Cyprus

republicIndependence 16 August 1960 (from UK)

Cyprus as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 129 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalNicosia
LocationMiddle East, in the eastern Mediterreanean Sea, 97 km west of Syria
1994

Every edition of Cyprus

Populationas each edition published it
730,084 people July 1994 est. · 707,776 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.91% 1994 est. · 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
2.32 children per woman 1994 est. · 2.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 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

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

22 fields
Coastline
648km
land boundaries: 0 km
Irrigated land
350sq km
(1989)

Location

Middle East, 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

total area

9,250 sq km

land area

9,240 sq km

comparative area

about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

continental shelf

200-m depth or to depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

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

arable land

40%

permanent crops

7%

meadows and pastures

10%

forest and woodland

18%

other

25%

current issues

  • water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable resources concentrated in the Turkish Cypriot area);
  • water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes;
  • coastal degradation;
  • loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

natural hazards

moderate earthquake activity

international agreements

  • party to - Air Pollution, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

People

23 fields
Population
730,084
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 0.91% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
16.69Death
7.61Net migration
0

Ethnic divisions

Greek 78%Turkish 18%other 4%
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1987 est.)

Infant mortality rate

9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

76.22 years

male

73.97 years

female

78.58 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Cypriot(s)

adjective

Cypriot

Religions

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

Languages

Greek, Turkish, English

total population

94%

male

98%

female

91%

Greek area

285,500

by occupation

services 57%, industry 29%, agriculture 14% (1992)

Turkish area

75,000

by occupation

services 52%, industry 22%, agriculture 26% (1992)

Government

Republic

36 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

35.8%
DISY 35.8%AKEL (Communist) 30.6%DIKO 19.5%EDEK 10.9%others 3.2%

Legislature, 56 seatsone dot, one seat

DISY 20AKEL (Communist) 18DIKO 11EDEK 7

conventional long form

Republic of Cyprus

conventional short form

Cyprus

Type

republic

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (15 November (1983) is celebrated as Independence Day in the Turkish area)

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 5 May 1985

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

chief of state and head of government

  • President Glafkos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
  • election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held February 1998);
  • results - Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George VASSILIOU 49.7%

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed jointly by the president and vice-president

note

  • Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975;
  • Hakki ATUN has been prime minister of the Turkish area since 1 January 1994;
  • there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area

House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon)

  • elections last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held NA);
  • 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

Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi):
  • elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (50 total) UBP (conservative) 17, DP 15, CTP 13, TKP 5

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; note - there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area

Greek Cypriot

  • Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, Communist Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS;
  • Democratic Rally (DISY), John MATSIS;
  • 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;
  • National Struggle Party (MSP), Zorlu TORE;
  • Unity and Sovereignty Party (USP), Arif Salih KIRDAG;
  • Democratic Party (DP), Hakki ATUN;
  • Fatherland Party (VP), Orhan UCOK

note

  • 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 by-election 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)

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Andreas JACOVIDES

chancery

2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 462-5772

consulate(s) 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

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard BOUCHER

embassy

corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Nicosia

mailing address

APO AE 09836

telephone

[357] (2) 476100

FAX

[357] (2) 465944

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

31 fields
External debt
$1.6billion
(1992)

Overview

The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry contributes 16% to GDP and employs 29% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 60% to GDP and employs 57% of the labor force. An average 6.8% rise in real GDP between 1986 and 1990 was temporarily checked in 1991, because of the adverse effects of the Gulf War on tourism.

Economic growth surged again in 1992, bolstered by strong foreign and domestic demand. As the economy gained momentum, however, it began to overheat; inflation reached 6.5%. The economy has likely recorded a sharp drop in growth in 1993, due to the recession in Western Europe, Cyprus' main trading partner, but probably will pick up again in 1994.

The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP in the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture, which employs more than one-quarter of the workforce.

Moreover, because the Turkish lira is legal tender, the Turkish Cypriot economy has suffered the same high inflation as mainland Turkey. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support has reached about one-third of Turkish Cypriot GDP.

Greek area

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.7 billion (1992)

Turkish area

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $550 million (1992)

Greek area

8.2% (1992)

Turkish area

7.3% (1992)

Greek area

$11,390 (1992)

Turkish area

$3,130 (1992)

Greek area

6.5% (1992)

Turkish area

63.4% (1992)

Greek area

1.8% (1992)

Turkish area

1.2% (1992)

revenues

Greek area - $1.7 billion Turkish area - $273 million

expenditures

Greek area - $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $350 million Turkish area - $360 million, including capital expenditures of $78 million (1994)

Exports

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes

partners

UK 19%, Greece 8%, Lebanon 2%, Egypt 7%

Imports

$3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery

partners

UK 11%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%, Germany 9%, US 8%

Industrial production

growth rate 4% (1993 est.); accounts for 16.0% of GDP

capacity

620,000 kW

production

1.77 billion kWh

consumption per capita

2,530 kWh (1991)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • contributes 7% to GDP and employs 26% 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

recipient

  • 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

  • Cypriot pounds per $US1 - 0.5148 (December 1993), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4615 (1991), 0.4572 (1990), 0.4933 (1989);
  • Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 15,196.1 (January 1994), 10,983.3 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991), 2,608.6 (1990), 2,121.7 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

13 fields

total

10,780 km

paved

5,170 km

unpaved

gravel, crushed stone, earth 5,610 km

Ports

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos

Merchant marine

1,399 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,743,484 GRT/39,874,985 DWT, bulk 469, cargo 496, chemical tanker 27, combination bulk 48, combination ore/oil 32, container 82, liquefied gas 3, multifunction large load carrier 4, oil tanker 122, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 67, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 12, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3

note

a flag of convenience registry; Cuba owns 26 of these ships, Russia owns 61, Latvia owns 7, Croatia owns 2, and Romania owns 4

total

14

usable

14

with permanent-surface runways

11

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

7

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

2

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

4 fields

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 15-49 186,807;
  • fit for military service 128,444;
  • reach military age (18) annually 5,233 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $407 million, 6.5% of GDP (1993)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cyprus.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cyprus/1994.

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