Cyprus

republicIndependence 16 August 1960 (from UK)

Cyprus as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNicosia
Area9,250 km2
1990

Every edition of Cyprus

Populationas each edition published it
707,776 people July 1990 · 1.33m in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 0.94% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 34.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 75.98 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.4 children per woman 1990 · 1.49 in 2025
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
10 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 7.9 in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $11,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 6.5% in 1993

Geography

12 fields

Land useshare of 9,250 km2

arable land 40%permanent crops 7%meadows and pastures 10%forest and woodland 18%other 25%includes 10% irrigated (most irrigated lands are in the Turkish-Cypriot area of the island)
Total area
9,250km2
land area: 9,240 km2Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Coastline
648km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Disputes

  • 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas--a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (60% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (35% of the island) that are separated by a narrow UN buffer zone;
  • in addition, there are two UK sovereign base areas (about 5% of the island's land area)

Climate

temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters

Terrain

central plain with mountains to north and south

Natural resources

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

Environment

moderate earthquake activity; water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable resources concentrated in the Turkish-Cypriot area)

People

14 fields
Population
707,776
(July 1990), growth rate 1.0% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
19Death
8Net migration
0

Ethnic divisions

Greek 78%Turkish 18%other 4%

Religion

Greek Orthodox 78%Muslim 18%Maronite 4%Armenian; Apostolic; and other
Literacy
99%
(est.)

Infant mortality rate

10 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

73 years male, 78 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

2.4 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Cypriot(s); adjective--Cypriot

Language

Greek, Turkish, English

Labor force

  • Greek area--251,406;
  • 42% services, 33% industry, 22% agriculture;
  • Turkish area--NA (1986)

Organized labor

156,000 (1985 est.)

Government

Republic

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52%
George Vassiliou 52%Glafkos Clerides 48%14 February and 21 February 1988 (next to be held February 1993)

House of Representatives, 56 seats, elected 8 December 1985one dot, one seat

Democratic Rally 19Democratic Party 16AKEL (Communist) 15EDEK 6

Percent of vote

Democratic Rally 33.56%Democratic Party 27.65%AKEL 27.43%EDEK 11.07%

Long-form name

Republic of Cyprus

Type

  • republic;
  • a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963;
  • this separation was further solidified following the Turkish invasion of the island in July 1974, which 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, which has been recognized only by Turkey;
  • both sides publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of government

Capital

Nicosia

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos

Independence

16 August 1960 (from UK)

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 area passed by referendum in May 1985

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October

Executive branch

president, Council of Ministers (cabinet); note--there is a president, prime minister, and Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon); note--there is a unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi) in the Turkish area

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court;
  • note--there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area Chief of State and Head of Government--President George VASSILIOU (since February 1988);
  • note--Rauf R. DENKTAS was proclaimed President of the Turkish area on 13 February 1975

Political parties and leaders

  • Greek Cypriot--Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL; Communist Party), Dimitrios Christotias, Democratic Rally (DESY), Glafkos Clerides;
  • Democratic Party (DEKO), Spyros Kyprianou;
  • United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos Lyssarides;
  • Turkish area--National Unity Party (NUP), Dervis Eroglu;
  • Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Ismail Bozkurt;
  • Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Ozker Ozgur;
  • New Birth Party (NBP), Aytac Besheshler;
  • New Cyprus savey (NCP), Alpay Durduran

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18 President--last held 14 February and 21 February 1988 (next to be held February 1993);
  • results--George Vassiliou 52%, Glafkos Clerides 48%;
  • House of Representatives--last held 8 December 1985 (next to be held December 1990);
  • results--Democratic Rally 33.56%, Democratic Party 27.65%, AKEL 27.43%, EDEK 11.07%;
  • seats--(56 total) Democratic Rally 19, Democratic Party 16, AKEL (Communist) 15, EDEK 6;

Turkish Area

President--last held 9 June 1985 (next to be held June 1990); results--Rauf Denktash 70%;

Turkish Area

  • Legislative Assembly--last held 23 June 1985 (next to be held June 1990);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(50 total) National Unity Party (conservative) 24, Republican Turkish Party (Communist) 12, Communal Liberation Party (center-right) 10, New Birth Party 4

