Republic of Cyprus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Republic of Cyprus
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Anthem: Ethnikós Ýmnos tis Kypriakís Dimokratías
Εθνικος Υμνος τις Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας National Anthem of the Republic of Cyprus1 |
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![]() Location of Republic of Cyprus (green)
in the European Union (light green) — [Legend] |
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Capital and largest city
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Nicosia (Λευκωσία, Lefkoşa) |
Official languages | Greek, Turkish |
Recognised regional languages | Armenian, Cypriot Arabic |
Ethnic groups
(2001)
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77% Greek 18% Turkish 5% others |
Demonym(s) | Cypriot, Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot |
Government | Presidential republic |
Nicos Anastasiades | |
Independence
from the United Kingdom
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• Zürich and London Agreement
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19 February 1959 |
• Proclaimed
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16 August 1960 |
Area | |
• Total
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9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi) (167th) |
• Water (%)
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negligible |
Population | |
• 2010 estimate
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803,147 (Does not include North) 1,088,503 (whole island) |
• Density
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117/km2 (303.0/sq mi) (115th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2010 estimate |
• Total
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$23.190 billion |
• Per capita
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$28,256 |
GDP (nominal) | 2010 estimate |
• Total
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$23.174 billion |
• Per capita
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$28,237 |
Gini (2005) | 29 low · 19th |
HDI (2011) | ![]() very high · 31st |
Currency | Euro2 (EUR) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST)
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UTC+3 (EEST) |
Driving side | left |
Calling code | 357 |
ISO 3166 code | CY |
Internet TLD | .cy3 |
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The Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the European Union. It is in Asia, but it 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. Most of the population speaks Greek and Turkish.
History
Cyprus is the only place outside England where an English royal wedding took place. That was the wedding of Richard I and Berengaria of Navarre on 12 May 1191.
Cyprus gained independence from the British Empire in 1960. The UK, Turkey and Greece became guarantor powers of the island.
In July 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus. Since then the northern part of the island has been under Turkish control. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus became independent in 1983 but it is recognised only by Turkey. When entering by aeroplane, a short stop is made at an airport in mainland Turkey.
The present situation with the island split came about because Cyprus, historically Greek, was conquered and became part of the Ottoman Empire from 1570–1914. The British administered it from 1878 until 1960. Likewise, Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire for several centuries. 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. Northern Cyprus accepts Turkish lira, and sometimes the Euro or United States dollar.
Geography
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.
Politics
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.
Districts
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.
Cities
Largest municipalities in Cyprus
CYstat – Population — Place of Residence, 2011 (Cyprus Census 2011) (sheet C1); DPÖ –Northern Cyprus 2011 Population and Housing Census |
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Rank | Name | Pop. |
1 | Nicosia (north and south) | 200,452 |
2 | Limassol | 154,000 |
3 | Strovolos | 67,904 |
4 | Larnaca | 51,468 |
5 | Famagusta | 42,526 |
6 | Lakatamia | 38,435 |
7 | Kyrenia | 33,207 |
8 | Paphos | 32,892 |
9 | Kato Polemidhia | 22,369 |
10 | Aglandjia | 20,783 |
Related pages
Images for kids
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Büyük Han, a caravanserai in Nicosia, is an example of the surviving Ottoman architecture in Cyprus.
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Cyprus taken from space by the International Space Station in 2021
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A1 Motorway between Agios Athanasios junction and Mesa Ghetonia junction in Limassol
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The Armenian Alphabet at the Melkonian Educational Institute. Armenian is recognised as a minority language in Cyprus.
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Typical Cypriot architecture in old part of Nicosia, Cyprus
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Zeno of Citium, founder of the Stoic school of philosophy.
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Cypriot meze
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Cypriot Halloumi
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Cypriot style café in an arcade in Nicosia
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Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Centre in Limassol
See also
In Spanish: Chipre para niños
![]() | José Calderón |
![]() | Diana Taurasi |
![]() | Pancho Gonzales |
![]() | Gigi Fernández |