Country Name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot community (North
Cyprus) refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Cyprus Location:

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, South of Turkey

Cyprus Area:

9,250 km2 (of which 3,355 km2 are in North Cyprus)

Coastline:

648 kms

Currency:

Greek Cypriot area: Euro (EUR); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Lira (TRL)

Currency Code:

EUR; TRL

Coastline:

2,450 km

Climate:

Temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters with some rain.

Terrain:

Central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Natural Resources:

Copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Geography:

The third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)

Population:

788,457 (July 2007 est.)

Age Structure:

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 80,273/female 76,826)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 272,924/female 265,738)
65 years and over: 11.8% (male 40,458/female 52,238) (2007 est.)

Average Age:

total: 35.1 years
male: 34.1 years
female: 36.2 years (2007 est.)

Population Growth Rate:

0.527% (2007 est.)

Ethnic Groups:

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

Religions:

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

Languages:

Greek, Turkish, English

GOVERNMENT

Government Type:

Republic

Capital:

Nicosia

Independence:

16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognised by Turkey.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone Main Lines in Use:

area under government control: 408,300 (2006); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)

Cellular Telephones:

area under government control: 777,500 (2006); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 143,178 (2002)

Internet Users:

356,600 (2006)

Transportation

Highways:

total: 14,630 km (area under government control: 12,280 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km)
paved: area under government control: 7,979 km (includes 257 km of expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km
unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2006)

Ports & Harbours:

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos

Airports:

16 (2007)