NAVIGATION
|
HOME
• FLAG FINDER
• MAP FINDER
• SOURCES
• ADD YOURSELF TO THE ATLAS! COUNTRIES A-D • COUNTRIES E-K • COUNTRIES L-R • COUNTRIES S-Z |
NAVIGATION
Republic of Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
INTRODUCTION
|
Background:
|
Independence from the UK was approved in 1960 with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", but it is recognized only by Turkey. UN-led direct talks between the two sides to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the island began in January 2002. |
GEOGRAPHY
|
Location:
|
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
35 00 N, 33 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Middle East |
|
Area:
|
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
water: 10 sq km land: 9,240 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
648 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate:
|
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
|
Terrain:
|
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,951 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 10.61%
permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.74% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
400 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
moderate earthquake activity; droughts |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants |
|
Geography - note:
|
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) |
PEOPLE
|
Population:
|
767,314 (July 2002 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 87,981; female 84,168)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 258,414; female 252,778) 65 years and over: 11% (male 36,607; female 47,366) (2002 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.57% (2002 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
12.91 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
7.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 77.08 years
female: 79.5 years (2002 est.) male: 74.77 years |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.9 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1% (1999 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
400 (1999 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
NA |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Greek 85.2%, Turkish 11.6%, other 3.2% (2000) |
|
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% male: 98.7% female: 95% (1999) |