Cyprus

republicIndependence 16 August 1960 (from UK)

Cyprus as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 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
Position35 00 N, 33 00 E
Area9,250 sq km (note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area)
LocationMiddle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
1997

Every edition of Cyprus

Populationas each edition published it
752,808 people July 1997 est. · 707,776 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.08% 1997 est. · 0.94% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 34.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
76.54 years 1997 est. · 75.98 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.17 children per woman 1997 est. · 2.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
8.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 10 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$11,800 1996 est. · $11,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.4% 6.5% in 1993

Geography

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of | Turkey

17 fields

Land use(1993 est.)

arable land 12%permanent crops 5%permanent pastures 0%forests and woodland 13%other 70% (1993 est.)irrigated 390 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
9,250sq km
(note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area)land: 9,240 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmabout 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Coastline
648km
land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
1,952m
Olympuslowest point : Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Location

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references

Middle East

Climate

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

Terrain

central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Natural resources

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

Natural hazards

moderate earthquake activity

Environment - current issues

  • water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifier);
  • water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes;
  • coastal degradation;
  • loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements

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

People

15 fields
Population
752,808
(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.08% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth
15.04Death
7.58Net migration
3.34

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1997 est.)76.54
74.38 · 78.81
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1987 est.)94%
98% · 91%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish area)Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish area)other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish area)

Age structure

0-14 years:
25% (male 96,924; female 91,833)
15-64 years:
65% (male 244,821; female 241,580)
65 years and over:
10% (male 33,858; female 43,792) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.77 male(s)/female
total population :
1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Cypriot(s)
adjective:
Cypriot

Religions

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

Languages

Greek, Turkish, English

Government

Republic; President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.3%
Glafcos CLERIDES 50.3%Yeoryios VASSILIOU 49.7%election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1998)

Country name

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

note: the Turkish 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 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

National capital

Nicosia note: the Turkish area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)

Administrative divisions

  • 6 districts;
  • Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos;
  • note - Turkish area administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca

Independence

16 August 1960 (from UK) note: Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October note: Turkish area celebrates 15 November 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 area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
  • 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 Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
  • 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 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1998)
election results :
Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.3%, Yeoryios VASSILIOU 49.7%

note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975 (president elected by popular vote for a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000);

results - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area

Legislative branch

unicameral - Greek area:
  • House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats of which only 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);
  • Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May 2001); Turkish area: last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998)
election results :
  • Greek area: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK 8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.1%;
  • seats by party - DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2;
  • Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%;
  • seats by party - UBP (conservative) 17, DP 15, CTP 13, TKP 5

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature note : there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area

Political parties and leaders

Greek area:
  • Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS];
  • Democratic Rally or DISY [Ioannis MATSIS];
  • Democratic Party or DIKO [Spyros KYPRIANOU];
  • United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK [Vassos LYSSARIDIS];
  • Liberal Party or KP [Nikolaos ROLANDIS];
  • Free Democrats Movement or KED [Yeoryios VASSILIOU];
  • New Horizons [Nikolaos KOUTSOU, secretary general];
  • Ecologists [Yeoryios PERDHIKIS];
  • Turkish area: National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU];
  • Communal Liberation Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI];
  • Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT];
  • Free Democratic Party or HDP [Ismet KOTAK];
  • Nationalist Justice Party or MAP [Zorlu TORE];
  • Unity and Sovereignty Party or BEP [Arif Salih KIRDAG];
  • Democratic Party or DP [Serdar DENKTASH];
  • the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the label National Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12 December 1993 legislative election

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled);
  • Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West);
  • Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen;
  • Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is

International organization participation

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Andreas NIKOLAIDES
chancery:
2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone :
[1] (202) 462-5772

FAX

[1] (202) 483-6710; consulate(s) general: New York note: representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORHAN, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202) 887-6198

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission :
Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL (26 June 1996)
embassy:
corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address :
P. O. Box 4536, Nicosia, Cyprus
telephone:
[357] (2) 476100

FAX

[357] (2) 465944

Flag description

  • 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 between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field

Economy

The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, | but highly susceptible to external shocks.

23 fields
Real growth rate
3.4%
(Greek area: 4%; Turkish area: 0.5%) (1996 est.)industrial production growth: Greek area: -4% (1996); Turkisharea: 2.6% (1992)
Labor force
299,700
Greek area:by occupation: services 62%, industry 25%, agriculture 13% (1995)total: Turkish area: 76,500by occupation: services 66%, industry 11%, agriculture 23% (1995)

Economy - overview

The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 23% to GDP and employs 25% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 72% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals (caused by fluctuations in political and economic conditions in Western Europe and the Middle East) and the need for structural changes in the economy.

