World Countries Info Independence from the UK was approved in 1960, with constitutional guarantees by the Greek
Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to
seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled
almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. UN-led direct
talks between the two sides to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the
island began in January 2002 and will reach a culmination when a referendum of all
Cypriots is held on 21 April 2004, just 10 days before the Greek part of Cyprus is
scheduled to join the EU.
Geography of Cyprus
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Location:
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Middle East, island in the Mediterranean
Sea, south of Turkey |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
35 00 N, 33 00 E |
|
Karte references:
|
Middle East |
|
Area:
|
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355
sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
water: 10 sq km
land: 9,240 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
648 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
|
Climate:
|
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry
summers and cool winters |
|
Terrain:
|
central plain with mountains to north and
south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,951 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber,
salt, marble, clay earth pigment |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 14.4%
permanent crops: 4.5%
other: 81.1% (2001 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
382 sq km (2001 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
moderate earthquake activity; droughts |
|
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,
Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants |
|
Geography - note:
|
the third largest island in the
Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)
|
More Geography
Population of Cyprus
|
Population:
|
775,927 (July 2004 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 21.4% (male 84,850;
female 81,235)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 264,441; female 258,150)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 38,058; female 49,193) (2004 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 34.4 years
male: 33.4 years
female: 35.5 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.55% (2004 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
12.66 births/1,000 |
|
Death rate:
|
7.63 deaths/1,000 |
|
Net migration rate:
|
0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 7.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 9.19 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 77.46 years
male: 75.11 years
female: 79.92 years (2004 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.85 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1% (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
less than 1,000 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
|
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot |
|
Ethnic groups:
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Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001) |
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Religions:
|
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite,
Armenian Apostolic, and other 4% |
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Languages:
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Greek, Turkish, English |
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Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) |
|
Government type:
|
republic
note: a disaggregation 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 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt gave
the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only
internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot
"President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a
"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey; both
sides publicly support a settlement based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or
confederation (Turkish Cypriot position) |
|
Capital:
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Nicosia |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca,
Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include
Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and
Larnaca |
|
Independence:
|
16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish
Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note -
Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day |
|
Constitution:
|
16 August 1960; negotiations to create the
basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots
created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum
on 5 May 1985 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on common law, with civil law
modifications |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: President Tassos
PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is
currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last
held 16 February 2003 (next to be held NA February 2008)
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area
since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year
term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2005); results - Rauf
R. DENKTASH reelected president after the other contender withdrew; Mehmet Ali TALAT has
been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since mid-January 2004; there
is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos
PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6% |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to
Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party -
AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of
the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic
Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic Movement
6, DP 7
elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006);
Turkish Cypriot area: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held NA December 2008) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly
by the president and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or
DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting
Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS];
New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL
(Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly
United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement
or EDE [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH];
National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our
Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and
Democratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT] |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK
(pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish
Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist
controlled) |
Economy
The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks.
Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings
in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability in the region and fluctuations in
economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting the
criteria for admission to the EU. EU-driven tax reforms in 2003 have introduced fiscal
imbalances, which, coupled with a sluggish tourism sector, have resulted in growing
fiscal deficits. As in the Turkish sector, water shortages are a perennial problem; a
few desalination plants are now on-line. After 10 years of drought, the country received
substantial rainfall from 2001-03, alleviating immediate concerns. The Turkish Cypriot
economy has roughly one-third of the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is
recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing and
investment. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which
together employ about half of the work force. To compensate for the economy's weakness,
Turkey provides grants and loans to support economic development. Ankara provided $200
million in 2002 and pledged $450 million for the 2003-05 period. Future events
throughout the island will be highly influenced by the outcome of negotiations on the
UN-sponsored agreement to unite the Greek and Turkish areas.
|
GDP:
|
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity
- $8.9 billion (2003 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $1.217 billion
(2003 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
Greek Cypriot area: 1.6% (2003 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: 2.6% (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity
- $16,000 (2003 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
Greek Cypriot area: agriculture
4.9%; industry 19.9%; services 75.6%
Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9% (2003) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
Greek Cypriot area: 4% (2003 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 12.6% (2003 est.) |
|
Labor force:
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Greek Cypriot area: 306,000; Turkish
Cypriot area: 95,025 (2000) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
Greek Cypriot area: services 75.6%,
industry 19.4%, agriculture 4.9% (2003); Turkish Cypriot area: services 68.9%, industry
20.5%, agriculture 10.6% (2003) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
Greek Cypriot area: 3.4%; Turkish Cypriot
area: 5.6% (2003 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $4.4
billion, Turkish Cypriot area - $231.3 million (2002 est.)
expenditures: Greek Cypriot area - $539 million, including capital expenditures of
$539 million, Turkish Cypriot area - $432.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.) |
|
Industries:
|
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal
products, tourism, wood products |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
Greek Cypriot area: -1.4% (2002); Turkish
Cypriot area: -0.3% (2002) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
3.401 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA
kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100%
other: 0% (2001)
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
Greek Cypriot area: 3.163 billion kWh;
Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
0 kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
0 kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley,
grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry, pork, lamb, kids, dairy |
|
Exports:
|
Greek Cypriot area: $1.054 billion f.o.b.
Turkish Cypriot area: $46 million f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,
pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing and cigarettes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,
textiles |
|
Exports - partners:
|
UK 26.7%, Greece 6.6%, France 4.9%, Poland
4.3% (2002) |
|
Imports:
|
Greek Cypriot area: $4.637 billion f.o.b.;
Turkish Cypriot area: $301 million f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods,
petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; Turkish
Cypriot area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Russia 17.1%, Greece 7.1%, Germany 6.6%,
France 6.4%, UK 6.3%, Italy 6.3%, South Korea 5.4%, Japan 5.1% (2002) |
|
Debt - external:
|
Greek Cypriot area: $8 billion; Turkish
Cypriot area: $NA (2002) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998);
Turkish Cypriot area - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97), which are
usually forgiven (1998) |
|
Currency:
|
Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP);
Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish lira (TRL) |
|
Currency code:
|
CYP; TRL |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.52 (2003),
0.61 (2002), 0.64 (2001), 0.62 (2000), 0.54 (1999), Turkish lira per US dollar 1.505
million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
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