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Introduction - Cyprus
Background:
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following 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 forcing most Turkish Cypriots
into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored
attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey,
which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish
Cypriot-occupied area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. The election of a new Cypriot
president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both the Turkish
and Cypriot Governments to reopen unification negotiations. In September 2008,
the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities started
negotiations under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The entire
island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common
rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally
recognized Greek Cypriot Government, and is suspended in the areas administered
by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their
eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights
accorded to other citizens of European Union states.
Geography - Cyprus
Location:
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
country comparison to the world: 170
land: 9,241 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 150.4 km (approximately)
border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia 103 km (approximately)
Coastline:
648 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Current Weather
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain:
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant
plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources:
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use:
arable land: 10.81%
permanent crops: 4.32%
other: 84.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.4 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.21 cu km/yr (27%/1%/71%)
per capita: 250 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)
People - Cyprus
Population:
1,102,677 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 93,829/female 88,543)
15-64 years: 73.3% (male 420,062/female 388,050)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 48,652/female 63,541) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 36.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.663% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Birth rate:
11.38 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Death rate:
6.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Net migration rate:
11.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Urbanization:
urban population: 70% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 155
male: 11.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.66 years
country comparison to the world: 53
male: 74.88 years
female: 80.57 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.45 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups:
Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and Armenian Apostolic)
4%
Languages:
Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 35
Government - Cyprus
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Kypros/Kibris
note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the
island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC")
Government type:
republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began
following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further
solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek
military-junta-supported coup attempt 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 is recognized only by Turkey
Capital:
name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
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
Administrative divisions:
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 Nicosia (Lefkosia)and Larnaca
Independence:
16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13
February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only
recognized by Turkey
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15
November (1983) as Independence Day
Constitution:
16 August 1960
note: from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the
government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution
to govern the island and for better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots
have been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974
Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and
governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which became
the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)" when the Turkish Cypriots
declared independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by
referendum on 5 May 1985, although the "TRNC" remains unrecognized by any
country other than Turkey
Legal system:
based on English common law with civil law modifications; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Demetris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28 February 2008); 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 Demetris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28 February 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice
president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last
held on 17 and 24 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013)
election results: Demetris CHRISTOFIAS elected president; percent of vote (first
round) - Ioannis KASOULIDES 33.5%, Demetris CHRISTOFIAS 33.3%, Tassos
PAPADOPOULOS 31.8%; (second round) Demetris CHRISTOFIAS 53.4%, Ioannis
KASOULIDES 46.6%
note: Dervis EROGLU became "president" of the "TRNC" on 23 April 2010 after
"presidential" elections on 18 April 2010; results - Dervis EROGLU 50.4%, Mehmet
Ali TALAT 42.9%; Huseyin OZGURGUN is "TRNC acting prime minister"
Legislative branch:
unicameral - area under government control: 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); area administered by Turkish
Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: area under government control: last held on 21 May 2006 (next to be
held in May 2011); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held on 19 April
2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: area under government control: House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - AKEL 31.1%, DISY 30.3%, DIKO 17.9%, EDEK 8.9%,
EURO.KO 5.8%, Greens 2.0%; seats by party - AKEL 18, DISY 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 4,
EURO.KO 4, Greens 1; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the
Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 44.1%, CTP 29.3%, DP 10.6%, other 16%;
seats by party - UBP 26, CTP 15, DP 5, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots
Political parties and leaders:
area under government control: Democratic Party or DIKO [Marios KAROYIAN];
Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADES]; European Party or EURO.KO
[Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDES];
Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for Social Democrats or EDEK
[Yiannakis OMIROU]; Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist
Party) [Andros KYPRIANOU]; United Democrats or EDI [Michalis PAPAPETROU]
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Centrist Party or HP [Rasit PERTEV];
Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mehmet CAKICIL]; Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP
[Yusuf ALKIM]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform
Party or ORP [Turgay AVCI]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU];
Nationalist Justice Party or MAP [Ata TEPE]; New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat
KANATLI]; Politics for the People Party or HIS [Ahmet YONLUER]; Republican
Turkish Party or CTP [Ferdi Sabit SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet
IZCAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of
Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions
or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Hilmi AKIL;
office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank C. URBANCIC, Jr.
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944
Flag description:
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 Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the white field of
the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a
small distance from the top and bottom edges between which are centered a red
crescent and a red five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish
national flag but with the colors reversed
Economy - Cyprus
Economy - overview:
The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy
dominated by the service sector, which accounts for nearly four-fifths of GDP.
Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the most important sectors.
Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on
tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and
economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy in the area
under government control has grown at a rate well above the EU average since
2000. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and
adopted the euro as its national currency on 1 January 2008. An aggressive
austerity program in the preceding years, aimed at paving the way for the euro,
helped turn a soaring fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003) into a surplus of 1.2% in
2008, and reduced inflation to 4.7%. This prosperity came under pressure in
2009, as construction and tourism slowed in the face of reduced foreign demand
triggered by the ongoing global financial crisis. Although Cyprus lagged its EU
peers in showing signs of stress from the global crisis, the economy tipped into
recession in mid 2009 and GDP contracted by 0.8% in 2009. In addition, the
budget deficit is on the rise and reached 4.4% of GDP, a violation of the EU's
budget deficit criteria of no more than 3% of GDP. In response to the country's
deteriorating finances, Nicosia is promising to implement measures to cut the
cost of the state payroll, curb tax evasion, and revamp social benefits. As in
the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial
problem; a few desalination plants have been added to existing plants over the
last year and are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the country received
substantial rainfall from 2001-04. Since then, rainfall has been well below
average, making water rationing a necessity.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.97 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$23.16 billion (2008 est.)
