Cyprus

Full name of country: Republic of Cyprus

Region: Europe

Official language: Greek, Turkish

Population: 1,320,525 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Cypriot(s) (noun), Cypriot (adjective)

Land area: 9,241 sq km (3,568 sq miles)

Water area: 10 sq km (4 sq miles)

Capital: Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa)

National anthem: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty), by Dionysios Solomos/Nikolaos Mantzaros

National holiday: Independence Day, October 1, (1960); note—Turkish Cypriots celebrate November 15 (1983) as "Republic Day"

Population growth: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +2

Flag: The flag of the Republic of Cyprus depicts a copper-colored silhouette of the island nation suspended over two crossed green laurel leaves on a white background. The laurel leaves represent the country’s hope for peace between its Turkish and Greek citizens.

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

Government type: presidential republic, 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 Denktas declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), which is recognized only by Turkey

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with European law supremacy

Situated in the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia, the island of Cyprus has been controlled by many peoples through the ages. Today, the island is, in effect, two separate states. However, most of the world recognizes it as only one nation, the Republic of Cyprus (ROC). Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Turkey does not recognize the ROC.

The ROC became a member of the European Union in 2004, although the EU acquis only applies to areas under the ROC government and is suspended in the area administered by the TRNC. However, individual Turkish Cypriots who are able to document their eligibility for ROC citizenship are recognized as EU citizens. Since 1974, a United Nations peacekeeping force has patrolled the Green Line, a buffer zone between the two areas.

Cyprus is heavily dependent on tourism, which makes the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in global financial conditions. The TRNC relies on financial aid from Turkey.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The Greek and Turkish components of Cyprus's population are divided mainly along the lines of language and religion.

The ethnic composition of the island is predominantly Greek. The remainder of the population consists of other minority groups, including Maronites, Armenians, and Turkish Cypriots. Greek and Turkish are both official languages, although Greek is spoken by more than 80.9 percent of Cypriots while fewer than 0.2 percent speak Turkish (2011 estimates). Other spoken languages include English, Romanian, Russian, Bulgarian, Arabic, and Filipino.

The majority of the ROC population is Orthodox Christian, who account for 89.1 percent of the population. Other religious denominations include Roman Catholic (2.9 percent), Protestant/Anglican (2 percent), Muslim (1.8 percent), and Buddhist (1 percent) (2011 estimates).

The largest city on the island is the capital, Nicosia (Levkosía in Greek, Lefkosa in Turkish), with an estimated population of 269,000 in 2018. It is considered the capital of both the ROC and the TRNC. Other large cities and towns include Limassol (Lemesós in Greek, Limasol in Turkish); Larnaca (Lárnaka in Greek, Larnaka in Turkish); and Paphos (Páfos in Greek, Baf in Turkish). Famagusta (Ammóchostos in Greek, Gazimağusa in Turkish) is the only major town in the TRNC. In 2023, 67 percent of the island's population lived in urban areas.

Indigenous People: Cyprus has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with the Greeks arriving around the twelfth century BCE. Through the ages, the island has been conquered and controlled by the Phoenicians, the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Persians, the Macedonians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, the Ottoman Turks, and the British.

Modern Cyprus is composed mainly of descendants of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as immigrants from Turkey. Greek and Turkish Cypriots are similar culturally, although there are differences between Cypriots and immigrants from mainland Turkey.

Education: Preprimary, primary, and the first three years of secondary education are free and compulsory in the Republic of Cyprus. Preprimary education lasts from age three years to six years; primary education, from six years to twelve years; and secondary, from twelve years to eighteen years.

Secondary education is divided into two three-year cycles. The first, compulsory cycle is provided at a gymnasio, or high school, and the second cycle is provided at a lykeio, or lyceum. Interested students may attend a technical or vocational school for the second cycle, instead of a lyceum.

The education system in the TRNC is similar. Primary education is free and compulsory and includes preschool (ages five to six), primary school (ages six to twelve), and secondary-junior school (ages twelve to fifteen). Optional secondary education is offered at lycées (high schools) or vocational schools for students age fifteen to eighteen.

