); north Cyprus: 143,178 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

Republic of Cyprus

4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September 1995); north Cyprus: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions

Greek Cypriot area

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

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

Republic of Cyprus

3.2%; north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)