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 communities 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 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. An UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The most recent round of negotiations to reunify the island were suspended in July 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. 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 government, and is suspended in the “TRNC.” However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of EU states.
land: 9,241 sq km
water: 10 sq km
border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 48 km; Dhekelia 108 km
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 91 m
arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 18.8% (2018 est.)
other: 67.8% (2018 est.)
1,308,120 (2023 est.)
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
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
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%; note - data represent only the Republic of Cyprus (2011 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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
0-14 years: 15.63% (male 104,950/female 99,515)
15-64 years: 70.36% (male 484,087/female 436,271)
65 years and over: 14.01% (2023 est.) (male 79,897/female 103,400)
total dependency ratio: 43.8
youth dependency ratio: 23
elderly dependency ratio: 20.8
potential support ratio: 4.8 (2021 est.)
note: data represent the whole country
total: 39.1 years (2023 est.)
male: 37.9 years
female: 40.6 years
1% (2023 est.)
10.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
6.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca
urban population: 67% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
30 years (2020 est.)
note: data represents only government-controlled areas
68 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
total: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total population: 80 years (2023 est.)
male: 77.2 years
female: 82.9 years
1.48 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.72 (2023 est.)
NA
improved: urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 99.8% of population
total: 99.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 0.2% of population
total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
8.1% of GDP (2020)
3.14 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
3.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
improved: urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 98.8% of population
total: 99.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 1.2% of population
total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
21.8% (2016)
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.)
total: 35.1% (2020 est.)
male: 47% (2020 est.)
female: 23.2% (2020 est.)
NA
54.5% (2023 est.)
6.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.2% (2021)
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2020)
demographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated
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, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
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
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
agricultural land: 13.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 18.8% (2018 est.)
other: 67.8% (2018 est.)
urban population: 67% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
particulate matter emissions: 14.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 6.63 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.86 megatons (2020 est.)
municipal solid waste generated annually: 541,000 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 72,007 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2015 est.)
municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
780 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
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.
$37.546 billion (2021 est.)
$35.209 billion (2020 est.)
$36.819 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - $1.829 billion (2007 est.)
6.64% (2021 est.)
-4.37% (2020 est.)
5.53% (2019 est.)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - -16.2% (2020 est.)
$41,700 (2021 est.)
$39,500 (2020 est.)
$41,700 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
**
note:** area administered by Turkish Cypriots - $11,700 (2007 est.)
$24.946 billion (2019 est.)
2.45% (2021 est.)
-0.64% (2020 est.)
0.25% (2019 est.)
Fitch rating: BBB- (2018)
Moody’s rating: Ba2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2018)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
agriculture: 2% (2017 est.)
industry: 12.5% (2017 est.)
services: 85.5% (2017 est.)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - agriculture: 6.2%,; industry: 35.1%,; services: 58.7% (2012 est.)comparison rankings:
household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 14.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 63.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -67.8% (2017 est.)
milk, potatoes, pork, sheep milk, goat milk, barley, wheat, poultry, olives, tangerines/mandarins
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb
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
8.1% (2021 est.)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - -0.3% (2007 est.)
655,100 (2021 est.)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - 95,030 (2007 est.)
6.13% (2021 est.)
7.59% (2020 est.)
7.07% (2019 est.)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - 9.4% (2005 est.)
total: 11.8% (2021 est.)
male: 9.2%
female: 14.9%
14.7% (2018 est.)
31.2 (2019 est.)
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 28.8% (2014)
revenues: $10.362 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $9.996 billion (2019 est.)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - revenues: $2.5 billion; expenditures: $2.5 billion (est. 2006)
1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
97.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
106.6% of GDP (2016 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
22.42% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
calendar year
-$1.957 billion (2021 est.)
-$2.523 billion (2020 est.)
-$1.445 billion (2019 est.)
$24.551 billion (2021 est.)
$20.379 billion (2020 est.)
$19.835 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - $68.1 million (est. 2007)
India 9%, Greece 9%, Libya 8%, United Kingdom 7% (2019)
ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cheese, recreational boats (2021)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles
$23.748 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$20.711 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$19.575 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - $1.2 billion (est. 2007)
Greece 16%, Italy 10%, Turkey 8%, Russia 5%, Germany 5%, United Kingdom 5%, China 5% (2019)
refined petroleum, ships, cars, coal tar oil, packaged medicines (2019)
note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
$1.611 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$1.237 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$1.033 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
$213.19 billion (2019 est.)
$231.885 billion (2018 est.)
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2017 est.)
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
installed generating capacity: 1.881 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 4.733 billion kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 184 million kWh (2019 est.)
note: electricity production in area administered by Turkish Cypriots - 998.9 million kWh (est. 2005)
note: electricity consumption in area administered by Turkish Cypriots - 797.9 million kWh (est. 2005)comparison rankings:
fossil fuels: 86.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 5.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 54,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
49,240 bbl/day (2015 est.)
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
8.024 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 8.024 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
133.92 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 401,408 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 20,000 (2018) mt-km
5B
15 (2021)
13
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
2
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
9 (2021)
total: 12,901 km (2016)
government control: 12,901 km (2016) (includes 272 km of expressways)
paved: 8,631 km (2016)
unpaved: 4,270 km (2016)
Turkish Cypriot control: 7,000 km (2011)
total: 1,030 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 255, container ship 169, general cargo 200, oil tanker 61, other 345
major seaport(s): area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia
manyapis