Cyprus: Mediterranean island nation in Europe

Cyprus is in Asia, but the country is often associated with Europe because of the culture and history of the people. It is also closer to Africa than to Europe. The capital is Nicosia. A self renowned state called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is illegally occupying the north of Cyprus for 50 years. The official languages are Greek and Turkish.

Republic of Cyprus
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: "Hymn to Liberty"
Location of  Cyprus  (green) in the European Union  (light green)  —  [Legend]
Capital and largest city	Nicosia (Λευκωσία, Lefkoşa)
Official languages	Greek Turkish
Recognised regional languages	Armenian Cypriot Arabic
Common languages	English
Vernacular languages	Cypriot Greek Cypriot Turkish
Ethnic groups (2001)	77% Greeks 18% Turks 5% Roma people
Demonym(s)	Cypriot
Government	Presidential republic
• President	Nikos Christodoulides
Independence  from the United Kingdom
• Zürich and London Agreement	19 February 1959
• Proclaimed	16 August 1960
Area
• Total	9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi) (167th)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2010 estimate	803,147 (Does not include North) 1,088,503 (whole island)
• Density	117/km2 (303.0/sq mi) (115th)
GDP (PPP)	2010 estimate
• Total	$23.190 billion
• Per capita	$28,256
GDP (nominal)	2010 estimate
• Total	$23.174 billion
• Per capita	$28,237
Gini (2005)	29 low · 19th
HDI (2011)	0.840 very high · 31st
Currency	Euro2 (EUR)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Driving side	left
Calling code	357
ISO 3166 code	CY
Internet TLD	.cy3
Also the national anthem of Greece. Before 2008, the Cypriot pound. The .eu domain is also used, shared with other European Union member states.

In 2019, 4 million tourists visited the country. It is estimated, that Cyprus earned 2.7 billion euros in that year. Tourism is very important to the country, as tourism made up 23% of its economy in 2020;).

The main ethnic groups in Cyprus are Turkish Cypriots 142,000 (18 per cent), Maronites 4,940 (0.6 per cent), Armenians 2,600 (0.3 per cent), Latins (Roman Catholics) 900 (0.1 per cent) and Romani people 620-650 (0.08 per cent).

Cyprus, was conquered and became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1570. Likewise, Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire for several centuries. The British administered Cyprus from 1878 until 1960.

Cyprus became independent from the British Empire in 1960 following the London and Zürich Agreements of 19 February 1959. Makarios III became its first president. In 1960-1974 there was tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and in 1974, Turkey sent troops to occupy northern Cyprus. Greek Cypriots moved south to get away from them, and Turkish Cypriots moved north to get away from the Greeks. Negotiations for a unified island have been held several times without success.

In 2004, Cyprus joined the European Union. On 1 January 2008 Cyprus adopted the Euro, the single European currency. Although the official currency of Northern Cyprus is the Turkish Lira, many shops accept Euros and British pounds.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

There are two mountain ranges, the Troodos Mountains and the smaller Kyrenia Range. The Pedieos River is the longest on the island. The highest point on Cyprus is Mount Olympus at 1,952 metres (6,404 feet).

The Republic of Cyprus is only on the southern two-thirds of the island (59.74%). The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the northern third (34.85%) and rest are Akrotiri and Dhekelia owned by the British.

The Republic of Cyprus is a constitutional presidential republic. Each president is elected for a five-year term. The president has a lot of power. Cyprus is the only member of the European Union that is governed by a presidential system of government. It is one of few countries (along with San Marino) to have had a democratically elected communist government, in office from 2008 until 2013. Since 2013 governing party has been the Democratic Rally.

The European Union issued a warning in February 2019 that Cyprus, an EU member, was selling EU passports to Russian oligarchs. This would allow allow organised crime syndicates to get into the EU. In 2020 leaked documents revealed a range of former and current officials from Afghanistan, China, Dubai, Lebanon, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Vietnam who bought a Cypriot citizenship before a change of the law in July 2019. Cyprus and Turkey have been engaged in a dispute over the extent of their exclusive economic zones. It was apparently caused by the potential for oil and gas exploration in the area.

The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts: Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos. These are not the same as those of Northern Cyprus.

• Cyprus at the Olympics
• Cyprus national football team
• List of rivers of Cyprus