The Republic of Cyprus is home to the University of Cyprus in Nicosia, which began operating in 1992; the Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol, which began operating in 2007; and the Open University of Cyprus, a distance-learning university based in Nicosia, which was established in 2002. There are also several private universities, including the University of Nicosia and the European University Cyprus, as well as a number of both state and private higher education institutions that do not qualify for university status.

The TRNC also offers nearly a dozen universities, both public and private, including the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta and the Middle East Technical University, Northern Cyprus Campus, in Kapouti. However, the lack of international recognition of the TRNC as an independent country means that the accreditation status of some of these universities remained uncertain.

The literacy rate in Cyprus is 99.4 percent overall—99.6 percent among men and 99.2 percent among women (2021 est.).

Health Care:Life expectancy in Cyprus averages 77.4 years for men and 83.1 years for women (2024 est.). Through a focus on preventative medicine, diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and echinococcus have been nearly or completely eliminated in Cyprus. Cypriot women are eligible to receive free pap smears and mammograms.

In 2019, Cyprus had an estimated 3.14 physicians for every 1,000 people. Total health expenditures in 2020 accounted for 8.1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The Social Insurance Scheme program provides an eighteen-week paid maternity leave, or sixteen weeks for adoptive mothers of children under twelve years old. While medical care is not free, costs are kept low through medical insurance funds. These funds are supported jointly by the government and private organizations.

Cyprus was ranked twenty-ninth (based on 2021 data) on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Food: Greek and Turkish Cypriots eat similar foods. Olive oil is an important ingredient, and many dishes contain a mixture of meat and vegetables.

Meals often start with meze, or appetizers. These may include small dishes of feta, halloumi, kaskavalli, or other cheeses. Other small dishes include setfalia (homemade sausage), hummus (ground chickpeas mixed with garlic and olive oil), octopus, red mullet, and stuffed grape leaves.

A typical Cypriot salad contains cilantro, green olives, lemon, olive oil, and feta cheese. Taramosalata is a dip of fish roe, lemon, and olive oil.

Souvlaki (kebab) is meat cooked on skewers, usually with onions and tomatoes, and served in pita bread. Yiaourti, or yogurt, is often served on the side. Moussaka is minced lamb or beef that has been cooked with herbs and covered with sliced eggplant. Kleftiko is oven-baked lamb. Tiva is beef stew, and tava is lamb stew. Patcha is a kind of lamb stew with lemon. Throughout Cyprus, lemons are served with nearly every meal and every kind of meat.

Ouzo, a Greek wine with anise flavor, is a popular drink. The Turkish name is raki. Common dessert dishes include loucoumi, kadeifi, baklava, and galatopureko.

Arts & Entertainment: Folk music in Cyprus borrows heavily from both Greek and Turkish influences; both styles feature the violin as the main instrument. Traditional dances such as the tatsia, syrtos, and sousta often accompany folk music.

Cyprus was a cultural capital during the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. During this period, many French musicians lived and worked in Nicosia, leaving their mark on Cypriot music. Modern Cypriot musicians include jazz fusion guitarist Okan Ersan, singer and composer Alkinoos Ioannidis, and singer Anna Vissi. Ahmet Okan is a well-known Turkish Cypriot poet and political activist. Although they were not born in Cyprus, popular musicians Cat Stevens and George Michael both had Greek Cypriot parents.

The favorite team sport in Cyprus is football (soccer); Cyprus has a national team that competes in the Olympics and earned its first Olympic medal in 2012 when Pavlos Kontides won the silver medal in men's laser sailing. Because of its mild climate, Cyprus often hosts northern and central European football and swim teams for winter training. Other common pastimes among Cypriots include hiking in the country, water sports, sailing, and winter sports in the Troodos Mountains.

Holidays: As with most everything else in Cyprus, holidays often vary between the Greek and Turkish sectors. Holidays in the ROC include New Year's Day (January 1); Epiphany Day (January 6); Kathara Deftera (February); Greek Independence Day (March 25); the Anniversary of Cyprus Liberation Struggle, or Cyprus National Day (April 1); Labor Day (May 1); Holy Spirit (June); Assumption Day (June); Cyprus Independence Day (October 1); and Greek National Day (October 28).

Holidays specific to the TRNC include New Year's Day (January 1); Peace and Freedom Day, the anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion (July 20); Victory Day (August 30); Turkish Republic Day (October 29); and Republic Day (November 15).

