Dhekelia

Dhekelia as the 2019 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 30 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 Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia), UTC+2
Position34 59 N, 33 45 E
Area130.8 sq km
LocationEastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Populationas each edition published it
15,500 people 2,200 in 2004

Introduction

1 field

Background

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

Geography

Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

10 fields
Area
130.8sq km
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclavesabout three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
27.5km
Land boundaries
108km
border countries (1): Cyprus 108 km

Location

Eastern Mediterranean, 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;
  • several small Cypriot enclaves exist within the Sovereign Base Area (SBA);
  • of the SBA land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

People and Society

3 fields
Population
15,500
approximately · on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 9,700 Cypriots and 5,800 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents

Government

11 fields

Country name

conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Dhekelia

Dependency status

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

Capital

name:
Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri
geographic coordinates:
34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference:
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology:
"Episkopi" means "episcopal" in Greek and stems from the fact that the site previously served as the bishop's seat of an Orthodox diocese

Constitution

history: presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, serves as a basic legal document); amended 1966

Executive branch

chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Administrator Major General James ILLINGWORTH (since 14 March 2017); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense
elections/appointments:
the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense

Judicial branch

highest courts:
Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
judge selection and term of office:
see entry for United Kingdom
subordinate courts:
Resident Judges' Court; military courts

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

National anthem

note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy

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

3 fields

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.

Exchange rates

note: uses the euro

Communications

1 field

Broadcast media

British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base

Military and Security

1 field

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK; includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Dhekelia.” The World Factbook 2019. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/dhekelia/2019.