ARCHIVE // CY // 1997
Cyprus
1997 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
Greek area: AM 4, FM 36, shortwave 1,
Radios
[time series]
Greek area: 500,000 (1996 est.); Turkish area: 130,000 (1996 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
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
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
Greek area: 367,000 (1996 est.); Turkish area: 80,000 (1996 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
Greek area: 8 (repeaters 34); Turkish area: 2
Televisions
[time series]
Greek area: 300,000 (1996 est.); Turkish area: 90,000 (1996 est.)
Turkish area
[time series]
AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables
Budget
[time series]
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)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 Cypriot pound (£C) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Debt - external
[time series]
Greek area: $1.8 billion (1996)
Economic aid
[time series]
Greek area: recipient - $700 million with amount declining in recent years (1974-96 est.); Turkish area: recipient - $400 million from Turkey (1977-96 est.)
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
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 $250 million economic cooperation accord with the Turkish Cypriot area to support tourism, education, and industry.
Electricity - capacity
[time series]
690,000 kW 000 kW
Electricity - consumption per capita
[time series]
3,380 kWh (1995)
Electricity - production
[time series]
2.5 billion kWh
Exchange rates
[time series]
Cypriot pounds per US1$ - 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)
Exports
[time series]
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%
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
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 - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
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.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $11,800 (Greek area: purchasing power parity - $13,700; Turkish area: purchasing power parity - $3,950) (1996 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
3.4% (Greek area: 4%; Turkish area: 0.5%) (1996 est.)
Imports
[time series]
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%
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
Greek area: -4% (1996); Turkish area: 2.6% (1992)
Industries
[time series]
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
(Inflation rate - consumer price index)
[time series]
Greek area: 3.3% (1996 est.);
Labor force
[time series]
total : Greek area: 299,700 by occupation: services 62%, industry 25%, agriculture 13% (1995) total: Turkish area: 76,500 by occupation: services 66%, industry 11%, agriculture 23% (1995)
Turkish area
[time series]
86% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
Greek area: 2.3% (1996 est.); Turkish area: 3.6% (1995 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 9,250 sq km (note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area) land: 9,240 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Climate
[time series]
temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
Coastline
[time series]
648 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point : Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Olympus 1,952 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
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
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
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
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Irrigated land
[time series]
390 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 13% other : 70% (1993 est.)
Location
[time series]
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Map references
[time series]
Middle East
Maritime claims
[time series]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
moderate earthquake activity
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; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
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
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 on 5 May 1985
Country name
[time series]
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)
Data code
[time series]
CY
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas NIKOLAIDES chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone : [1] (202) 462-5772
Executive branch
[time series]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[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 in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[357] (2) 465944
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
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
Government 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
Independence
[time series]
16 August 1960 (from UK) note: Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus
International organization participation
[time series]
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
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature 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 - 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
Capital
(National capital)
[time series]
Nicosia note: the Turkish area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 1 October note: Turkish area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
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 parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
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
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Military
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
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 expenditures - dollar figure
[time series]
$405 million (1996)
Military expenditures
(Military expenditures - percent of GDP)
[time series]
5.4% (1996)
Military manpower - availability
[time series]
males age 15-49 : 192,593 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
[time series]
males: 132,412 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - military age
[time series]
18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
[time series]
males: 6,038 (1997 est.)
People
Age structure
[time series]
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.)
Birth rate
[time series]
15.04 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
7.58 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
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)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Greek, Turkish, English
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 76.54 years male: 74.38 years female: 78.81 years (1997 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 98% female: 91% (1987 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot
Net migration rate
[time series]
3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Population
[time series]
752,808 (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
1.08% (1997 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
Sex ratio
[time series]
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.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2.17 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
15 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total : 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Heliports
[time series]
4 (1996 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
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
Merchant marine
[time series]
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.)
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Bay
Railways
[time series]
0 km