Dialing code +357
ISO 2 code CY
ISO 3 code CYP
Capital Nicosia
Main Language Greek
Currency Euro (EUR)
GDP $22.7 billion 112th
Population 1,102,677 157th

Geography

Continent Europe
Location Middle East island in the Mediterranean Sea south of Turkey
Land 9,250 km2 169th
Terrain Central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Climate Temperate; Mediterranean with hot dry summers and cool winters
Natural Hazards Central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Note: The third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)

Neighbouring Countries

History

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-held 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 direct government control 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.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 78.33 years 38th
Median Age 35.5 years 55th
Birth Rate 12.57 births/1,000 population 150th
Death Rate 7.8 births/1,000 population 104th
Sex Ratio 0.78 male(s)/female 97th
Literacy 97.6% 65th
Population

1.1 million

Transportation

Roadways 14630 km 122nd
Railways None km
Airports 16 141st
Waterways None km
Heliports 10 18th
Airports paved 1 173rd

Economy

Currency Euro (EUR)
GDP $22.7 billion 112th
GDP per capita (PPP) $28600 41st