2015 Edition

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 overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. Talks were suspended in October 2014, but the UN has continued discussions with both sides in an effort to resume talks. 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 area 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.

Area

land

9,241 sq km

total

9,251 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

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Coastline

648 km

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-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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

164.7 cu m/yr (2009)

total

0.18 cu km/yr (10%/3%/86%)

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

457.9 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border sovereign base areas

Akrotiri 48 km, Dhekelia 108 km

total

156 km

Land use

arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 3.2%; permanent pasture 0.4%

agricultural land

13.4%

forest

18.8%

other

67.8% (2011 est.)

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

Natural hazards

moderate earthquake activity; droughts

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

Total renewable water resources

0.78 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

15.61% (male 95,431/female 90,159)

15-24 years

14.87% (male 96,152/female 80,633)

25-54 years

46.97% (male 293,582/female 264,935)

55-64 years

11.05% (male 62,826/female 68,551)

65 years and over

11.51% (male 59,363/female 77,565) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

11.41 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

18.2%

potential support ratio

5.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

41.6%

youth dependency ratio

23.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.06% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

400 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

9.97 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.36 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filippino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.46 years (2015 est.)

male

75.7 years

total population

78.51 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.7% (2015 est.)

male

99.5%

total population

99.1%

Major urban areas - population

NICOSIA (capital) 251,000 (2014)

Median age

female

37.7 years (2015 est.)

male

34.7 years

total

36.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Cypriot

noun

Cypriot(s)

Net migration rate

9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.5% (2014)

People - note

demographic data for Cyprus include the population in the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots

Physicians density

2.33 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

1,189,197 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.43% (2015 est.)

Religions

Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite, Armenian Church, Hindu) 1.4%, unknown 1.1%, none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.19 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.11 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

26.6% (2012 est.)

male

28.8%

total

27.8%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.89% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

66.9% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district completely administered by Turkish Cypriots), Larnaka (Larnaca; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos); note - the 5 districts of Turkish Cypriot-administered part of Cyprus are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosia (Nicosia)

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/Lefkosa)

time difference

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

Constitution

ratified 16 August 1960; note - in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution (2013)

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")

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John M. KOENIG (since 17 August 2012)

embassy

corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi, Nicosia

FAX

[357] (22) 780944

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 George CHACALLI (since 30 May 2013)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 483-6710

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

telephone

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the 1960 constitution, 3 of the ministerial posts reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president; positions currently filled by Greek Cypriots

chief of state

President Nicos ANASTASIADES (since 28 February 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; vice president (vacant); note - vice presidency reserved for Turkish Cypriot

election results

Nicos ANASTASIADES elected president; percent of vote in first round - Nicos ANASTASIADES (DISY) 45.5%, Stavros MALAS(AKEL) 26.9%, Giorgos LILLIKAS (SP) 24.9%, other 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Nicos ANASTASIADES 57.5%, Savros MALAS 42.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 17 and 24 February 2013 (next to be held in February 2018)

head of government

President Nicos ANASTASIADES (since 28 February 2013)

note

Mustafa AKINCI elected "president" of the "TRNC" on 30 April 2015; percent of vote in first round (19 April 2015) - Dervis EROGLU (UBP) 28.2%, Mustafa AKINCI (TDP) 26.9%, other 44.9%; percent of vote in runoff (26 April 2015) - AKINCI 60.5%, EROGLU 39.5%; Ozkan YORGANCIOGLU (CTP-BG) became "TRNC prime minister"

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 retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish national flag but with the colors reversed

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

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 recognized only by Turkey

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, 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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges including the court president); note - the highest court in the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)" is the "Supreme Court" (consists of 8 "judges" including the "court president")

judge selection and term of office

Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges tenure is until the age of 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature", a 12-member body of "judges", the "attorney general", "appointees" - 1 each by the "president" of the "TRNC" and by the "Legislative Assembly" and 1 member elected by the Bar Association; "judge" tenure NA

subordinate courts

Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "district and family courts"

