Communications
Airports [time series]
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
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 10,780 km paved: 5,170 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 5,610 km
Merchant marine [time series]
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
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos
Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]
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
Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]
exchange rate conversion - $407 million, 6.5% of GDP (1993)
Greek area [time series]
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Manpower availability [time series]
males age 15-49 186,807; fit for military service 128,444; reach military age (18) annually 5,233 (1994 est.)
Turkish area [time series]
Turkish Cypriot Security Force
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
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
Budget [time series]
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)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 Cypriot pound (#C) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Economic aid [time series]
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
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 620,000 kW production: 1.77 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,530 kWh (1991)
Exchange rates [time series]
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)
Exports [time series]
$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%
Debt - external (External debt) [time series]
$1.6 billion (1992)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Greek area [time series]
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.7 billion (1992)
Greek area [time series]
8.2% (1992)
Greek area [time series]
$11,390 (1992)
Greek area [time series]
6.5% (1992)
Greek area [time series]
1.8% (1992)
Illicit drugs [time series]
transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey
Imports [time series]
$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 (Industrial production) [time series]
growth rate 4% (1993 est.); accounts for 16.0% of GDP
Industries [time series]
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
Economic overview (Overview) [time series]
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.
Turkish area [time series]
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $550 million (1992)
Turkish area [time series]
7.3% (1992)
Turkish area [time series]
$3,130 (1992)
Turkish area [time series]
63.4% (1992)
Turkish area [time series]
1.2% (1992)
Geography
total area: 9,250 sq km land area: 9,240 sq km comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Climate [time series]
temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
Coastline [time series]
648 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
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
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
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)
Irrigated land [time series]
350 sq km (1989)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 40% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 18% other: 25%
Location [time series]
Middle East, in the eastern Mediterreanean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of Turkey
Map references [time series]
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims [time series]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources [time series]
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Terrain [time series]
central plain with mountains to north and south
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos
Capital [time series]
Nicosia
Constitution [time series]
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
Digraph [time series]
CY
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
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
Executive branch [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[357] (2) 465944
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
Greek Cypriot [time series]
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
Legislative branch (House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon)) [time series]
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
Independence [time series]
16 August 1960 (from UK)
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court; note - there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area
Legal system [time series]
based on common law, with civil law modifications
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral
International organization participation (Member of) [time series]
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
Country name (Names) [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 1 October (15 November (1983) is celebrated as Independence Day in the Turkish area)
Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]
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 [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Turkish Area [time series]
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
Turkish area [time series]
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
Government type (Type) [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard BOUCHER embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Nicosia mailing address: APO AE 09836 telephone: [357] (2) 476100
People
Birth rate [time series]
16.69 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.61 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
Greek 78%, Turkish 18%, other 4%
Greek area [time series]
285,500 by occupation: services 57%, industry 29%, agriculture 14% (1992)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Languages [time series]
Greek, Turkish, English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 76.22 years male: 73.97 years female: 78.58 years (1994 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1987 est.) total population: 94% male: 98% female: 91%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Population [time series]
730,084 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.91% (1994 est.)
Religions [time series]
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian, Apostolic, and other 4%
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.32 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Turkish area [time series]
75,000 by occupation: services 52%, industry 22%, agriculture 26% (1992)