Cyprus

republicIndependence 16 August 1960 (from UK)

Cyprus as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 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

Populationas each edition published it

709,343 people July 1991 · 707,776 in 1990

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 1991 · 2.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

10 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 10 in 1990

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

10 fields

Total area

9,250km2

land area: 9,240 km2Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Coastline

648 km Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation; Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use

arable land 40%;
permanent crops 7%;
meadows and pastures 10%;
forest and woodland 18%;
other 25%;
includes irrigated 10% (most irrigated lands are in the Turkish-Cypriot area of the island)

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

709,343

(July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

18Death

8Net migration

Literacy

90%

(male 96%, female 85%) age 10 and over can read and write (1976)

Religion

Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian, Apostolic, and other 4%

Labor force

Greek area--246,100;
services 42%, industry 33%, agriculture 22%;
Turkish area--NA (1989)

Government

Republic

17 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52%

George VASSILIOU 52%Glafcos 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

DESY 19DEKO 16AKEL (Communist) 15EDEK 6

Percent of vote

DESY 33.56%DEKO 27.65%AKEL (Communist) 27.43%EDEK 11.07%

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

Administrative divisions

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

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

Legal system

based on common law, with civil law modifications

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. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975 Greek Cypriot--Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL; Communist Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS, Democratic Rally (DESY), Glafcos CLERIDES;
Democratic Party (DEKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU;
United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDES;
Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADESOK), Pavlos DINGLIS, chairman;
Liberal Party, Nikos ROLANDIS;
Turkish area--National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU;
Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI;
Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Ozker OZGUR;
New Cyprus Party (NKP), Alpay DURDURAN;
New Dawn Party (YDP), Ali Ozkan ALTINISHIK;
Free Democratic Party, Ismet KOTAK;
note--CTP, TKP, and YDP joined in the coalition Democratic Struggle Party (DMP) for the 22 April 1990 legislative election

Suffrage

universal at age 18 President--last held 14 February and 21 February 1988 (next to be held February 1993);
results--George VASSILIOU 52%, Glafcos CLERIDES 48%;
House of Representatives--last held 8 December 1985 (next to be held 19 May 1991);
results--DESY 33.56%, DEKO 27.65%, AKEL (Communist) 27.43%, EDEK 11.07%;
seats--(56 total) DESY 19, DEKO 16, AKEL (Communist) 15, EDEK 6;
Turkish Area: President--last held 22 April 1990 (next to be held April 1995);
results--Rauf R. DENKTASH 66%, Ismail BOZKURT 32.05%;
Turkish Area: Assembly of the Republic--last held 6 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995);
results--UBP (conservative) about 55%, DMP NA%;
seats--(50 total) UBP (conservative) 34, CTP (Communist) 7, TKP (center-right) 7, New Dawn Party 2

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)

C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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--Ambassador Robert E. LAMB;
Embassy at the corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia (mailing address is FPO New York 09530);
telephone [357] (2) 4651511

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

$5.4billion

per capita $7,960; real growth rate 5.5% (1990)

Inflation, consumer prices

4.5%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

below · (1990)

External debt

$2.2billion

(1990)

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 25% 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.

Exports

$770 million (f.o.b., 1990);
commodities--citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes;
partners--UK 23%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 9%, Saudi Arabia 4%

Imports

$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990);
commodities--consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery;
partners--France 12%, UK 11%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%

Industrial production

growth rate 6.5% (1988); accounts for 27% of GDP

Electricity

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

Industries

food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products

Agriculture

accounts for 7% 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

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $292 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $230 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $24 million

Currency

Cypriot pound (plural--pounds) and in Turkish area, Turkish lira (plural--liras); 1 Cypriot pound (5C) = 100 cents and 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Exchange rates

Cypriot pounds (5C) per US$1--0.4325 (December 1990), 0.4572 (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--2,873.9 (December 1990), 2,608.6 (1990), 2,121.7 (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

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

1,169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,310,063 GRT/34,338,028 DWT;
10 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 435 cargo, 76 refrigerated cargo, 20 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 48 container, 4 multifunction large load carrier, 111 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 8 liquefied gas, 17 chemical tanker, 30 combination ore/oil, 360 bulk, 2 vehicle carrier, 44 combination bulk;
note--a flag of convenience registry;
Cuba owns at least 25 of these ships, USSR owns 52, and Yugoslavia owns 1

Civil air

11 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--14 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