republic note: a separation 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 that followed a Greek junta-supported 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), which is recognized only by Turkey
Independence date
20 March 1956 (from France)
16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey
Religions
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and Armenian Apostolic) 4%
Languages
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Greek, Turkish, English
Exports
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, and clothing
External Debt
$23,210,000,000 $
$35,870,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.673 (2008 est.), Cypriot pounds (CYP) per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
3.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Area
163,610 km sq
9,251 km sq
Coastline
1,148 km
648 km
Climate
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
