2007 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: 20.4% (male 81,776/female 78,272) 15-64 years: 68% (male 270,254/female 263,354) 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 39,536/female 51,109) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

16 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m

2 (2006)

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 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-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 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. 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 direct Republic of Cyprus control, 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. 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

12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

Republic of Cyprus - $7.695 billion (2005 est.)

expenditures

north Cyprus - $432.8 million (2003 est.)

revenues

Republic of Cyprus - $7.395 billion (2005 est.)

revenues

$685.7 million; north Cyprus - $231.3 million (2003 est.)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

35 10 N, 33 22 E

name

Nicosia (Lefkosia)

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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, although the "TRNC" remains unrecognized by any country other than Turkey

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" (TRNC)

Currency code

CYP; TRL

Cypriots

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; note - "TRNC" seats by party as of September 2006 - CTP 25, OP 3, UBP 13, DP 6, BDH 1, independents 2

Communal Liberation Party or TKP [Huseyin ANGOLEMLI]; Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Kazim ONGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform Party or OP [Turgay AVCI]; National Unity Party or UBP [Tahsin ERTUGRULOGLU]; Nationalist Justice Party or MAP [Ata TEPE]; New Party or YP [Huseyin TURAN]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Oguz OZEN]; Peace and Democratic Movement or BDH [Mustafa AKINCI]; Renewal Progress Party or YAP [Ertugrul HASIPOGLU]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Ferdi Sabit SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP [Isset IZCAN]

Death rate

7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Ronald L. SCHLICHER

embassy

corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi, Nicosia

mailing address

P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia

telephone

[357] (22) 393939

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS

telephone

[1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873

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 30-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 - $NA; north Cyprus - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven (2003-06)

Economy - overview

The Republic of Cyprus has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for 76% of GDP. Tourism and financial services are the most important sectors; 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. Nevertheless, the economy grew a healthy 3.7% per year in 2004 and 2005, well above the EU average. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005. The government has initiated an aggressive austerity program, which has cut the budget deficit to below 3% but continued fiscal discipline is necessary if Cyprus is to meet its goal of adopting the euro on 1 January 2008. As in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, 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 15.4% 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. Under the 2003-06 economic protocol, Ankara planned to provide around $700 million to the "TRNC." Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the work force.

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

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, Wetlands

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 - 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), Turkish lira per US dollar - 1.44514 (2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001)

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 February 2008)

head of government

President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot

note

Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of the "TRNC", 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "TRNC prime minister" and heads the Council of Ministers (cabinet) in coalition with "Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister" Turgay AVCI

Exports - partners

France 18.8%, UK 18.1%, Greece 13%, Germany 6% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 483-6710

[357] (22) 780944

consulate(s) general

New York

note

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

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 white field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red crescent and red five-pointd star 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 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), which is recognized only by Turkey

Greek Cypriot area

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

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

Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG)

females age 18-49

175,567 (2005 est.)

females age 18-49

144,344 (2005 est.)

females age 18-49

6,200 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

184,352

males age 18-49

150,750

males age 18-49

6,578

Heliports

10 (2006)

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

IDPs

210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for over 30 years) (2006)

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 This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports - partners

Greece 17.3%, Italy 10.3%, UK 9%, Germany 8.4%, Israel 7.1% (2005)

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

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

5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

8.74 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.04 deaths/1,000 live births

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.cy

Internet hosts

67,589 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

298,000 (2005) Transportation Cyprus

Irrigated land

400 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

note

there is also a Supreme Court in the area administered by Turkish Cyriots

Land boundaries

border countries

Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA

total

NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed

Land use

arable land

10.81%

other

84.87% (2005)

permanent crops

4.32%

Languages

Greek, Turkish, English

Legal system

based on common law, with civil law modifications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 31.13%, DISY 30.34%, DIKO 17.92%, KISOS 6.51%, EDEK 8.91%, EURO.KO 5.75%, Greens 1.95%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 18, DISY 18, DIKO 11, KISOS 4, EDEK 4, EURO.KO 4, Greens 1; area administered by Turkish

elections

area under government control: last held 21 May 2006 (next to be held 2011); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held in 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.31 years (2006 est.)

