Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 357,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media [time series]
mix of state and privately run TV and radio; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations; 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services (including from Greece and Turkey), and a number of private radio stations; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, 7 privately owned TV stations and 21 privately owned radio stations, 6 radio and 4 TV channels at local universities, 1 military radio station, and 1 radio station for civil defense cooperation, as well as relay stations from Turkey (2019)
Internet country code [time series]
.cy
Internet users [time series]
percent of population: 91% (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 245,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 1.51 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2024 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
milk, potatoes, sheep milk, pork, goat milk, wheat, chicken, olives, grapes, barley (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget [time series]
revenues: $14.39 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $13.733 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Current account balance [time series]
-$3.05 billion (2024 est.) -$3.831 billion (2023 est.) -$2.178 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Economic overview [time series]
services-based, high-income EU island economy; heavy tourism; sustained growth between recovery of national banking system and COVID-19 trade restrictions; high living standards; a known financial hub, its stock exchange functions as an investment bridge between EU-and EEU-member countries note: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. Its market-based economy is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. Little trade exists with the Republic of Cyprus outside of construction, historically relying heavily upon Turkey for financial aid, defense, telecommunications, utilities, and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions.
Exchange rates [time series]
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.)
Exports [time series]
$35.12 billion (2024 est.) $32.922 billion (2023 est.) $32.563 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities [time series]
ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, cheese, scented mixtures (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners [time series]
Libya 14%, Greece 11%, Lebanon 8%, Bermuda 7%, Marshall Islands 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$36.333 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 58.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -1.6% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 96.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -93.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 1.2% (2024 est.) industry: 10.3% (2024 est.) services: 76.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]
31.5 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 26.2% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports [time series]
$33.802 billion (2024 est.) $32.556 billion (2023 est.) $31.486 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum, ships, cars, packaged medicine, coal tar oil (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners [time series]
Greece 20%, UK 10%, Italy 7%, Turkey 6%, Spain 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
4.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries [time series]
tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.8% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 8.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force [time series]
772,300 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line [time series]
13.9% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt [time series]
97.5% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$50.055 billion (2024 est.) $48.386 billion (2023 est.) $47.085 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
3.4% (2024 est.) 2.8% (2023 est.) 7.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$53,300 (2024 est.) $52,200 (2023 est.) $51,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances [time series]
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$2.088 billion (2024 est.) $1.789 billion (2023 est.) $1.671 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
24.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate [time series]
5.7% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 6.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 15.6% (2024 est.) male: 17.4% (2024 est.) female: 13.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
consumption: 46,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 71.6 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity [time series]
installed generating capacity: 2.288 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 5.197 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 146.11 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources [time series]
fossil fuels: 79.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita [time series]
107.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Petroleum [time series]
refined petroleum consumption: 45,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]
6.837 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.737 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Climate [time series]
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environmental issues [time series]
scarce water resources; salination; water pollution from sewage, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
Geoparks [time series]
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Troodos (2023)
International environmental agreements [time series]
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 14% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.) forest: 18.6% (2023 est.) other: 67.1% (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions [time series]
14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
780 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 112 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 17 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 177 million cubic meters (2022)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 67% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 769,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.6% (2022 est.)
Geography
total : 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) land: 9,241 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 winters
Coastline [time series]
648 km
Elevation [time series]
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 91 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)
Irrigated land [time series]
269 sq km (2020)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 156 km border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 48 km; Dhekelia 108 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 14% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.) forest: 18.6% (2023 est.) other: 67.1% (2023 est.)
Location [time series]
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey; note - Cyprus views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Map references [time series]
Middle East
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards [time series]
moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Natural resources [time series]
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Population distribution [time series]
population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca
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; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos) note: the 5 "districts" of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Capital [time series]
name: Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa) geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 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 etymology: may have been named after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory; the Greek name for the city, Lefkosia, and the Turkish name, Lefkosa, both mean "White City"
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Constitution [time series]
history: ratified 16 August 1960 amendment process: constitution of the Republic of Cyprus -- proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964 constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus -- proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum note: in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) local short form: Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish) etymology: the Greek name for the island is Kupros, which is probably derived from the Sumerian kabar , meaning "copper" or "bronze;" copper mines were located on the island in antiquity note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" or "TRNC" ("Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti" or "KKTC")
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Julie Davis FISHER (since 21 February 2023); note - Ambassador FISHER is temporarily assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine as Charg d Affaires ad interim; she remains fully accredited in Cyprus embassy: Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: 5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC 20521-5450 telephone: [357] (22) 393939 FAX: [357] (22) 780944 email address and website: ACSNicosia@state.gov https://cy.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Evangelos SAVVA (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 email address and website: info@cyprusembassy.net https://www.cyprusembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: New York honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023) head of government: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms) most recent election date: 5 February 2023, with a runoff on 12 February 2023 election results: 2023: Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (independent) 32%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS (independent) 29.6%, Averof NEOFYTOU (DISY) 26.1%, Christos CHRISTOU (ELAM) 6%, other 6.3%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDS 52%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS 48% 2018: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44% expected date of next election: 2028 note 1: vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but the post has been vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government note 2: under the 1960 constitution, 3 ministerial posts are reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president, but Greek Cypriots currently hold the positions
description: a copper-colored silhouette of the island is centered on a white field above two crossed green olive branches meaning: the olive branches symbolize hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note 1: one of two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Kosovo is the other note 2: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but has narrow horizontal red stripes near the top and bottom edges, with a red crescent and a five-pointed red star between them; the banner is modeled on the Turkish national flag, but with the colors reversed
Government type [time series]
Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "TRNC, which is recognized only by Turkey
Independence [time series]
16 August 1960 (from the UK) note: Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but only Turkey recognizes these proclamations
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges, including the court president) judge selection and term of office: Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic on the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "TNRC district and family courts" note: the highest court in the TRNC is the Supreme Court (consists of 8 judges, including the court president)
Legal system [time series]
mixed system of English common law and civil law, with European law supremacy
Legislative branch [time series]
legislature name: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 80 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 5/30/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Rally (DISY) (17); Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) (15); Democratic Party (DIKO) (9); National Popular Front (ELAM) (4); Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) (4); Democratic Alignment (DIPA) (4); Cyprus Green Party (KOP) (3) percentage of women in chamber: 14.3% expected date of next election: May 2026 note: the area of Cyprus that Turkish Cypriots administer has a separate unicameral Assembly of the Republic, or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats); members are directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote
National anthem(s) [time series]
title: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Freedom) lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS history: adopted 1966; Cyprus uses the Greek national anthem; the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus uses Turkey's national anthem
National coat of arms [time series]
The coat of arms of Cyprus features a yellow shield representing the island s copper deposits. A dove, one of the national symbols, holds an olive branch symbolizing peace, and olive branches encircle the shield. The year 1960 on the shield is the date of Cyprus s independence from the United Kingdom.