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with European law supremacy

Legislative branch

description

area under government control: unicameral House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots, but only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members directly elected by both proportional representation and preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - DISY 34.3%, AKEL 32.7%, DIKO 15.8%, KS-EDEK 8.9%, EVROKO 3.9%, other 4.4%; seats by party - DISY 20, AKEL 19, DIKO 9, KS-EDEK 5, EVROKO 2, KOP 1; note - as of 1 January 2014, the composition of the Cypriot House of Representatives was DISY 20, AKEL 19, DIKO 8, KS-EDEK 5, EVROKO 1, SP 1, KOP 1, independent 1; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: "Assembly of the Republic" - percent of vote by party - CTP-BG 38%, UBP 27%, DP-UG 23%, TDP 7%, other 5%; seats by party - CTP-BG 21, UBP 17, DP-UG 9, TDP 3

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 28 July 2013 (next to be held on July 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS

name

"Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)

note

adopted 1960; Cyprus adopted the Greek national anthem as its own; the Turkish community in Cyprus uses the anthem of Turkey

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day"

National symbol(s)

Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove; national colors: blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Citizens' Alliance or SP [Giorgos LILLIKAS]

Democratic Party or DIKO [Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS]

Democratic Rally or DISY [Averof NEOPHYTOU (Neofytou)]

Ecological and Environmental Movement or KOP (Green Party) [Giorgos PERDIKIS]

European Party or EVROKO [Dimitris SYLLOURIS]

Movement of Social Democrats or KS-EDEK [Marinos SIZOPOULOS]

National Popular Front or ELAM [Christos CHRISTOU]

Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Andros KYPRIANOU]

United Democrats or EDI [Praxoula ANTONIADOU]

Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Cemal OZYIGIT]

Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Mehmet BIRINCI]

Democrat Party- National Forces or DP-UG [Serdar DENKTAS]

National Justice Party or UAP [Fatma SOLMAZ]

National Unity Party or UBP [Huseyin OZGURGUN]

New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI]

Republican Turkish Party-United Forces or CTP-BG [Ozkan YORGANCIOGLU]

Social Democratic Party or SDP [Tozun TUNALI]

United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK [Nicos MOYSEOS] (pro-West)

Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled) [Pambis KYRITSIS]

Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen [Asian BICAKLI]

area administered by Turkish Cypriots

Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2013)

1.5% (31 December 2010)

note

this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.1% (31 December 2014 est.)

6.89% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$229 million (2014 est.)

-$412 million (2013 est.)

$1.916 billion (2014 est.)

$2.14 billion (2013 est.)

Exports

$68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.4 (2013 est.)

31 (2012 est.)

Budget

revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006)

expenditures

$9.448 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$8.381 billion

Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots

2.8% (2013 est.)

Agriculture - products

citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb

Budget

revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006)

Currency (code)

Turkish new lira (YTL)

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. The market-based economy of the TRNC is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. In 2012 - the latest year for which data are available - the services sector, which includes the public sector, trade, tourism, and education, contributed 58.7% to economic output. In the same year, light manufacturing and agriculture contributed 2.7% and 6.2%, respectively. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. The “TRNC” maintains few economic ties with the Republic of Cyprus outside of trade in construction materials. Since its creation, the "TRNC" has heavily relied on financial assistance from Turkey, which supports the "TRNC" defense, telecommunications, water and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. The "TRNC" remains vulnerable to the Turkish market and monetary policy because of its use of the Turkish Lira. The "TRNC" weathered the European financial crisis relatively unscathed - compared to the Republic of Cyprus - because of the lack of financial sector development, the health of the Turkish economy, and its separation from the rest of the island. The TRNC economy experienced growth estimated at 2.8% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014 and is projected to grow 3.8% in 2015.

Electricity consumption

797.9 million kWh (2005)

Electricity production

998.9 million kWh (2005)

Exchange rates

Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.9 (2013) 1.8 (2012) 1.668 (2011) 1.5026 (2010) 1.55 (2009)

Export - commodities

citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles

Export - partners

Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited

Exports

$68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 6.2%, industry: 35.1%, services: 58.7% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita

$11,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.829 billion (2007 est.)

Import - commodities

vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

Import - partners

Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited

Imports

$1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.3% (2007 est.)

