2024 Edition

Background

A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 after 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 and forced 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. A UN-mediated agreement to reunite Cyprus, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval from both communities in 2004. The most recent round of reunification negotiations was suspended in 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island joined the EU in 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 have the same legal rights accorded to citizens of other 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

268 sq km (2020)

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

15.6% (male 105,533/female 100,099)

15-64 years

70% (male 486,569/female 437,651)

65 years and over

14.4% (2024 est.) (male 83,094/female 107,579)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

2.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

9.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

10.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

8.1% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

54.5% (2023 est.)

Death rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

20.8

note

note: data represent the whole country

potential support ratio

4.8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

43.8

youth dependency ratio

23

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.8% of population

improved: total

total: 99.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.3% of population

Education expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.73 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

9.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

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%  (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.

note

note: data represent only the Republic of Cyprus

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.1 years

male

77.4 years

total population

80.2 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.2% (2021)

male

99.6%

total population

99.4%

Major urban areas - population

269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

68 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

41 years

male

38.2 years

total

39.5 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

30 years (2020 est.)

note

note: data represents only government-controlled areas

Nationality

adjective

Cypriot

noun

Cypriot(s)

Net migration rate

6.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 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

Physician density

3.14 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

female

645,329 (2024 est.)

male

675,196

total

1,320,525

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.95% (2024 est.)

Religions

Eastern Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, 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: 98.8% of population

improved: total

total: 99.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.3% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2020)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.11 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

23.2% (2020 est.)

male

47% (2020 est.)

total

35.1% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.49 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

67% of total population (2023)

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 "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" 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 (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)

local short form

Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish)

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 Julie D. FISHER (since 21 February 2023)

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 Evangelos SAVVA (since 15 September 2023)

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

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 CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023)

election results

2023: Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (independent) 32%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS (independent) 29.6%, Averof NEOFYTOU (DISY) 26.1%, Christos CHRISTOU (ELAM) 6%, other 6.3%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDS 52%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS 48%2018: 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 (limited to 2 consecutive terms); election last held on held 5 February 2023 with a runoff on 12 February 2023 (next to be held in 2028)

head of government

President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023)

note

note: vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but the post has been vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government

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; self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - 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 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, UNOOSA, 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 "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; note - 3 seats each are reserved for the Latin, Maronite, and Armenian religious groups;area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral "Assembly of the Republic" or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote using a hybrid d'Hondt method with voter preference 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; composition - men 48, women 8, percent of women 14.3%area administered by Turkish Cypriots - "Assembly of the Republic" - percent of vote by party - UBP 39.5%, CTP 32%, DP 7.4%, HP 6.7%, YDP 6.4%, other 8%; seats by party - UBP 24, CTP 18, DP 3, HP 3, YDP 2; composition NA

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 23 January 2022 (next to be held in 2027)

note

note: the area of Cyprus that Turkish Cypriots administer has a separate unicameral Assembly of the Republic, or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats); members are directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote

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 heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Paphos; Painted Churches in the Troodos Region; Choirokoitia

total World Heritage Sites

3 (all cultural)

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

area under government control: Democratic Front or DIPA Democratic Party or DIKODemocratic Rally or DISY Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance Movement of Social Democrats EDEKNational Popular Front or ELAM Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) Solidarity Movementarea administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDPCommunal Liberation Party - New Forces or TKP-YGCyprus Socialist Party or KSPDemocratic Party or DPNational Democratic Party or NDPNational Unity Party or UBP New Cyprus Party or YKPPeople's Party or HP Rebirth Party or YDPRepublican Turkish Party or CTPUnited Cyprus Party or BKP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, sheep milk, pork, goat milk, wheat, chicken, barley, grapes, olives (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$10.765 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$11.644 billion (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BBB- (2018)

Moody's rating

Ba2 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BBB- (2018)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$1.812 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$2.357 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$3.886 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

services-based, high-income EU island economy; heavy tourism; sustained growth between recovery of national banking system and COVID-19 trade restrictions; high living standards; a known financial hub, its stock exchange functions as an investment bridge between EU-and EEU-member countries

note

note: 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, until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. Its market-based economy 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. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. Little trade exists with the Republic of Cyprus outside of construction, historically relying heavily upon Turkey for financial aid, defense, telecommunications, utilities, and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions.

