Cyprus

Cyprus

Introduction

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 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reopen unification negotiations. In September 2008, the leaders of the two communities began negotiations under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island

the talks remain ongoing. 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 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

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: 171 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

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

460 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

0.4 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.21cu km/yr (27%/1%/71%)
per capita:250cu 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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective:Cypriot

Ethnic groups

Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Languages

Greek (official), Turkish (official), English

Religions

Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and Armenian Apostolic) 4%

Population

1,120,489 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.2% (male 93,280/female 88,022)
15-64 years:73.4% (male 427,752/female 394,578)
65 years and over:10.4% (male 50,761/female 66,096) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 34.8 years
male:33.5 years
female:36.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.617% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Birth rate

11.41 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Death rate

6.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Net migration rate

11.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Urbanization

urban population: 70% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

NICOSIA (capital) 240,000 (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.38 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 154 male:11.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female:7.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.82 years
country comparison to the world: 53 male:75.04 years
female:80.74 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.45 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107

Physicians density

2.3 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 59

Hospital bed density

3.72 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 55

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

12.3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 48

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 99

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:14 years
female:14 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9%
country comparison to the world: 110 male:8.6%
female:9.4% (2008)

Government

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, following a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt that 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 they then called 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

mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with Greek Orthodox religious law influence

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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%, other 1.4%

(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%

Irsen KUCUK 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 22 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016)

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 – DISY 34.3%, AKEL 32.7%, DIKO 15.8%, EDEK 8.9%, EURO.KO 3.9%, other 4.5%

seats by party – DISY 20, AKEL 19, DIKO 9, EDEK 5, EURO.KO 2, other 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)

subordinate courts
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 [Praxoula ANTONIADOU]
area administered by Turkish Cypriots:Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mehmet CAKICI]

Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Yusuf ALKIM]

Democratic Party or DP [Serdaer DENKTASH]

Freedom and Reform Party or ORP [Turgay AVCI]

National Unity Party or UBP [Irsen KUCUK]

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, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, 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 Pavlos ANASTASIADES
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 Dilek Yavuz YANIK

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

National symbol(s)

Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep)

white dove

National anthem

name: “Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian” (Hymn to Liberty)
lyrics/music:Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
note:adopted 1960

Cyprus adopted the Greek national anthem as its own

the Turkish community in Cyprus uses the anthem of Turkey

Economy

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, the profitability of 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 behind its EU peers in showing signs of stress from the global crisis, the economy tipped into recession in 2009, contracting by 1.8%, and has been slow to bounce back since, posting an anemic growth rate of 0.6% in 2010. In addition, the budget deficit is on the rise and reached 5.3% of GDP in 2010, 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. However, it has been slow to act, lacking a consensus in parliament and among the social partners for its proposed measures.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.19 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118 $22.95 billion (2009 est.)
$23.34 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.17 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174 -1.7% (2009 est.)
3.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$21,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62 $21,200 (2009 est.)
$21,900 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.3%
industry:16.4%
services:81.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force

407,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 8.5%
industry:20.5%
services:71% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 4.3% (2009 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: 122

Investment (gross fixed)

18.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Budget

revenues:: $9.576 billion
expenditures::$10.81 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

41.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Public debt

60.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33 58% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 0.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 120 1.75% (31 December 2009)
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

6.815% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 7.493% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.559 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92 $4.734 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$52.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66 $55 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$101.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 $80.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$6.834 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 80 $4.993 billion (31 December 2009)
$7.955 billion (31 December 2008)

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

-0.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity – production

4.709 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity – consumption

4.556 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Oil – consumption

61,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Oil – imports

57,290 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Current account balance

-$1.321 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 -$1.745 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$2.089 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131 $2.137 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing

Exports – partners

Greece 24.5%, Germany 10.5%, UK 8.6% (2010)

Imports

$8.465 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96 $8.159 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, machinery, transport equipment

Imports – partners

Greece 19%, Italy 9.5%, Germany 9%, UK 8.4%, Israel 8%, China 5.3%, France 5.2%, Netherlands 4.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.144 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131 $1.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$32.61 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$31.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60 $26.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$19.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 $15.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
note::on 1 January 2008 Cyprus adopted the euro as legal tender

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. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish Government. Ankara directly finances about one-third of the Turkish Cypriot “administration’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 to its reliance on British and Turkish tourism, both of which declined due to the recession. The Turkish Cypriot budget deficit also deteriorated in 2009 due to decreased state revenues and increased government expenditures on public sector salaries and social services. The Turkish Cypriot economy declined about 0.6% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.829 billion (2007 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:-0.6% (2010 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: 1.5181 (2010) 1.319 (2007) 1.4286 (2006) 1.3436 (2005)

Transportation

Airports

15 (2010)
country comparison to the world:145

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 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 2
under 914 m:2 (2010)

Heliports

9 (2010)

Pipelines

oil 0 km

Roadways

total: 14,671 km
country comparison to the world: 121 12,321 km under government control (includes 257 km of expressways),
2,350 km administered by Turkish Cypriots (2008)

Merchant marine

total: 839
country comparison to the world: 13 by type:bulk carrier 267, cargo 173, chemical tanker 77, container 193, liquefied gas 10, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum tanker 69, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned:637 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Bermuda 1, Canada 2, Chile 1, China 6, Cuba 1, Denmark 6, Estonia 7, France 16, Germany 189, Greece 216, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 10, Ireland 3, Israel 1, Italy 6, Japan 19, Monaco 1, Netherlands 24, Norway 12, Philippines 1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 47, Singapore 1, Slovenia 4, Spain 7, Sweden 5, Syria 1, UAE 5, UK 7, Ukraine 2, US 7)
note:this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag

these ships operate under the laws of the flag state
registered in other countries:138 (Bahamas 14, Belize 1, Burma 1, Cambodia 8, Comoros 2, Finland 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 4, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 7, Malta 29, Marshall Islands 38, Norway 1, Panama 8, Russia 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 3, unknown 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos

area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia

Military

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 service is 25 months (2009)

Manpower available for military service

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49:327,875
females age 16-49:287,891 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49:275,842
females age 16-49:239,862 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 8,167
female:7,398 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2005 est.) (U)
country comparison to the world: 27

Transnational Issues

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)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Cyprus is a destination country for men and women who are subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution

trafficking victims in Cyprus originate from Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Belarus, the Philippines, Morocco, China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Greece, the United Kingdom, Colombia and the Dominican Republic

sex trafficking occurs within commercial sex industry outlets in Cyprus, including cabarets, bars, pubs, and massage parlors disguised as private apartments
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the government failed to demonstrate evidence of increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous reporting period

trafficking-related complicity significantly hampered the government’s anti-trafficking efforts though the government took some initial steps to address it

very few prosecutions resulted in traffickers being held accountable

the government made few improvements in the protection of victims

it did not ensure procedures for the safe repatriation of foreign victims

a nationwide campaign to specifically address demand within Cyprus has yet to be implemented (2011)

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)