Cyprus

Republic of Cyprus

republicIndependence 16 August 1960 (from UK)

Cyprus as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 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

Locationin the eastern Mediterreanean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of

Populationas each edition published it

723,371 people July 1993 est. · 707,776 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.94% 1993 est. · 0.89% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 34.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.98 years 1993 est. · 80.2 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.34 children per woman 1993 est. · 2.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$11,000 1992 · $53,300 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

6.5% 1992 · 3.4% in 2025

Geography

In the eastern Mediterreanean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of | Turkey

13 fields

Land useshare of 9,250 km2

arable land 40%permanent crops 7%meadows and pastures 10%forest and woodland 18%other 25%irrigated 350 km2 (1989)

Area

9,250km2

land area: 9,240 km2comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Coastline

648km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

in the eastern Mediterreanean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of Turkey

Map references

Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World

International 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

723,371

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 0.94% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

17.14Death

7.74Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years75.98

73.75 · 78.31

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy94%

98% · 91%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1987)

Ethnic divisions

Greek 78%Turkish 18%other 4%

Infant mortality rate

9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Cypriot(s)
adjective:: Cypriot

Religions

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

Labor force

Greek area:: 282,000
by occupation:: services 57%, industry 29%, agriculture 14% (1991)
Turkish area:: 72,000
by occupation:: services 57%, industry 22%, agriculture 21% (1991)

Government

Republic

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.3%

Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%George VASSILIOU 49.7%

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form:: Cyprus

note: 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" (TRNC), 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

Legal system

based on common law, with civil law modifications

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (15 November is celebrated as Independence Day in the Turkish area)

Political parties and leaders

Greek Cypriot:: Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL; Communist Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS;
Democratic Rally (DISY), Glafkos CLERIDES;
Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU;
United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS;
Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU;
Liberal Party, Nikos ROLANDIS;
Free Democrats, George VASSILIOU
Turkish area:: National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU;
Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI;
Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Ozker OZGUR;
New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN;
Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ergun VEHBI;
New Birth Party (YDP), Ali Ozkan ALTINISHIK;
Free Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK;
Nationalist Justice Party (MAP), Zorlu TORE;
United Sovereignty Party, Arif Salih KIRDAG;
Democratic Party (DP), Hakki ATUN;
Fatherland Party (VP), Orhan UCOK;
CTP, TKP, and YDP joined in the coalition Democratic Struggle Party (DMP) for the 22 April 1990 legislative election;
the CTP and TKP boycotted the byelection of 13 October 1991, in which 12 seats were at stake;
the DMP was dissolved after the 1990 election

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

President:: last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held February 1998); results - Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George VASSILIOU 49.7%
House of Representatives:: last held 19 May 1991;
results - DISY 35.8%, AKEL (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10. 9%;
others 3.2%;
seats - (56 total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7
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) 54.4%, DMP 44.4% YKP 0.9%;
seats - (50 total) UBP (conservative) 45, SDP 1, HDP 2, YDP 2;
note - by-election of 13 October 1991 was for 12 seats;
DP delegates broke away from the UBP and formed their own party after the last election;
seats as of July 1992 UBP 34, SPD 1, HDP 1, YDP 2, DP 10, independents 2

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

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Glafkos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993) note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975; Dervish EROGLU has been prime minister of the Turkish area since 20 July 1985

Member of

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS
chancery:: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 462-5772
consulate general:
New York note:: Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN, office at 1667 K Street, NW, Washington DC, telephone (202) 887-6198

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Robert E. LAMB
embassy:: corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia
mailing address:: APO AE 09836
telephone:: [357] (2) 465151
FAX:: [357] (2) 459-571

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

note: the Turkish cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom with a red crescent and red star on a white field

Economy

The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous.

19 fields

External debt

$1.9billion

(1991)

Budget

Revenues

$1.7 billionExpenditures

$2.2 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $350 million (1993)

Overview

The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry contributes 16.5% to GDP and employs 29% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 62% to GDP and employs 57% of the labor force. Rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products and in tourism have played important roles in the average 6.8% rise in GDP between 1986 and 1990.

This progress was temporarily checked in 1991, because of the adverse effects of the Gulf War on tourism. Nevertheless in mid-1991, the World Bank "graduated" Cyprus off its list of developing countries. In contrast to the bright picture in the south, the Turkish Cypriot economy has less than half the per capita GDP and suffered a series of reverses in 1991.

Crippled by the effects of the Gulf war, the collapse of the fruit-to-electronics conglomerate, Polly Peck, Ltd., and a drought, the Turkish area in late 1991 asked for a multibillion-dollar grant from Turkey to help ease the burden of the economic crisis. In addition, the Turkish government extended a $100 million loan in November 1992 to be used for economic development projects in 1993. Turkey normally underwrites a substantial portion of the Turkish Cypriot economy.

National product

Greek area:: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.3 billion (1992)
Turkish area:: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $600 million (1990)

National product real growth rate

Greek area:: 6.5% (1992)
Turkish area:: 5.9% (1990)

National product per capita

Greek area:: $11,000 (1992)
Turkish area:: $4,000 (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Greek area:: 5.1% (1991)
Turkish area:: 69.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate

Greek area:: 2.4% (1991)
Turkish area:: 1.5% (1991)

Exports

$875 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
partners:: UK 23%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 10%, Germany 5%

Imports

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery
partners:: UK 13%, Japan 12%, Italy 10%, Germany 9.1%

Electricity

620,000 kW capacity; 1,770 million kWh produced, 2,530 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

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

Agriculture

contributes 6% to GDP and employs 14% of labor force in the south;
major crops - potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, citrus fruits;
vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues

Illicit drugs

transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $292 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $250 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $24 million

Currency

1 Cypriot pound (#C) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Exchange rates

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

5 fields

Highways

10,780 km total;
5,170 km paved;
5,610 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth

Ports

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos

Merchant marine

1,299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,045,037 GRT/37,119,933 DWT;
includes 10 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 463 cargo, 77 refrigerated cargo, 24 roll-on/roll-off, 70 container, 4 multifunction large load carrier, 110 oil tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 26 chemical tanker, 32 combination ore/oil, 422 bulk, 3 vehicle carrier, 48 combination bulk, 1 railcar carrier, 2 passenger;
note - a flag of convenience registry;
Cuba owns 27 of these ships, Russia owns 36, Latvia also has 7 ships, Croatia owns 2, and Romania 5

Airports

total:: 13
usable:: 13
with permanent-surface runways:: 10
with runways over 3,659 m:: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 1

Telecommunications

excellent in both the area controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek area), and in the Turkish-Cypriot administered area;
210,000 telephones;
largely open-wire and microwave radio relay;
broadcast stations - 11 AM, 8 FM, 1 (34 repeaters) TV in Greek sector and 2 AM, 6 FM and 1 TV in Turkish sector;
international service by tropospheric scatter, 3 submarine cables, and satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT earth stations

Defense Forces

Greek area: | Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek | Cypriot Police | Turkish area: | Turkish Cypriot Security Force

3 fields

Branches

Greek area:: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish area:: Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 185,371;
fit for military service 127,536;
reach military age (18) annually 5,085 (1993 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $209 million, 5% of GDP (1990 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cyprus.” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cyprus/1993.

How to cite ← 1992 edition 1994 edition →