male

75.44 years

total population

77.82 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

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

35.9 years (2006 est.)

male

33.9 years

total

34.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 354, cargo 210, chemical tanker 44, container 145, liquefied gas 8, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 23, petroleum tanker 64, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 5

foreign-owned

777 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 11, Croatia 2, Cuba 2, Denmark 1, Estonia 6, Germany 214, Greece 337, Greenland 1, Hong Kong 1, India 5, Iran 2, Ireland 3, Israel 3, Italy 2, Japan 17, South Korea 1, Latvia 4, Netherlands 18, Norway 16, Philippines 1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 53, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1, Slovenia 4, Spain 7, Sweden 3, Switzerland 4, Syria 3, UAE 11, UK 6, Ukraine 4, US 7, unknown 1)

registered in other countries

87 (Bahamas 13, Belize 2, Cambodia 12, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 1, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 3, Malta 15, Marshall Islands 15, Norway 2, Panama 14, Portugal 1, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Turkey 2) (2006)

total

884 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,477,944 GRT/31,157,473 DWT

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 gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Political parties and leaders

area under government control

Democratic Party or DIKO [Marios KAROYIAN]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; European Democracy or EURO.DI [Prodromos PRODROMOU] (evolved from For Europe which merged with New Horizons); European Party or EURO.KO [Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for Social Democrats or EDEK [Yannakis OMIROU]; Political Movement of Hunters [Michalis PAFITANIS]; Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; United Democrats or EDI [Michalis PAPAPETROU]; area administered by Turkish

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

784,301 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.53% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Military Cyprus

Radio broadcast stations

area administered by Turkish Cyriots

AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)

area under government control

AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0

Religions

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

Republic of Cyprus

$17.79 billion; north Cyprus: $4.54 billion (2006 est.)

$16.35 billion (2006 est.)

3.7%; north Cyprus: 10.6% (2006 est.)

$22,700 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: $7,135 (2004 est.) (2006 est.)

agriculture 3.7%; industry 19.6%; services 76.8% (2005 est.)

380,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2006 est.)

agriculture 7.4%, industry 38.2%, services 54.4% (2004 est.)

5.5% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)

2.8% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 9.1% (2004 est.)

21.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

68.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

2.4% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002 est.) (2006 est.)

3.926 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2004)

3.651 billion kWh (2004); north Cyprus: NA kWh (2004)

300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

53,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

$-1.051 billion (2006 est.)

$1.34 billion f.o.b.; north Cyprus: $69 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,

$5.8 billion f.o.b.; north Cyprus: $415.2 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

$4.613 billion; north Cyprus $NA (2006 est.)

$12.63 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2006 est.)

Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish New lira (YTL)

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes

air and naval elements); north Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)

clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus

citrus, potatoes, textiles

north Cyprus

agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9% (2003 est.)

north Cyprus

agriculture 14.5%, industry 29%, services 56.5% (2004 est.)

Roadways

administered by Turkish Cypriots

2,350 km)

by Turkish Cypriots

980 km (2005/1996 est.)

paved

area under government control: 7,845 km (including 276 km of expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km

total

14,496 km (area under government control: 12,146 km; area

unpaved

area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 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 area under government control and area administered by Turkish Cypriots

international

country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); 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

area under government control

420,000 (2005); area administered by

Telephones - mobile cellular

area under government control

718,800 (2005);; area administered

by Turkish Cypriots

143,178 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

area administered by Turkish Cypriots

2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)

area under government control

8

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.82 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Cyprus is primarily a destination country for a large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic for the purpose of sexual exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas; there were credible reports of female domestic workers from India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines forced to work excessively long hours and denied proper compensation

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and failed to show evidence of increasing efforts to address its serious trafficking for sexual exploitation problem; however, it is making significant efforts to do so

Turkish Cypriots

86,228 (2002)