Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base (2009)
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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 [time series]
uses the euro
Industries [time series]
none
Geography
total: 130.8 sq km country comparison to the world: 223 note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative [time series]
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Coastline [time series]
27.5 km
Environment - current issues [time series]
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
Geographic coordinates [time series]
34 59 N, 33 45 E
Geography - note [time series]
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area land 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 108 km border countries: Cyprus 108 km
Location [time series]
Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Map references [time series]
Europe
Government
Capital [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960; amended 1966 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, serves as a basic legal document) (2013)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Dhekelia
Dependency status [time series]
a special form of UK overseas territory; 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 Air Vice Marshall Graham STACEY (since 4 November 2010); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; the administrator appointed by the monarch
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of the UK is used
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales) judge selection and term of office: judges appointment and tenure NA subordinate courts: Resident Judges' Court; Courts Martial
Legal system [time series]
laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK; includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway
People and Society
Languages [time series]
English, Greek
Population [time series]
approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 service and UK based contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents country comparison to the world: 222