The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

- international agreements:

       party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate

       Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,

       Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine

       Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

       signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

      Geography - note:

       the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and

       Sardinia)

      People Cyprus

      Population:

       771,657 (July 2003 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 21.9% (male 86,446; female 82,769)

       15–64 years: 67% (male 261,404; female 255,409)

       65 years and over: 11.1% (male 37,345; female 48,284) (2003 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 34.2 years

       male: 33.1 years

       female: 35.2 years (2002)

      Population growth rate:

       0.56% (2003 est.)

      Birth rate:

       12.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Death rate:

       7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

       total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 5.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

       male: 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 77.27 years

       male: 74.94 years

       female: 79.71 years (2003 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       1.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       0.3% (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       less than 1,000 (1999 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       NA

      Nationality:

       noun: Cypriot(s)

       adjective: Cypriot

      Ethnic groups:

       Greek 85.2%, Turkish 11.6%, other 3.2% (2000)

      Religions:

       Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and

       other 4%

      Languages:

       Greek, Turkish, English

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 97.6%

       male: 98.9%

       female: 96.3% (2003 est.)

      Government Cyprus

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus

       conventional short form: Cyprus

       note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish

       Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

      Government type:

       republic

       note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the

       island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this

       separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in

       July 1974 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt gave the Turkish

       Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the

       only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983

       Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and

       the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC),

       recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement

       based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation

       (Turkish Cypriot position)

      Capital:

       Nicosia

      Administrative divisions:

       6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,

       Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions

       include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts

       of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca

      Independence:

       16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed

       self-rule on 13 February 1975

      National holiday:

       Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area

       celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

      Constitution:

       16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or

       revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations

       between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in

       1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing

       bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was

       renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new

       constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5

       May 1985

      Legal system:

       based on common law, with civil law modifications

      Suffrage:

       18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003);

       note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

       government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the

       1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot

       head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March

       2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

       government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the

       1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot

       cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and

       vice president

       elections: