Discover Fascinating Cyprus Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Cyprus.
Cyprus
Background
๐ Cyprus: A Quick Background ๐
Did you know that Cyprus was once a British colony? ๐ฌ๐ง It gained its independence in 1960. However, things got a little tricky on the island. There has been ongoing tension between the majority Greek Cypriots and the minority Turkish Cypriots. ๐๏ธ Since 1974, Turkey has controlled part of the island.
In a fun twist, the whole island joined the European Union in 2004, but here's the catch โ EU laws don't apply in the Turkish-controlled area! ๐ค
Cyprus has a rich history and a complex present, making it a unique destination! ๐
Year of Independence
1960
Year of Turkish Control Start
1974
Year Joined European Union
2004
Exports - commodities
Cyprus is known for its diverse range of exports! ๐ข Here are some of the main commodities that Cyprus exports:
- Ships
- Refined petroleum
- Packaged medicine
- Cheese
- Scented mixtures
These items contribute significantly to the economy, highlighting the island's rich maritime culture and its role as a hub for quality goods! ๐โ๏ธ
Key Export Commodities
Ships, Refined petroleum, Packaged medicine, Cheese, Scented mixtures
Exports - partners
๐ข Let's dive into Cyprus's export partners for 2022 and see where their goods are going! ๐ค Cyprus has strong trading ties with various countries, each receiving a share of the exports. Hereโs how the pie is cut:
- Hong Kong: 10% ๐
- Greece: 10% ๐ฌ๐ท
- Lebanon: 7% ๐ฑ๐ง
- UK: 6% ๐ฌ๐ง
- Liberia: 5% ๐ฑ๐ท
This means Hong Kong and Greece are at the top of Cyprus's export partners list, each receiving 10% of exports. ๐ What's fascinating is that a good portion of Cyprus's goods are shared among these partners, highlighting the island's strategic economic connections! ๐ผ
Percentage of exports to Hong Kong
10%
Percentage of exports to Greece
10%
Percentage of exports to Lebanon
7%
Percentage of exports to the UK
6%
Percentage of exports to Liberia
5%
Exports Partners of Cyprus in 2022
Capital
๐๏ธ The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia, also known by its alternate names Lefkosia and Lefkosa. This unique city is the last divided capital in Europe, symbolizing a rich history and cultural blend. Nicosia is the center of government, commerce, and education in Cyprus, making it an important hub for the island's activities!
Imports - commodities
Cyprus imports a variety of exciting commodities that keep the nation moving and thriving! ๐ข Hereโs a peek at some of the key imports in 2022:
- Refined Petroleum: This is essential for transportation and energy needs.
- Ships: Important for trade and travel across waters.
- Cars: Keeping the streets filled with vibrant vehicles.
- Packaged Medicine: Vital for health and well-being.
- Garments: Fashionable outfits to keep the people stylish! ๐
With such a diverse range of imports, Cyprus ensures it has the best resources for its citizens. ๐๏ธ
Key Imports for Cyprus in 2022
Refined Petroleum, Ships, Cars, Packaged Medicine, Garments
Climate
๐ Cyprus enjoys a Mediterranean climate! This means it has hot, dry summers โ๏ธ and cool winters โ๏ธ. The weather is generally temperate, making it a lovely place to visit or live! Whether you're basking in the sun or enjoying a cool breeze, the climate here is just delightful! ๐
Executive branch
๐จ๐พ Cyprus is led by the President, who holds both the title of chief of state and head of government! Currently, Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS is at the helm, having taken office on February 28, 2023. This means that Cyprus is in a new era of leadership headed by a single individual for both roles! ๐
Current President of Cyprus
Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS
Date of Taking Office
February 28, 2023
Legislative branch
In Cyprus, the legislative branch is composed of two parts, and it's quite interesting! ๐
The House of Representatives controls the area under the government and has a total of 80 seats. On the other hand, the area administered by Turkish Cypriots features the Assembly of the Republic, which consists of 50 seats. ๐๏ธ
This structure shows how governance is structured in Cyprus, representing different groups within the country! ๐
Total Seats in Legislative Branch
130
Seats in House of Representatives
80
Seats in Assembly of the Republic
50
Comparison of Legislative Seats in Cyprus
Natural resources
๐ Cyprus is home to a variety of natural resources! Hereโs a quick look at what you can find in this beautiful Mediterranean island:
- Copper: A valuable metal that has been mined on the island since ancient times! ๐ช
- Pyrites: Also known as iron sulfide, this resource is important in many industrial processes. โ๏ธ
- Asbestos: Used in construction materials for its fire-resistant properties, although its use has decreased due to health concerns. ๐ฅ
- Gypsum: A key ingredient in plaster and drywall that helps build homes! ๐
- Timber: Cyprus provides plenty of trees, making timber an important resource for construction and furniture. ๐ฒ
- Salt: A natural source that has been harvested for enhancing flavors in food and for preservation. ๐ง
- Marble: Known for its beauty, marble from Cyprus is used in luxurious designs and sculptures. ๐๏ธ
- Clay Earth Pigment: Perfect for pottery and ceramics, showcasing the artistic side of Cyprus! ๐จ
Cyprus has such a rich variety of natural resources that help both its economy and its culture thrive! ๐
Economic overview
๐ด Welcome to Cyprus, an island of wonders with a vibrant economy! Cyprus boasts a services-based, high-income EU island economy, which means the majority of its money comes from things like tourism and services rather than agriculture or manufacturing. ๐๏ธ Tourism is a HUGE part of this economy, attracting visitors from all over the globe to enjoy its beautiful beaches and rich history.