National color(s) [time series]
blue, white
National heritage [time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Paphos ; Painted Churches in the Troodos Region; Choirokoitia
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 1 October (1960) note: Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day"
National symbol(s) [time series]
Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove
Political parties [time series]
area under government control: Democratic Front or DIPA Democratic Party or DIKO Democratic Rally or DISY Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance Movement of Social Democrats EDEK National Popular Front or ELAM Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) Solidarity Movement area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP Communal Liberation Party - New Forces or TKP-YG Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP Democratic Party or DP National Democratic Party or NDP National Unity Party or UBP New Cyprus Party or YKP People's Party or HP Rebirth Party or YDP Republican Turkish Party or CTP United Cyprus Party or BKP
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 after years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued and forced most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. A UN-mediated agreement to reunite Cyprus, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval from both communities in 2004. The most recent round of reunification negotiations was suspended in 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island joined the EU in 2004, although the EU acquis -- the body of common rights and obligations -- applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government and is suspended in the TRNC. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship have the same legal rights accorded to citizens of other EU states.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
established in 1964, the National Guard (EF) is responsible for ensuring Cyprus s territorial integrity and sovereignty; its primary focus is Turkey, which invaded Cyprus in 1974 and maintains a large military presence in the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; the majority of the force is deployed along the Green Line that separates the Greek Cypriots from the Turkish Cypriots; the EF also participates in some internal missions, such as providing assistance during natural disasters; Greece is its primary security partner and maintains a military presence on Cyprus; the EF has conducted training exercises with other militaries including France, Israel, and the US; since Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, the EF has actively participated in the EU s Common Security and Defense Policy and has sent small numbers of personnel to some EU and missions; Cyprus is also part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has been deployed in Cyprus since 1964; its mandate includes supervising the de facto ceasefire that came into effect in August 1974 and maintaining a buffer zone between the lines of the Cypriot National Guard and of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces; UNFICYP has about 1,100 personnel assigned (2025)
Military and security forces [time series]
Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]
approximately 12-15,000 active Cypriot National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the National Guard's inventory includes a mix of armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Israel, Russia, several European countries, and the US (2025)
Military expenditures [time series]
1.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
all Cypriot men must complete 14 months of compulsory service upon reaching the age of 18; women may volunteer for 6 months of service at age 18; men and women may also enlist as contract soldiers up to age 42 (2025)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 105,533/female 100,099) 15-64 years: 70% (male 486,569/female 437,651) 65 years and over: 14.4% (2024 est.) (male 83,094/female 107,579)
Alcohol consumption per capita [time series]
total: 9.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
9.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 43.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 21.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.) note: data represent the whole country
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure [time series]
4.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 12.5% national budget (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Greek 98.8%, other 1% (includes Maronite, Armenian, Turkish-Cypriot), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) note: data represent only the Greek-Cypriot citizens in the Republic of Cyprus
Gross reproduction rate [time series]
0.73 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure [time series]
9.4% of GDP (2021) 18.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): ό ί έ , ί ή ώ ώ . (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent only the Republic of Cyprus
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 80.2 years (2024 est.) male: 77.4 years female: 83.1 years
Major urban areas - population [time series]
269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
14 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 39.9 years (2025 est.) male: 38.2 years female: 41 years
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
30 years (2020 est.) note: data represents only government-controlled areas
Nationality [time series]
noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot
Net migration rate [time series]
6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
21.8% (2016)
People - note [time series]
demographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated
Physician density [time series]
3.56 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Population [time series]
total: 1,332,293 (2025 est.) male: 681,128 female: 651,165
Population distribution [time series]
population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca
Population growth rate [time series]
0.89% (2025 est.)
Religions [time series]
Eastern Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Hindu) 1.4%, unknown 1.1%, none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.) note: data represent only the government-controlled area of Cyprus
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 16 years (2022 est.) male: 16 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Tobacco use [time series]
total: 33.1% (2025 est.) male: 44.1% (2025 est.) female: 22.2% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.49 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 67% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s) [time series]
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees: 73,303 (2024 est.) IDPs: 244,944 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 130 (2024 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
14 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
5B
Heliports [time series]
68 (2025)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 1,005 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 243, container ship 154, general cargo 211, oil tanker 47, other 350
total ports: 6 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 3 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 4 key ports: Dhekelia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Xeros