Cyprus Geography & Background
| ABOUT CYPRUS Land use: arable land: 10.81% permanent crops: 4.32% other: 84.87% (2005) Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts Geography - note: The third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) Population: 784,301 (July 2006 est.) Median age: Total: 34.9 years Male: 33.9 years Female: 35.9 years (2006 est.) Population growth rate: 0.53% (2006 est.) Birth rate: 12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) Death rate: 7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) Infant mortality rate: Total: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 8.74 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) Life expectancy at birth: Total population: 77.82 years Male: 75.44 years Female: 80.31 years (2006 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2006 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 1,000 (1999 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA 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 Literacy: Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 97.6% Male: 98.9% Female: 96.3% (2003 est.) Government Cyprus Top of Page Government type: Republic Capital: Nicosia 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 and Larnaca Independence: August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey National holidays: Independence Day, 1 October (1960); Constitution: 16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; Legal system: Based on common law, with civil law modifications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president) note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus Economy - overview: The Republic of Cyprus has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for 76% of GDP. Tourism and financial services are the most important sectors; erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. GDP - per capita (PPP): Republic of Cyprus: $21,600 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: $7,135 (2004 est.) GDP - composition by sector: Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 3.8%; industry 20%; services 76.2% (2005 est.) Labor force: Republic of Cyprus: 370,000, Cyprus: agriculture 7.4%, industry 38.2%, services 54.4% (2004 est.) north Cyprus: agriculture 14.5%, industry 29%, services 56.5% (2004 est.) Unemployment rate: Republic of Cyprus: 3.8% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): Republic of Cyprus: 2.5% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 9.1% (2004 est.) Republic of Cyprus: 18.9% of GDP (2005 est.) Budget: Revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $6.698 billion (2005 est.) expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $7.122 billion (2005 est.) revenues: north Cyprus - $231.3 million (2003 est.) expenditures: north Cyprus - $432.8 million (2003 est.) Public debt: Republic of Cyprus: 72% of GDP (2005 est.) 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: Exports: Republic of Cyprus: $1.237 billion f.o.b.; Imports: Republic of Cyprus: $5.552 billion f.o.b.;; north Cyprus: $415.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Imports - commodities: f Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery Imports - partners: Greece 15.2%, Italy 10.5%, Germany 8.9%, UK 8.6%, France 6.3%, Japan 4.7%, Israel 4.4%, China 4% (2004) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Republic of Cyprus: $3.989 billion; north Cyprus $NA (2005 est.) Debt - external: Republic of Cyprus: $7.803 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2005 est.) Economic aid - recipient: Currency (code): Republic of Cyprus: Euro Communications Telephones - main lines in use: Republic of Cyprus: 418,400 (2004); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002) Telephones - mobile cellular: Telephone system: General assessment: excellent in Republic of Cyprus |
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