$22.35 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$23.49 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
3.6% (2008 est.)
5.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$21,700 (2008 est.)
$21,300 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 18.7%
services: 79.3% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
403,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 20.5%
services: 71% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
3.6% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 117
Investment (gross fixed):
20.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Budget:
revenues:: $9.443 billion
expenditures:: $10.95 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
56.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
48.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
4.7% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
5% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility,
which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.19% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 130
6.74% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$6.996 billion (31 December 2007)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Cypriot pounds in
circulation prior to Cyprus joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); see
entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European
Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the EMU;
individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$75.06 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$80.68 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 47
$52.09 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
$7.955 billion (31 December 2008)
$29.48 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry, pork, lamb;
dairy, cheese
Industries:
tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production, ship repair
and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper,
stone, and clay products
Industrial production growth rate:
-5.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - production:
4.502 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - consumption:
4.277 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - consumption:
59,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - imports:
58,930 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Current account balance:
-$2.018 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
-$4.349 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$1.348 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$2.13 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing
Exports - partners:
Greece 23.83%, Germany 9.2%, UK 8.78% (2009)
Imports:
$7.277 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$11.06 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery,
transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Greece 20.18%, Italy 10.67%, UK 8.95%, Germany 8.79%, Israel 6.99%, China 5.52%,
Netherlands 4.85%, France 4.01% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$1.003 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
$32.86 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$23.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$20.71 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$13.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$10.49 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.734 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), Cypriot pounds (CYP)
per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586 (2006), 0.4641 (2005)
Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly half the per capita
GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given the north's
relative isolation, bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and
small market size. Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of
the work force. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew around 10.6% in 2006, fueled by
growth in the construction and education sectors, as well as increased
employment of Turkish Cypriots in the area under government control. GDP
declined about 2.0% in 2007. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on
transfers from the Turkish Government. Ankara directly finances about one-third
of the "TRNC's" budget. Aid from Turkey has exceeded $400 million annually in
recent years. The Turkish Cypriot economy experienced a sharp slowdown in
2008-09 due to the global financial crisis and, because of its reliance on
British and Turkish tourism, which has declined due to the recession. Turkish
Cypriot finances also deteriorated in 2009 as decreased state revenues and
increased government expenditures on public sector salaries and social services
led to a large budget deficit.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6%, industry: 22.5%, services: 69.1%
(2006 est.)
Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%, services: 56.5%
(2004)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: %NA
Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006)
Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry,
lamb
Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper,
furniture
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005)
Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles
Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited
Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals,
machinery
Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $NA
Debt - external: $NA
Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL)
Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.319 (2007) 1.4286 (2006)
1.3436 (2005) 1.4255 (2004) 1.5009 (2003)
Communications - Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:
area under government control: 413,300 (2008); area administered by Turkish
Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 103
Telephones - mobile cellular:
area under government control: 1.017 million (2008); area administered by
Turkish Cypriots: 147,522 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 145
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both area under government control and area
administered by Turkish Cypriots
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses
the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the
SEA-ME-WE-3, combine to provide connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East,
and Asia; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat)
Radio broadcast stations:
area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
area under government control: 8
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)
Internet country code:
.cy
Internet hosts:
185,451 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Internet users:
334,400 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 121
Transportation - Cyprus
Airports:
15 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Heliports:
9 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 14,671 km
country comparison to the world: 122
12,321 km under government control (includes 257 km of expressways)
2,350 km administered by Turkish Cypriots (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 858
country comparison to the world: 13
by type: bulk carrier 295, cargo 182, chemical tanker 63, container 193,
liquefied gas 10, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum tanker 58,
refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 1, vehicle
carrier 5
foreign-owned: 690 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Canada 2, Chile 1, China 10, Cuba 1,
Denmark 4, Estonia 5, Germany 189, Greece 259, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 10,
Ireland 3, Israel 4, Italy 7, Japan 21, South Korea 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1,
Netherlands 22, Norway 18, Philippines 1, Poland 18, Portugal 1, Russia 50,
Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, Spain 6, Sweden 2, Syria 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 9, UK 19, US
5)
registered in other countries: 256 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Bahamas 25, Belize
1, Burma 1, Cambodia 7, Comoros 1, Georgia 1, Germany 2, Gibraltar 1, Greece 7,
Liberia 63, Malta 31, Marshall Islands 37, Netherlands 8, Netherlands Antilles
21, Panama 19, Poland 1, Russia 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 1, Samoa 1, Singapore 1, Tonga 1, Turkey 2, UK 2, unknown 1)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos;; area administered
by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia
Military - Cyprus
Military branches:
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Forea, EF; includes
naval and air elements); northern Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for compulsory military
service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of age for voluntary service;
women may volunteer for a 3-year term; length of normal service is 25 months
(2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 322,807
females age 16-49: 284,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 271,692
females age 16-49: 236,908 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,317
female: 7,542 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Transnational Issues - Cyprus
Disputes - international:
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities,
the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot
community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
(UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between
north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided,
with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended
in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and
maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for over 30
years) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic
to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well;
despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable
to money laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak (2008)
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