Cyprus
in Western Asia
Europe

National active POI
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Pound - CYP
Spoken languages:
Modern Greek, Turkish, English
Local electricity:
230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: G)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
CY
Internet top level domain:
.cy
Country phone prefix:
+357
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Cyprus in Western Asia

Safety Score: 3,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Cyprus.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Cyprus. Last Update: 2024-03-28 08:18:27

Explore Cyprus

Cyprus with its capital Nicosia is located in Europe (Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea). It covers some 9,252 square kilometers (about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut) with a population of 1,221,550. Modern Greek, Turkish and English are the languages spoken by people in Cyprus (consider regional differences). Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey. Public transportation in Cyprus has been revamped with all new buses in Nicosia. Still, most Cypriots drive by themselves. There are no railways in Cyprus. If you have any old Cypriot pounds lying around, the Central Bank of Cyprus in Nicosia will exchange them at a rate of CYP 0.585274 per €1 until 2017. There are countless hotels and hotel apartments of varying degrees of luxury within Cyprus. If you are considering an extended stay on the island, there are a number of educational courses that you can take. Popular options include Greek language courses and arts courses. Cyprus is a remarkably safe country, with very little violent crime. Cars and houses frequently go unlocked.

Popular Destinations in Cyprus

Administrative regions of Cyprus

About the country

Official logo of Cyprus tourism

Website: Cyprus Tourism

Mail: gocyprus@aol.com

The topography is central plain with mountains to north and south with scattered but significant plains along southern coast. The average density of population is about 132 per km². The climate in Cyprus can be described as temperate with Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Potential natural disasters are droughts moderate earthquake activity

To reach someone Cyprus dial +357 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".cy". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: G). The sign for the locally used currency Pound is CYP.

Centered on a white field is a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the island has long been famous for its copper deposits) above two olive-green-colored, crossed olive branches; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities.

Flag of Cyprus

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 overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. A UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. Talks were suspended in October 2014, but resumed in earnest in May 2015 following the election of a new Turkish Cypriot "president." 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 the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the area 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 EU states.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 170) 9,251sq km
Land (World Rank: 168) 9,241sq km
Water (World Rank: 152) 10sq km
Forest (World Rank: 198) 0.40%
Comparative about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Coastline
648
Landborder
156
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 127) 1,951m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 180) 13.40%
Arable (World Rank: 116) 9.80%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 73) 3.20%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 198) 0.40%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 116) 460sq km
Map reference
Middle East
Environment
Issues
  • - coastal degradation
  • - increased salination in the north)
  • - loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
  • - sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer
  • - seasonal disparity in rainfall
  • - water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes
  • - water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments
Agreement party
  • - Air Pollution
  • - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
  • - Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • - Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
  • - Biodiversity
  • - Climate Change
  • - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
  • - Desertification
  • - Endangered Species
  • - Environmental Modification
  • - Hazardous Wastes
  • - Law of the Sea
  • - Marine Dumping
  • - Ozone Layer Protection
  • - Ship Pollution
  • - Wetlands
Hazzards
  • - droughts
  • - moderate earthquake activity
Location
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey; note - Cyprus views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
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

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 158) 1,221,550
Deathrate (World Rank: 134) 0.68%
Birthrate (World Rank: 171) 1.13%
Growthrate (World Rank: 84) 1.32%
Migration rate (World Rank: 11) 0.87%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 198) 1.47%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 69) 35.50
Female (World Rank: 67) 38.30
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 167) 97,955
0 14 female (World Rank: 167) 92,648
15 24 male (World Rank: 157) 91,846
15 24 female (World Rank: 160) 76,853
25 54 male (World Rank: 152) 303,297
25 54 female (World Rank: 154) 271,364
55 64 male (World Rank: 148) 67,053
55 64 female (World Rank: 145) 72,854
65 x male (World Rank: 140) 63,870
65 x female (World Rank: 139) 83,809
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 152) 0.79%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 55) 79years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 55) 82years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 57) 76years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 60) 2.50
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 63) 3.50
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 2) 100.00%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 84) 21.80%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 1) 100.00%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 122) 4,243,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 126) 4,028,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 68) 87.40%
Source renew (World Rank: 55) 12.80%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 105) 46,000bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 83) 45,740bbl / day
Carbon footprint
9100000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 26) 6% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 61) 2% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 70) 7% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 35) 0% of GDP
National symbol
white dove
National colours
white
Adjective
Cypriot
Noun
Cypriot(s)
Background
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 overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. A UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. Talks were suspended in October 2014, but resumed in earnest in May 2015 following the election of a new Turkish Cypriot "president." 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 the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the area 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 EU states.
Flag description
centered on a white field is a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the island has long been famous for its copper deposits) above two olive-green-colored, crossed olive branches; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 132) 29,660,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 103) 2.80%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 53) 35,000USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 170) 2.30%
Source industry (World Rank: 199) 11.00%
Source service (World Rank: 15) 86.70%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 157) 422,300
Products
Industries
  • - beverage processing
  • - cement
  • - clay
  • - clay products
  • - clothing
  • - copper
  • - food
  • - foodstuffs
  • - furniture
  • - gypsum
  • - light chemicals
  • - metal products
  • - paper
  • - refurbishment
  • - ship repair
  • - stone
  • - textiles
  • - tourism
  • - wood
Agriculture
  • - barley
  • - cheese
  • - citrus
  • - citrus fruit
  • - dairy
  • - grapes
  • - lamb
  • - olives
  • - pork
  • - potatoes
  • - poultry
  • - vegetables
Exports
  • - cement
  • - citrus
  • - clothing
  • - pharmaceuticals
  • - potatoes
Imports
  • - consumer goods
  • - lubricants
  • - machinery
  • - petroleum
  • - transport equipment

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 110) 320,573
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 67) 27.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 139) 94.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 132) 915,036
Population (World Rank: 61) 75.90%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 105) 13.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 168) 2.00
Heliports (World Rank: 21) 9.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 109) 20,006
Paved length (World Rank: 80) 8,564
Unpaved length (World Rank: 105) 4,442