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Cyprus
Physical. Cyprus is a Middle Eastern island in the Mediterranean Sea,
located just south of Turkey. It covers an area slightly more than half the size
of Connecticut. Cyprus is divided into two portions by a United Nations Buffer
Zone. The northern portion is under Turkish control and the southern portion is
loyal to Greece. The climate is temperate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet
winters. The terrain consists of a central plain with mountains in the north and
south and scattered but significant plains along the southern coast. Natural
resources include copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble and
clay earth pigment.
People. Nearly 784,301 people live in Cyprus. The three main languages
found on the island are Greek, Turkish, and English. Ethnically, the population
is divided between Greek (85%), Turkish (12%), and various other groups (3%).
The religious make-up of Cyprus is: Greek Orthodox (78%) Muslim (18%), Maronite,
Armenian Apostolic and other (4%).
Government. The country is officially known as the Republic of Cyprus,
however the Turkish area refers to itself as the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC). The TRNC is only recognized by Turkey, while Greek Cypriots
control the only internationally recognized government. The capital is Nicosia,
located near the center of the dividing line about 15 miles inland from the
northern Mediterranean coast. The city is the only split capital in the world,
since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Turkish portion of Nicosia is
referred to as Lefkosa. (Southern) Cyprus celebrates its independence on August
16, 1960, while the Turkish north celebrates its self-proclaimed independence on
November 15, 1983. The chief of state and head of government is President Tassos
Papadopoulis. The current constitution governing the Greek Cypriots was passed in
August 1960 while the Turkish Cypriots ratified their own constitution first in
1975 and then again in 1985.
Economy. Although small and unstable, the Greek Cypriot economy is
relatively successful with the GDP for the Republic of Cyprus at $21,600; north
Cyprus GDP is $7,135. The composition by sectors for the Republic of Cyprus is:
agriculture (3.8%), industry (20%), and services (76.2%). For north Cyprus it
is: agriculture (11%), industry (20%), services (69%) (2003 est.) Unemployment
is low. However, the country's economy (dependent on tourism) is affected by the
political instability. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the
per capita GDP of the south. In the north, economic growth tends to be volatile,
given north Cyprus's relative isolation, bloated public sector, reliance on the
Turkish lira, and small market size. As a result, Turkey provides direct and
indirect aid to nearly every sector of this economy.
Areas of Concern. Water resource problems and coastal degradation are
the nation's primary environmental concerns. Peace talks have been held from
time to time, but the country remains divided as the South wants enosis, or
unity with Greece, and the North under Turkish control does not.
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Cyprus statistics
Geography
Area: 9,250 sq km (with 3,355 sq km in north Cyprus)
Capital: Nicosia (population 206,200 at the end of 2001 in the Government
controlled part)
Environmental concerns: water resource problems; water pollution from sewage and
industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from
urbanization
Geographical features: central plain with mountains in the north and south and
significant plains along the southern coast.
Climate: Mediterranean with hot dry summers, wet winters
People
784,301 (July 2006 est.); Greek (77%), Turkish (18%), and various other groups
(5%)
Annual growth rate: 0.53%
Major languages are Greek, Turkish, English
Religions: Greek Orthodox (78%) Muslim (18%), Maronite, Armenian Apostolic and
other (4%)
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 75 years; women, 80 years
Infant mortality: 7.04 deaths per 1000 live births
It is not known what percentage of the population lives in poverty
1 physician per 667 people (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS Rate in Adults: 0.1% (2003 est.)
97.6% of adults are literate
Compulsory education (Ages): 5½ - 15 years; free (2004)
Communication and transportation
Republic of Cyprus: 418,400 (2004); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002) main telephone
lines
298,000 Internet users (2005)
14,110 km (Republic of Cyprus: 11,760 km; north Cyprus: 2,350 km) of roadways
no railroads
16 airfields
343,000 motor vehicles (2004 statistic)
Government
Cyprus is a republic separated into two ethnic communities.
President Tassos Papadoupolis has been the head of stat and head of government
since 1 March 2003.
Universal suffrage at 18
Military
Military expenditures are 3.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for FY02
Current disputes: the country is divided into two autonomous entities
Economy
Currency: Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot pound; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish New
lira
Per capita GDP: Republic of Cyprus: $21,600 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: $7,135
(2004 est.)
GDP: Republic of Cyprus: $16.85 billion; north Cyprus: $4.54 billion (2005 est.)
GDP growth rate: Republic of Cyprus: 3.7%; north Cyprus: 10.6% (2005 est.)
Inflation rate: Republic of Cyprus: 2.5% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 9.1% (2004
est.)
Labor force: Republic of Cyprus: agriculture (7.4%), industry (38.2%), services
(54.4%) (2004 est.); north Cyprus: agriculture (14.5%), industry (29%), services
(56.5%) (2004 est.)
Resources and industry
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay
earth pigment
Agriculture: citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry,
pork, lamb; dairy, cheese
Industry: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production,
ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood,
paper, stone, and clay products
Exports: Republic of Cyprus: $1.237 billion f.o.b.; north Cyprus: $69 million
f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports: Republic of Cyprus: $5.552 billion f.o.b.;; north Cyprus: $415.2
million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Suggested web sites
www.kypros.org/Cyprus/root.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus
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