ARCHIVE // CY // 1999
Cyprus
1999 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Cypriot area
[time series]
80,000 (1996 est.)
Cypriot area
[time series]
90,000 (1996 est.)
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: AM 4, FM 36, shortwave 1, Turkish Cypriot area: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: 500,000 (1996 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 130,000 (1996 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot 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 Cypriot area: 367,000 (1996 est.); Turkish
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: 7 (in addition, there are 35 low-power repeaters) (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 3 (in addition, there are 4 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: 300,000 (1996 est.); Turkish
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture--products)
[time series]
potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables
Budget
[time series]
revenues: Greek Cypriot area--$2.9 billion, Turkish Cypriot area--$171 million expenditures: Greek Cypriot area--$3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $345 million, Turkish Cypriot area--$306 million, including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: 1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents;
Cypriot area
[time series]
6.4% (1996)
Debt - external
(Debt--external)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: $1.56 billion (1997)
Economic aid
(Economic aid--recipient)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area?$187 million in grants (1990-94); Turkish Cypriot area-- $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97) that are usually forgiven
Economic overview
(Economy--overview)
[time series]
Economic affairs are dominated by the division of the country into the southern (Greek) area controlled by the Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered area. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy in the south is focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector, water shortage is a growing problem, and several desalination plants are planned. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector, e.g. tourism, education, and industry.
Electricity - consumption
(Electricity--consumption)
[time series]
2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports
(Electricity--exports)
[time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports
(Electricity--imports)
[time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - production
(Electricity--production)
[time series]
2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source
(Electricity--production by source)
[time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Cypriot pounds per US1$--0.5013 (January 1999), 0.5170 (1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--331,400 (January 1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994)
Exports
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.);
Exports - commodities
(Exports--commodities)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes (1996); Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, textiles (1996)
Exports - partners
(Exports--partners)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: Russia 19.1%, Bulgaria 16.4%, UK 11.3%, Greece 6.3%, Germany 4.8%; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 48.2%, UK 21.3%, other EU 13.7% (1997)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity--$10 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP--composition by sector)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.4%; industry 22.4%; services 73.2% (1996); Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 10%; industry 24.6%; services 65.4% (1995)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP--per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1997 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP--real growth rate)
[time series]
2.3% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.);
Imports - commodities
(Imports--commodities)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery (1996);
Imports - partners
(Imports--partners)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: US 17.8%, UK 11.9%, Italy 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, Greece 7.6% (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 55.3%, UK 13.8%, other EU 11.6% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: -4% (1996); Turkish Cypriot area: 5.1% (1995)
Industries
[time series]
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: 2.3% (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 87.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: 299,700; Turkish Cypriot area: 76,500 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation
(Labor force--by occupation)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: services 62%, industry 25%, agriculture 13% (1995); Turkish Cypriot area: services 66%, industry 11%, agriculture 23% (1995)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA%
Turkish Cypriot area
[time series]
$70.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Turkish Cypriot area
[time series]
$318.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Turkish Cypriot area
[time series]
food, minerals, chemicals, machinery (1996)
Turkish Cypriot area
[time series]
1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Unemployment rate
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1998 est.); Turkish
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 9,250 sq km (note--of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area) land: 9,240 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative
(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
(Environment--current issues)
[time series]
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer; increased salination in the north); 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, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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 Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Capital
[time series]
Nicosia note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (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 Cypriot 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 Cypriot 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 embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet (202) 887-6198
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 five-year terms; election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003) election results: Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of vote--Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2% note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot 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 Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
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 intervention in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, 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 Cypriot 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, IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, 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 Cypriot area
Legal system
[time series]
based on common law, with civil law modifications
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral--Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots. 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note--only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot 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 6 December 1998 (next to be held December 2003) 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 4.3%; 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 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP 15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party--UBP 24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 1 October; note--Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Greek Cypriot area: Restorative PERDHIKIS]; Turkish Cypriot area: National Unity Party or UBP
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 Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish Forces Regiment on Cyprus (KTKA), Turkish mainland army units
Military expenditures - dollar figure
(Military expenditures--dollar figure)
[time series]
$405 million (1996)
Military expenditures
(Military expenditures--percent of GDP)
[time series]
5.4% (1996)
Military manpower - availability
(Military manpower--availability)
[time series]
males age 15-49: 194,337 (1999 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
(Military manpower--fit for military service)
[time series]
males age 15-49: 133,559 (1999 est.)
Military manpower - military age
(Military manpower--military age)
[time series]
18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
(Military manpower--reaching military age annually)
[time series]
males: 6,410 (1999 est.)
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 24% (male 92,626; female 88,127) 15-64 years: 65% (male 249,083; female 244,750) 65 years and over: 11% (male 34,612; female 44,866) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
13.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
7.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
7.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Greek, Turkish, English
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 77.1 years male: 74.91 years female: 79.39 years (1999 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]
0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
[time series]
754,064 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.67% (1999 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
(Disputes--international)
[time series]
1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized 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
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
15 (1998 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
(Airports--with paved runways)
[time series]
total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
(Airports--with unpaved runways)
[time series]
total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports
[time series]
4 (1998 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: Greek Cypriot area: 10,415 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km paved: Greek Cypriot area: 5,947 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,468 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 1,469 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,362,067 GRT/36,945,331 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 430, cargo 530, chemical tanker 23, combination bulk 42, combination ore/oil 11, container 141, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 152, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 58, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea passenger 14, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 37 countries among which are Greece 611, Germany 129, Russia 49, Latvia 278, Netherlands 20, Japan 28, Cuba 16, China 15, Hong Kong 13, and Poland 15 (1998 est.)
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos Bay
Railways
[time series]
0 km