2021 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 communities 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. An UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. 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. The most recent round of negotiations to reunify the island were suspended in July 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. 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 "TRNC." However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of EU 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

highest point

Mount Olympus 1,951 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation

91 m

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Geography - note

the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia); several small Cypriot enclaves exist within the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area

Irrigated land

460 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border sovereign base areas

Akrotiri 48 km, Dhekelia 108 km

total

156 km

Land use

agricultural land

13.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)

forest

18.8% (2018 est.)

other

67.8% (2018 est.)

Location

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey; note - Cyprus views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both

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

Population distribution

population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

15.69% (male 102,095/female 96,676)

15-24 years

12.29% (male 84,832/female 70,879)

25-54 years

47.12% (male 316,710/female 280,167)

55-64 years

11.92% (male 72,476/female 78,511)

65 years and over

12.97% (male 71,053/female 93,277) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

10.76 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

6.8% (2018)

Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

20.9

note

note: data represent the whole country

potential support ratio

4.8 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

44.9

youth dependency ratio

24

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic groups

Greek 98.8%, other 1% (includes Maronite, Armenian, Turkish-Cypriot), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)

note

note: data represent only the Greek-Cypriot citizens in the Republic of Cyprus

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2017 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

10.45 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6%; note - data represent only the Republic of Cyprus (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.46 years (2021 est.)

male

76.7 years

total population

79.51 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.7% (2015)

male

99.5%

total population

99.1%

Major urban areas - population

269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

39.4 years (2020 est.)

male

36.7 years

total

37.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.2 years (2019 est.)

note

note: data represent only government-controlled areas

Nationality

adjective

Cypriot

noun

Cypriot(s)

Net migration rate

7.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.8% (2016)

People - note

demographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated

Physicians density

1.95 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

1,281,506 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca

Population growth rate

1.11% (2021 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.)

note

note: data represent only the government-controlled area of Cyprus

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 98.4% of population

improved: total

total: 99% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2019)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.2 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.13 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.48 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

12.3% (2020 est.)

male

24.4%

total

18.2%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

66.9% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

a mispronunciation of the city's Greek name Lefkosia and its Turkish name Lefkosa, both of which mean "White City"; the Greek name may derive from the Greek phrase "leuke ousia" ("white estate")

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

Constitution

amendments

constitution of the Republic of Cyprus - proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964; amended many times, last in 2020;constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” - proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum; amended 2014

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cyprus

conventional short form

Cyprus

etymology

the derivation of the name "Cyprus" is unknown, but the extensive mining of copper metal on the island in antiquity gave rise to the Latin word "cuprum" for copper

local long form

Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti

local short form

Kypros/Kibris

note

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 Judith Gail GARBER (since 18 March 2019)

email address and website

ACSNicosia@state.govhttps://cy.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia

FAX

[357] (22) 780944

mailing address

5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC  20521-5450

telephone

[357] (22) 393939

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Marios LYSIOTIS (since 17 September 2018)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

info@cyprusembassy.nethttps://www.cyprusembassy.net/

FAX

[1] (202) 483-6710

honorary consulate(s)

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco

note

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

telephone

[1] (202) 462-5772

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 Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government

election results

Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 28 January 2018 with a runoff on 4 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023)

head of government

President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013)

note

note: the first round of the TRNC presidential election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020, was postponed to 11 October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the second round was held on 18 October 2020; percent of vote in the first round - Ersin TATAR (UBP) 32.4%, Mustafa AKINCI (independent) 29.8%, Tufan ERHURMAN (RTP) 21.7%, Kudret OZERSAY (independent) 5.7%, Erhan ARIKLI (YDP) 5.4%, Serdar DENKTAS (independent) 4.2%, other 0.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Ersin TATAR 51.7%, Mustafa AKINCI 48.3%

Flag description

centered on a white field is a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the island has long been famous for its copper deposits) above two olive-green-colored, crossed olive branches; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities

note

note: one of only two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Kosovo is the othernote: 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 of Cyprus - presidential republic; "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (self-declared) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency

note

note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "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 ICC 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 courts

Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges, including the court president); note - the highest court in the "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 can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the 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 to 5-year terms by proportional representation system using a hybrid d'Hondt method with voter preferences for individual candidates

election results

area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - DISY 27.8%, AKEL 22.3%, DIKO 11.3%, ELAM 6.8%, EDEK-SP 6.7%, DiPa 6.1%, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 4.4%, other 14.6%; seats by party/coalition - DISY 17, AKEL 15, DIKO 9, ELAM 4, EDEK-SP 4, DiPa 4, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 3; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: "Assembly of the Republic" - percent of vote by party - UBP 35.6%, CTP 20.9%, HP 17.1%, TDP 8.6%, DP 7.8%, YDP 7%, 3%; seats by party - UBP 21, CTP 12, HP 9, DP 3, TDP 3, YDP 2

elections

area under government control: last held on 30 May 2021 (next to be held in 2026); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held on 7 January 2018 (next to be held in 2023, unless early election called)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS

name

"Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)

note

note: adopted 1960; Cyprus adopted the Greek national anthem as its own; the Turkish Cypriot 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

area under government control: Citizens' Alliance or SP [Giorgos LILLIKAS]Democratic Front or DiPa [Marios GAROYIAN]Democratic Party or DIKO [Nikolas PAPADOPOULOS]Democratic Rally or DISY [Averof NEOPHYTOU]Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance [Charalambos THEOPEMPTOU]Movement of Social Democrats EDEK [Marinos SIZOPOULOS]National Popular Front or ELAM [Christos CHRISTOU]Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist party) [Stefanos STEFANOU]Solidarity Movement [Eleni THEOCHAROUS]area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Cemal OZYIGIT]Communal Liberation Party-New Forces or TKP-YG [Mehmet CAKICI]Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Mehmet BIRINCI]Democratic Party or DP [Serdar DENKTAS]National Democratic Party or NDP [Buray BUSKUVUTCU]National Unity Party or UBP [Faiz SUCUOGLU]New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI]People's Party or HP [Kudret OZERSAY]Rebirth Party or YDP [Erhan ARIKLI]Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Tufan ERHURMAN]United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, pork, sheep milk, goat milk, barley, wheat, poultry, olives, tangerines/mandarins

Budget

expenditures

8.275 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

8.663 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BBB- (2018)

Moody's rating

Ba2 (2018)

Standard & Poors rating

BBB- (2018)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

-$958 million (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

-$1.578 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$231.885 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$213.19 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by a services sector that accounts for more than four-fifths of GDP. Tourism, finance, shipping, and real estate have traditionally been the most important services. Cyprus has been a member of the EU since May 2004 and adopted the euro as its national currency in January 2008.During the first five years of EU membership, the Cyprus economy grew at an average rate of about 4%, with unemployment between 2004 and 2008 averaging about 4%. However, the economy tipped into recession in 2009 as the ongoing global financial crisis and resulting low demand hit the tourism and construction sectors. An overextended banking sector with excessive exposure to Greek debt added to the contraction. Cyprus’ biggest two banks were among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and had a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries. Following numerous downgrades of its credit rating, Cyprus lost access to international capital markets in May 2011. In July 2012, Cyprus became the fifth euro-zone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the "Troika."Shortly after the election of President Nikos ANASTASIADES in February 2013, Cyprus reached an agreement with the Troika on a $13 billion bailout that triggered a two-week bank closure and the imposition of capital controls that remained partially in place until April 2015. Cyprus' two largest banks merged and the combined entity was recapitalized through conversion of some large bank deposits to shares and imposition of losses on bank bondholders. As with other EU countries, the Troika conditioned the bailout on passing financial and structural reforms and privatizing state-owned enterprises. Despite downsizing and restructuring, the Cypriot financial sector remains burdened by the largest stock of non-performing loans in the euro zone, equal to nearly half of all loans. Since the bailout, Cyprus has received positive appraisals by the Troika and outperformed fiscal targets but has struggled to overcome political opposition to bailout-mandated legislation, particularly regarding privatizations. The rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) is still very high at around 49%, and growth would accelerate if Cypriot banks could increase the pace of resolution of the NPLs.In October 2013, a US-Israeli consortium completed preliminary appraisals of hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which estimated gross mean reserves of about 130 billion cubic meters. Though exploration continues in Cyprus’ EEZ, no additional commercially exploitable reserves have been identified. Developing offshore hydrocarbon resources remains a critical component of the government’s economic recovery efforts, but development has been delayed as a result of regional developments and disagreements about exploitation methods.

Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots

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.; GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (2014 est.); 2.8% (2013 est.); GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.); GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2%,; industry: 35.1%,; services: 58.7% (2012 est.); Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%,; industry: 29%,; services: 56.5% (2004); Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.); Population below poverty line: %NA; Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006); Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion,; expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006); Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb; Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture; Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.); Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005); Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005); Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.); 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; Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (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; Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: NA; Debt - external: NA; Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL); Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar:; 1.9 (2013); 1.8 (2012); 1.668 (2011); 1.5026 (2010); 1.55 (2009);

Exchange rates

currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

0.885 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.87789 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.90338 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.82771 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$19.02 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$17.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$16.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cheese, crude petroleum (2019)

Exports - partners

India 9%, Greece 9%, Libya 8%, United Kingdom 7% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

63.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption

14.9% (2017 est.)

household consumption

68.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-67.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.7% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2% (2017 est.)

industry

12.5% (2017 est.)

services

85.5% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$24.946 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2013

32.4 (2013 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

31.4 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.8% (2014)

lowest 10%

3.3%

Imports

Imports 2018

$18.6 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$18.2 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$17.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, cars, coal tar oil, packaged medicines (2019)

Imports - partners

Greece 16%, Italy 10%, Turkey 8%, Russia 5%, Germany 5%, United Kingdom 5%, China 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

13.4% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

0.5% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

1.4% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

0.2% (2019 est.)

Labor force

416,000 (2019 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3.8%

industry

15.2%

services

81% (2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.7% (2018 est.)

Public debt

note

note: data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment

Public debt 2016

106.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

97.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$34.42 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$35.48 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$33.67 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

5.16% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

5.25% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

3.08% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$39,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$40,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$37,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$817.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$888.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

39.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2018

8.37% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

7.07% (2019 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

12.3% (2020 est.)

male

24.4%

total

18.2%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

4.355 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

85% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.77 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

4.618 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

141.6 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

49,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

49,240 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37.4 (2020 est.)

total

332,080 (2020)

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 7 privately owned TV and 21 radio broadcast stations plus 6 radio and 4 TV channels of local universities, plus 1 radio station of military, security forces and 1 radio station of civil defense cooperation, as well as relay stations from Turkey (2019)

Internet country code

.cy

Internet users

percent of population

90.8% (2020 est.)

total

1.04 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line is 37 per 100, and  144 per 100 for mobile-cellular; open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay (2019)

general assessment

despite the growth of Cyprus's telecom sector, the market is dominated by its state-owned operator; one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the region; DSL remains the dominant access platform as broadband is restricted to a few towns; fixed-line and mobile cable infrastructure available for more than half of premises; fiber infrastructure in development; improved regulations provide confidence for investment in network infrastructure and competing services; operator expanded FttP services and initiated cable connection to France and Egypt; operator signed vendor agreement with international investor, Huawei, to develop 5G; operators extended LTE services and upgraded transmission capacity on TE-North Cable System (2020)

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, CADMOS, MedNautilus Submarine System, POSEIDON, TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medes, UGARIT, Aphrodite2, Hawk, Lev Submarine System, and Tamares combine to provide connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Southeast Asia; Turcyos-1 and Turcyos-2 submarine cable in Turkish North Cyprus link to Turkey; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat) (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35.07 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

311,439 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

138.6 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

1,230,706 (2020)

Airports

total

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 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5B

Heliports

9 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 269, container ship 182, general cargo 197, oil tanker 59, other 344 (2021)

total

1,051

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

20,000 mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

401,408 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Pipelines

0 km oil

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos

note

area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia

Roadways

government control

12,901 km (includes 272 km of expressways) (2016)

paved

8,631 km (2016)

total

19,901 km (2016)

Turkish Cypriot control

7,000 km (2011)

unpaved

4,270 km (2016)

Military - note

the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island and bring about a return to normal conditions; the UNFICYP mission had about 1,000 personnel as of August 2021

Military and security forces

Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF, includes Army Land Forces, Naval Command, Air Command) (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Cypriot National Guard has approximately 15,000 total active duty personnel (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the inventory of the Cypriot National Guard is a mix of Soviet-era and some more modern weapons systems; since 2010, it has received equipment from France, Israel, Italy, Oman, and Russia (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.4% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.6% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.8% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.6% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.75% of GDP (2020 est.)

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; 14-month service obligation (2021)

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 EU 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

vulnerable to money laundering from illegal drugs  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

228,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2020)

note

note: 29,826 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2021)

refugees (country of origin)

8,797 (Syria) (2020)

stateless persons

56 (2020)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

6.63 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.86 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

16.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

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, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

13.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)

forest

18.8% (2018 est.)

other

67.8% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

780 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

184 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

17 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

110 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

66.9% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

541,000 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

72,007 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13.3% (2015 est.)