One bright spot has been the low rate of inflation. In 1996 Cyprus fully satisfied all the Maastricht convergence criteria. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP of 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 and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector.

In January 1997, Turkey signed a $250 million economic cooperation accord with the Turkish Cypriot area to support tourism, education, and industry.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $8.8 billion (Greek area: purchasing power parity - $8,300,000,000; Turkish area: purchasing power parity - $536,000,000) (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $11,800 (Greek area: purchasing power parity - $13,700; Turkish area: purchasing power parity - $3,950) (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

Greek area:
  • agriculture 5.3%;
  • industry 22.7%;
  • services 72% (1996 est.);
  • Turkish area: agriculture 11.4%;
  • industry 22.9%;
  • services 65.7% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate - consumer price index

Greek area: 3.3% (1996 est.);

Turkish area

86% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

Greek area: 2.3% (1996 est.); Turkish area: 3.6% (1995 est.)

Budget

revenues:
Greek area - $2.9 billion, Turkish area - $149 million
expenditures:
Greek area - $3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $453 million, Turkish area - $304 million, including capital expenditures of $20 million (1996)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

690,000 kW 000 kW

Agriculture - products

potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables

Exports

total value:
Greek area: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996);
commodities:
citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
partners:
Russia 17%, UK 11%, Greece 6%, Germany 5%
total value:
Turkish area: $71 million (f.o.b., 1996);
commodities:
citrus, potatoes, textiles
partners :
UK 35%, Turkey 30%

Imports

total value:
Greek area: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996);
commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery
partners:
US 16%, UK 11%, Italy 9%, Germany 7%, Greece 7%, Japan 6%
total value :
Turkish area: $330 million (f.o.b., 1996);
commodities:
food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
partners:
Turkey 53%, UK 13%

Debt - external

Greek area: $1.8 billion (1996)

Economic aid

Greek area: recipient - $700 million with amount declining in recent years (1974-96 est.); Turkish area: recipient - $400 million from Turkey (1977-96 est.)

Currency

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

Exchange rates

  • Cypriot pounds per US1$ - 0.4816 (January 1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992);
  • Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 112,019 (January 1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

7 fields

Telephones

Greek area: 367,000 (1996 est.); Turkish area: 80,000 (1996 est.)

Telephone system

excellent in both the Greek and Turkish areas

domestic:
open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international:
  • tropospheric scatter;
  • 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations

Greek area: AM 4, FM 36, shortwave 1,

Turkish area

AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios

Greek area: 500,000 (1996 est.); Turkish area: 130,000 (1996 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Greek area:
8 (repeaters 34); Turkish
area:
2

Televisions

Greek area: 300,000 (1996 est.); Turkish area: 90,000 (1996 est.)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
3
total : 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 3

Highways

total:
Greek area: 10,150 km; Turkish area: 2,350 km
paved :
Greek area: 5,781 km; Turkish area: 1,370 km
unpaved:
Greek area: 4,369 km; Turkish area: 980 km

Ports and harbors

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Bay

Merchant marine

total :
1,520 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,234,821 GRT/40,170,562 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 486, cargo 562, chemical tanker 26, combination bulk 50, combination ore/oil 19, container 119, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 142, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 50, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2

note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which are Greece 723, Germany 172, Russia 45, Netherlands 32, Japan 30, Belgium 26, Cuba 26, Latvia 17, UK 15, and US 14; Cyprus owns 71 additional ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,491,740 DWT that operate under the registries of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Hong Kong, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Syria, and UK (1996 est.)

Airports

15 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 1 (1996 est.)

Heliports

4 (1996 est.)

Military

7 fields

Military branches

Greek area:
  • Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements);
  • Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK);
  • Greek Cypriot Police;, Turkish area:
    • Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF),
    • Turkish Forces Regiment on Cyprus (KTKA),
    • Turkish mainland army units

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49 : 192,593 (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island);
  • there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island

Illicit drugs

  • transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;
  • some cocaine transits as well CZECH REPUBLIC

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cyprus.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cyprus/1997.

How to cite ← 1996 edition 1998 edition →