Communists

about 12,000

Other political or pressure groups

  • United Democratic Youth Organization (EDON; Communist controlled);
  • Union of Cyprus Farmers (EKA; Communist controlled);
  • Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK; pro-West);
  • Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO; Communist controlled);
  • Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK; pro-West);
  • Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen);
  • Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)

Member of

  • CCC, Commonwealth, Council of Europe, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO;
  • Turkish Federated State of Cyprus--OIC (observer)

Diplomatic representation

  • Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS;
  • Chancery at 2211 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
  • telephone (202) 462-5772;
  • there is a Cypriot Consulate General in New York;
  • US--(vacant);
  • Embassy at the corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia (mailing address is FPO New York 09530);
  • telephone [357] (2) 465151

Flag

  • white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag;
  • the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities

Economy

These data are for the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus (information on the northern Turkish-Cypriot area is sparse).

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$4.2billion
per capita $6,100; real growth rate 6.9% (1988 est.)
External debt
$2.8billion
(1988)

Imports $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1988)commodities, where a share is given

consumer goods
23%petroleum and lubricants
12%
also food and feed grains, machinery; partners--EC 60%, Middle East and North Africa 7%, US 4%

Budget

Revenues
$1.2 billionExpenditures
$1.4 billion
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $178 million (1989 est.)

Overview

These data are for the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus (information on the northern Turkish-Cypriot area is sparse). The economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry contributes about 28% to GDP and employs 35% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes about 55% to GDP and employs 40% of the labor force.

Rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products and in tourism have played important roles in the average 6% rise in GDP in recent years. While this growth put considerable pressure on prices and the balance of payments, the inflation rate has remained low and the balance-of-payments deficit manageable.

Exports

  • $767 million (f.o.b., 1988);
  • commodities--citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes;
  • partners--Middle East and North Africa 37%, UK 27%, other EC 11%, US 2%

Industrial production

growth rate 6.5% (1988)

Electricity

620,000 kW capacity; 1,770 million kWh produced, 2,530 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

mining (iron pyrites, gypsum, asbestos); manufactured products--beverages, footwear, clothing, and cement--are principally for local consumption

Agriculture

  • accounts for 8% of GDP and employs 22% of labor force;
  • major crops--potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, and citrus fruits;
  • vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues

Aid

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $272 million;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $223 million;
  • OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million;
  • Communist countries (1970-88), $24 million

Currency

Cypriot pound (plural--pounds) and in Turkish area, Turkish lira (plural--liras); 1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents and 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Exchange rates

  • Cypriot pounds (LC) per US$1--0.4854 (January 1990), 0.4933 (1989), 0.4663 (1988), 0.4807 (1987), 0.5167 (1986), 0.6095 (1985);
  • in Turkish area, Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--2,314.7 (November 1989), 1,422.3 (1988), 857.2 (1987), 674.5 (1986), 522.0 (1985)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 13 total, 13 usable

permanent-surface runways
10runways over 3,659 m
nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m
7runways 1,220-2,439 m
2

Highways

  • 10,780 km total;
  • 5,170 km bituminous surface treated;
  • 5,610 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth

Ports

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos

Merchant marine

  • 1,100 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,093,340 GRT/32,148,550 DWT;
  • includes 1 passenger, 12 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 434 cargo, 61 refrigerated cargo, 18 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 40 container, 94 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 specialized cargo, 3 liquefied gas, 13 chemical tanker, 29 combination ore/oil, 341 bulk, 3 vehicle carrier, 48 combination bulk carrier;
  • note--a flag of convenience registry;
  • Cuba owns at least 20 of these ships and Yugoslavia owns 1

Civil air

8 major transport aircraft

Telecommunications

  • excellent in the area controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek area), moderately good in the Turkish-Cypriot administered area;
  • 210,000 telephones;
  • stations--13 AM, 7 (7 repeaters) FM, 2 (40 repeaters) TV;
  • tropospheric scatter circuits to Greece and Turkey;
  • 3 submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite earth stations--INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, and EUTELSAT systems

Defense Forces

Cyprus National Guard; Turkish area--Turkish Cypriot Security Force

3 fields

Military manpower

males 15-49
180,946fit for military service
125,044reach military age (18) annually
5,083
Defense expenditures
2%of GDP
or $84 million (1990 est.)

Branches

Cyprus National Guard; Turkish area--Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cyprus.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cyprus/1990.

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