Environment and Geography

Topography: The third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia), Cyprus lies in the northeastern corner of the sea. It is 465 kilometers (289 miles) south of Turkey, 760 kilometers (472 miles) southeast of Greece, and 95 kilometers (59 miles) west of Syria.

The Republic of Cyprus, in the southern part of the island, comprises 5,896 square kilometers (2,276 square miles) of the country's area. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, occupying the northern third of the island, accounts for 3,355 square kilometers (1,295 square miles).

The Kyrenia Mountains rise along the northern coast, and the rugged Troodos Mountains are in the south. In between the two mountain ranges lies the Mesaoria Plain. The plain provides the country's primary agricultural land, and the majority of the island's population lives in this area. Several other small plains lie along the southern coast.

The highest point in Cyprus is Mount Olympus in the Troodos Mountains, rising 1,951 meters (6,404 feet) above sea level. This should not be confused with the Mount Olympus of Greek mythology, which is located in Greece.

Natural Resources: Cyprus has few natural resources. In the past, copper was important to the economy, but the island's copper deposits have been mostly depleted. Clay and gypsum are mined, as are small amounts of salt, pyrites, marble, and asbestos. The island's timber is another valuable resource.

Cyprus's main ecological problems involve water. There are no natural reservoirs on the island, and rainfall is irregular, even during the rainy season. In addition, seawater has entered the largest aquifer on the island, resulting in increased salinization of the water in the north. Sewage and industrial wastes have polluted the island's water in areas, and the spread of urban areas is degrading the coast and destroying wildlife habitats.

Plants & Animals: Despite its small size, Cyprus enjoys substantial biodiversity. Up to 1,800 flowering plant species are found on the island, 126 of which are endemic.

Tree species include cypress, oak, cedar, and forests of Aleppo pine. Although much of the island's forests have been destroyed, some have been replaced with maquis, or herbal scrub growths that are often aromatic and thorny. Examples include Phoenician juniper, arbutus, and rock rose.

Cyprus is also home to more than three hundred bird species and nearly two hundred fish species, as well as many species of reptiles, amphibians, and land mammals. Several species of mites, insects, crabs, and sponges are also found on the island.

The Cyprus mouflon is the largest wild animal on the island. This rare wild sheep, endemic to Cyprus, is also the national symbol, appearing on the country's coins. Long endangered, the mouflon is a protected species today and the population has recovered somewhat.

Its position in the Mediterranean makes Cyprus a natural stopover spot for migratory birds. Elenora's falcon and the imperial eagle are birds of prey native to Cyprus. The green turtle and the loggerhead turtle, both of which breed on the beaches of the Akamas Peninsula, are found in the waters surrounding Cyprus. Monk seals also live in the waters, breeding in the caves along coast.

Climate: Cyprus's Mediterranean climate means hot, dry summers, rainy winters, and high humidity. Autumn and spring are the shortest seasons. Nicosia, at the foot of the Kyrenia Mountains, experiences temperatures varying from 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter to 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. Temperatures on the plains may reach 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer.

The average annual rainfall amounts to about 50 centimeters (32 inches), but there is considerable variation from one year to the next. Elevation also affects rainfall. While the plains receive an average of 30 to 40 centimeters (12–16 inches) per year, some parts of the Troodos Mountains see up to 100 centimeters (40 inches). The Troodos also experience winter snow.

At the same time, Cyprus continued to experience effects of climate change that included rising air and sea temperatures as well as sea level rises, which prompted concerns regarding beach erosion and flooding.

Economy

The standard of living in the ROC is higher than it is in the TRNC. The chief ports of Larnaca and Limassol are both in ROC territory, as are the two international airports. The TRNC depends heavily on aid from Turkey. The economy of the entire island depends heavily on tourism, especially the service industries associated with the tourism trade.

Unemployment was estimated at 5.96 percent in 2023. That year, the GDP of the ROC was an estimated US$49.526 billion, or US$53,400 per capita. The estimated GDP of the TRNC in 2007 was US$1.829 billion, or US$11,700 per capita.

