Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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

Area [time series]

total: 123 sq km note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

Area - comparative [time series]

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Environment - current issues [time series]

shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base

Geographic coordinates [time series]

34 37 N, 32 58 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Location [time series]

peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Capital [time series]

Episkopi; also serves as capital of Dhekelia

Country name [time series]

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

Dependency status [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

the flag of the UK is used

Legal system [time series]

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Background [time series]

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 southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

Military - note [time series]

Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

Population [time series]

no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; note - there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there