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$26.303 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$27.72 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$28.808 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, cheese, scented mixtures (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 10%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 7%, UK 6%, Liberia 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

89.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

19.1% (2023 est.)

household consumption

59.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-90.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.1% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.6% (2023 est.)

industry

12.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

74% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$32.23 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

31.3 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.7% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.5% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$25.164 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$27.658 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$29.091 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Greece 19%, Turkey 12%, Italy 9%, China 9%, Israel 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.16% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

note

note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.45% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.4% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.54% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

693,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

13.9% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

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 2017

97.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$43.637 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$45.845 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$46.976 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

9.91% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.06% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.47% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$48,500 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$50,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$50,600 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

2.13% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.79% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.86% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$1.611 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.671 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$1.789 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.71% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

7.51% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.81% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.96% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

15.1% (2023 est.)

male

19.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

17.5% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

118,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

6.595 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

6.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

53,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

71.6 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

78,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

5.024 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.145 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

236.617 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

83.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

11.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

4.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

106.317 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

45,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2020 est.)

total

332,080 (2020 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 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

91% (2021 est.)

total

809,900 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line about 34 per 100 and about 149 per 100 for mobile-cellular teledensity (2021)

general assessment

Cyprus suffered from the effects of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when the tourism sector was essentially closed; during 2022, there were adverse effects caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in a dramatic drop in the number of Russian tourists entering the country; the mobile market is served by four mobile network operators; the number of mobile subscribers fell in 2020, largely the result of subscribers scaling back on multiple SIM cards as an economic measure; the broadband market continues to develop steadily, providing the country with one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the region; DSL remains the dominant access platform, accounting for about two-thirds of fixed broadband connections; although fiber infrastructure in Cyprus is minimal (supported by the government and regulator) to extend an FttP service to about 200,000 premises; as a result, the number of DSL subscribers is set to fall steadily in coming years as customers are migrated to the fiber platform (2023)

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

297,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

149 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

1.392 million (2022 est.)

Airports

13 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5B

Heliports

69 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 243, container ship 154, general cargo 211, oil tanker 47, other 350

total

1,005 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

20,000 (2018) mt-km

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)

Ports

key ports

Dhekelia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Xeros

ports with oil terminals

4

small

3

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

3

Roadways

total

13,027 km (2022)

Turkish Cypriot control

7,000 km (2011)

Military - note

established in 1964, the National Guard (EF) is responsible for ensuring Cyprus’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; its primary focus is Turkey, which invaded Cyprus in 1974 and maintains a large military presence in the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; the majority of the force is deployed along the “Green Line” that separates the Greek Cypriots from the Turkish Cypriots; the EF also participates in some internal missions, such as providing assistance during natural disasters; Greece is its main security partner and maintains about 1,000 troops on Cyprus; the EF has conducted training exercises with other militaries including France, Israel, and the US; since Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, the EF has actively participated in the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has sent small numbers of personnel to some EU and missions; Cyprus is also part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (2024)

Military and security forces

Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF; includes Army Land Forces, Naval Command, Air Command) (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 12-15,000 active-duty personnel (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a large quantity of Russian and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with a smaller mix of mostly older Brazilian, European, Israeli, and US armaments; in 2023, Cyprus announced a 5-year modernization program to replace its Russian-made weapon systems with modern equipment from the West; the country had been under an arms embargo by the US since 1987 but the embargo was lifted in 2022 with conditions that require certifying each year (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

1.6% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.8% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.8% of GDP (2023 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 (2023)

note

note: the CNG accepts all foreign nationals of at least partial Cypriot descent under age 32 as volunteers; dual citizenship Cypriot origin citizens, who were born in Cyprus or abroad, have the obligation to serve in the CNG on repatriation, regardless of whether or not they possess a foreign citizenship; a person is considered as having Cypriot origin where a grandparent or parent was/is a Cypriot citizen

Illicit drugs

the ROC financial system is vulnerable to money laundering by domestic and foreign criminals; proceeds generated by illicit activity abroad pose a greater threat; primary sources of illicit proceeds are investment fraud, corruption, advance fee fraud, tax evasion, illegal drugs, and tobacco smuggling. Additionally, cybercrime, especially phishing, e-mail hacking, and ransomware use, continues to increase. Criminals have reportedly used ROC banks to launder proceeds, particularly from Russian and Ukrainian illicit activity.  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

246,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2022)

note

note: 55,098 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2023)

refugees (country of origin)

10,869 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 17,270 (Ukraine) (as of 11 February 2024)

stateless persons

74 (2022)

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 the Terrorism reference guide

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

6.63 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.86 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

14.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Troodos (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

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

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

780 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

67% of total population (2023)

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.)