The Cyprus Facts
What Everybody Ought to Know

For the visitor in a hurry... this page was compiled for you. These relevant Cyprus facts and statistics provide answers to frequently asked questions about Cyprus. If you're travelling to Cyprus and have any questions you wish answered, please click here.

Cyprus Government

Background: A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule.

Country Name: conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus

Conventional short form: Cyprus

Local long form: Kypriaki

Capital of Cyprus: name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)

Geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E

Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrive Divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos

Note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Currency: Euro

Flag of Cyprus: White with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (Cyprus facts: the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper)above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities

Cyprus Geography

Location: Middle East, third largest island (common Cyprus fact) in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia), south of Turkey Area: Total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus), land: 9,240 sq km, water: 10 sq km

Coastline: 648 km

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 metres Highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 metres

Cyprus People

Population: 788,457 (July 2007 est.)

Age Structure: 0-14 years: 19.9% (male 80,273/female 76,826), 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 272,924/female 265,738), 65 years and over: 11.8% (male 40,458/female 52,238) (2007 est.)

Population Growth Rate: 0.527% (2007 est.)

Median Age: total: 35.1 years male: 34.1 years female: 36.2 years (2007 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Cyprus Transportation

Airports: 16 (2007)

Roadways: total: 14,630 km (area under government control: 12,280 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km)

Paved: area under government control: 7,979 km (includes 257 km of expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km

Unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2006)

Cyprus Communications

Telephone System: international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90)

Radio Broadcast Stations: area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0 area administered by Turkish Cypriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)

Internet Country Code: .cy