Industry: Industrial production in Cyprus has increased greatly since independence in 1960. Textiles, construction materials, chemicals, clothing, furniture, and processed food and beverages are all manufactured on the island. Although copper production has declined, gypsum, iron, and asbestos products are still produced. Ship repair is another large industry at the ports of Larnaca and Limassol.

As of 2021, exports consisted primarily of refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, ships, and cheese.

Agriculture: Following tourism in importance to the Cypriot economy is agriculture. About 9.8 percent (2018 estimate) of the island's land is arable. Crops grown in Cyprus include barley, citrus fruits, grapes, olives, and vegetables. Animal products include pork, lamb, poultry, and dairy, including cheese.

Tourism: In 2022, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism contributed about 12.2 percent of total GDP. International tourist arrivals totaled 4.1 million in 2019, according to the World Bank. Though the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 led to a drop in tourism numbers due to travel restrictions, the industry began to recover in subsequent years.

The island's attractions include mountain and beach resorts and archaeological sites. Prominent historic sites include Kolossi Castle, dating from the Crusades in the third century; the painted church of Panayia tou Araka (Our Lady of the Pea), on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) list of World Heritage Sites; and Choirokitia, a Neolithic archaeological site.

Paphos has many points of interest, including its harbor, castle, and Roman mosaics found in excavated ancient houses. The town of Lefkara produces world-famous lace. Ayia Napa (or Agia Napa), once a family-oriented resort on the southeastern coast of the island, now has a vibrant club scene. The town also features a fifteenth-century monastery dedicated to its patron saint and namesake, Saint Napa.

Government

During World War I, Britain seized Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire, and in 1925, the island became a British crown colony. Britain deliberately fostered division between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots to keep them from uniting in a revolution. Nevertheless, Cyprus gained its independence from Britain in 1960.

Distrust between the two cultural groups led to violent clashes. A United Nations peacekeeping force landed in 1964, but violent outbreaks continued. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriots declared that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was an independent country. An estimated 265,000 Cypriots, both Greek and Turkish, have been displaced by the conflict, some for more than thirty years.

The Republic of Cyprus is a presidential democracy, while the TRNC is a semipresidential democracy. The ROC has a unicameral legislative body called the House of Representatives. The president, elected to a five-year term, is the head of state and head of government. The president appoints a cabinet, called the Council of Ministers.

The House of Representatives has eighty members, fifty-six seats are for Greek Cypriots and twenty-four for Turkish Cypriots. Since the separation of the TRNC, however, only the Greek Cypriot seats have been filled. Representatives are elected by popular vote to five-year terms.

In the TRNC, the head of state is the president, elected to five-year terms, and the head of government is the prime minister, appointed by the president from the legislature. The legislative body is the unicameral Cumhuriyet Meclisi, or Assembly of the Republic. Its fifty members are also elected to five-year terms.

The ROC is divided into six administrative districts: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, and Paphos. All of Kyrenia, most of Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca are considered TRNC territory.

Reunification talks between the ROC and TRNC were suspended in 2017. UN negotiation interference also stalled in the early 2020s.

Nikos Christodoulides is the island's first leader to be born in an independent Cyprus.

Backed by centrist and right-wing parties, Christodoulides was foreign minister until early 2022, He won 52% of the vote over his main rival, leftist-backed Andreas Mavroyiannis in the run-off of the February 2023 presidential election.

Interesting Facts

• During the Crusades, England's King Richard I captured Cyprus and sold it to the Knights Templar, a military religious order. The Knights Templar sold it to French nobleman Hugh de Lusignan.
• Struck by the island's natural beauty, the ancient Greeks thought that Cyprus was the home of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
• The resort town of Varosha was completely abandoned and sealed off in 1974.
• The year 2018 saw two new border crossings open between Greek and Turkish Cyprus for the first time in eight years.

Bibliography

“Cyprus.” The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/cyprus. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

“Cyprus.” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cyprus/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Cyprus: 2023 Annual Research: Key Highlights. World Travel and Tourism Council, 2023, assets-global.website-files.com/6329bc97af73223b575983ac/645a6c77700b586763787bc7‗Cyprus2023‗.pdf. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.

Human Development Report 2021/2022. United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2021-22pdf‗1.pdf. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

"International Tourism, Number of Arrivals." The World Bank, data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.