Industries

foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture

Inflation rate

11.4% (2006)

Labor force

95,030 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%, services: 56.5% (2004)

Population below poverty line

%NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing

Exports - partners

Greece 17.5%, UK 10.8%, Israel 5.8% (2014)

$6.827 billion (2014 est.)

$6.42 billion (2013 est.)

Imports

$1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

46.8%

government consumption

18.2%

household consumption

71.5%

imports of goods and services

-46.5%

investment in fixed capital

10.6%

investment in inventories

-0.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products

-3.5% (2014 est.)

356,700 (2013 est.)

16% (2014 est.)

15.9% (2013 est.)

NA%

agriculture

2.9%

agriculture

3.9%

Agriculture - products

citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb

Industrial production growth rate

-0.3% (2007 est.)

Industries

foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture

industry

10.5%

industry

16%

Labor force

95,030 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%, services: 56.5% (2004)

Population below poverty line

%NA

services

86.6% (2015 est.)

services

80.1% (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$30,800 (2014 est.)

$31,500 (2013 est.)

$33,300 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.27 billion (2014 est.)

-2.3% (2014 est.)

-5.4% (2013 est.)

-2.4% (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2014 est.)

Gross national saving

10.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

10.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

10.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.4% (2013)

lowest 10%

3.5%

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, machinery, transport equipment

Imports - partners

Greece 23.8%, Israel 9.6%, UK 7.4%, Italy 7.2%, Germany 7.1%, Netherlands 5.7%, France 5.6%, Spain 4.8%, China 4.3% (2014)

$1.011 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$915 million (31 December 2013 est.)

$95.28 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$103.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.3% (2014 est.)

0.4% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.996 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$2.853 billion (31 December 2011)

$6.834 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Public debt

107.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

111.7% of GDP (2013 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

Stock of broad money

$43.41 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$47.99 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$12.52 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.7489 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.78 (2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

0.755 (2010 est.)

Exchange rates

Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.9 (2013) 1.8 (2012) 1.668 (2011) 1.5026 (2010) 1.55 (2009)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$21.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$20.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$47.08 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$52.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.554 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.883 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

39.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

8.801 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

4.409 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

86.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

13.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.11 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

3.942 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

141.6 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

58,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

58,310 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

mixture of state and privately run TV and radio services; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations; 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services including telecasts from Greece and Turkey, and a number of private radio stations are available; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, and privately owned TV and radio broadcast stations (2007)

Internet country code

.cy

Internet users

percent of population

63.0% (2014 est.)

total

738,900

Radio broadcast stations

area administered by Turkish Cypriots

AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)

area under government control

AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0

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); 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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

330,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

95 (2014 est.)

total

1.1 million

Television broadcast stations

area administered by Turkish Cypriots

2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)

area under government control

8

Airports

15 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

7

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

13

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

total

2

Heliports

9 (2013)

Merchant marine

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)

total

838

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia

Roadways

government control

13,006 km (includes 2,277 km of expressways)

paved

8,564 km

total

20,006 km

Turkish Cypriot control

7,000 km (2011)

unpaved

4,442 km

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

287,891 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

327,875

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

239,862 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

275,842

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

7,398 (2010 est.)

male

8,167

Military branches

Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF; includes naval and air elements); Northern Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK) (2014)

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2013)

2.05% of GDP (2012)

2.14% of GDP (2011)

2.05% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

Cypriot National Guard (CNG): 18-50 years of age for compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation (2014)

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; 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; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007

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 (2008)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

212,400 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2015) (2014)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Cyprus is a source and destination country for men and women from Eastern Europe, India, Vietnam, and sub-Saharan Africa who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; migrant workers and asylum seekers from these countries are subjected to forced work in the construction, agriculture, and domestic service sectors; migrant workers are often subjected to debt bondage, threats, and withholding of pay and documents once work permits expire; sex trafficking occurs within Cyprus’ commercial sex industry outlets, including bars, coffee shops, and cabarets

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2013, the government implemented an EU directive that strengthened its legal framework for combating human trafficking, and a new-anti-trafficking action plan was adopted for 2013-2015; significant decreases occurred in investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of trafficking offenses, and punishments remained weak; fewer trafficking victims were identified (2014)