Dhekelia

Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area

Dhekelia as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 20 fields, one of 22 editions from 2004 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.

CapitalEpiskopi
Position34 59 N, 33 45 E
Area130.8 sq km
Locationon the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Populationas each edition published it
2,200 people 15,500 in 2025

Introduction

1 field

Background

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovreignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

Geography

On the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

8 fields
Area
130.8sq km
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclavesabout three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Location

on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

Geographic coordinates

34 59 N, 33 45 E

Map references

Middle East

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Environment - current issues

netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn

Geography - note

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

People

1 field

Population

no indigenous personnel

note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base,

but do not live there

Government

8 fields

Country name

conventional long form:
Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form:
Dhekelia

Dependency status

overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Capital

Episkopi; located in Akrotiri

Executive branch

chief of state:
Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003) note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
elections:
  • none;
  • the monarch is hereditary;
  • the administrator is appointed by the monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description

the flag of the UK is used

Economy

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia.

1 field

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Military

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Military - note

includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Dhekelia.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/dhekelia/2004.