The Republic of Cyprus is an independent island state and third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily and Sardinia. Cyprus lies in the northeastern part of the Mediterranean, approximately 65 km (40m) south of Turkey and 110 km (65m) west of Syria.
Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus is a presidential republic. The head of state and of the government is the president, who is elected for a five-year term.
Estimated at 877,600 with 76 percent belonging to the Greek Cypriot community, 10 percent to the Turkish Cypriot community and 14 percent foreign nationals. Armenians, Maronites and Latins make up one percent of the population. They have opted to join the Greek Cypriot community. These figures exclude the illegal Turkish colonists sent to the island by Turkey. (Source: Government of Republic of Cyprus, December 2007.)
9,251 sq km (3,572 sq miles)
37 percent of the island is currently under illegal Turkish occupation
Britain maintains 99 sq m of military bases on the island
Christianity (Greek Orthodox), Islam
76 years (men), 80 years (women) (UN)
Clothing, potatoes, pharmaceuticals
GNI per capita
US $12,320 (World Bank, 2001)
International dialling code
Membership of international organisations
The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the United Nations (20 September 1960), the Commonwealth of Nations (1961), the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organization (WTO), The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the Council of Europe, and European Union (2004)