The economy has seen sustained growth, especially after recovering from the national banking system's troubles and overcoming the challenges posed by COVID-19 trade restrictions. This resilience shows how strong the island's economy really is! ๐ช
With high living standards, people in Cyprus enjoy a comfortable life. Additionally, it serves as a well-known financial hub, and its stock exchange acts like a bridge for investments between EU countries and those in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). ๐จ๐พ๐ฐ
Economic Type
Services-based, high-income
Tourism Impact
Heavy tourism
Economic Resilience
Sustained growth
Living Standards
High living standards
Financial Hub
Known financial hub
Government type
๐ Let's explore the government types of Cyprus! The Republic of Cyprus is known as a presidential republic, meaning that the president has a strong role in leading the country. ๐๏ธ On the other hand, in the northern part of the island, the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) operates as a parliamentary republic but adds a unique twist with an enhanced presidency! This means that while the people elect representatives, the presidency holds significant powers. Isn't that fascinating? ๐ค
Government Type of Republic of Cyprus
Presidential Republic
Government Type of TRNC
Parliamentary Republic with Enhanced Presidency
Ethnic groups in Cyprus
In Cyprus, the majority of the population is Greek, making up a whopping 98.8%! ๐ There is a small percentage of 1% that includes other ethnic groups like Maronite, Armenian, and Turkish-Cypriot. Additionally, there is 0.2% of the population that is unspecified. Can you believe how diverse this little island is? ๐๏ธ
Percentage of Greek population
98.8%
Percentage of Other ethnic groups
1%
Percentage of Unspecified
0.2%
Ethnic Composition of Cyprus
Religions
๐๏ธ Let's explore the colorful tapestry of religions in Cyprus! Hereโs how the population identifies:
- Eastern Orthodox Christian: 89.1% ๐๏ธ
- Roman Catholic: 2.9% โช
- Protestant/Anglican: 2% ๐
- Muslim: 1.8% ๐
- Buddhist: 1% ๐ง
- Other (includes Maronite Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Hindu): 1.4% ๐
- Unknown: 1.1% โ
- None/Atheist: 0.6% ๐ซ
As you can see, the majority of people in Cyprus predominantly follow the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith. ๐
Total percentage of Eastern Orthodox Christians
89.1%
Total percentage of other religions
10.9%
Religious Distribution in Cyprus
Languages
๐ Cyprus is a beautiful island with a rich tapestry of languages! In 2011, the most widely spoken language was Greek, making up 80.9% of the population. Following that, we have Turkish at just 0.2%, while English is spoken by 4.1% of the people. Other languages, like Romanian (2.9%), Russian (2.5%), Bulgarian (2.2%), and Arabic (1.2%), contribute to the wonderful diversity of the island. Thereโs even a small percentage speaking Filipino (1.1%) and some who communicate in other languages (4.3%). Lastly, there's a tiny portion of the population with unspecified languages, which stands at 0.6%. ๐ Let's dive into the details!
Percentage of Greek speakers
80.9%
Percentage of Turkish speakers
0.2%
Percentage of English speakers
4.1%
Percentage of Romanian speakers
2.9%
Percentage of Russian speakers
2.5%
Percentage of Bulgarian speakers
2.2%
Percentage of Arabic speakers
1.2%
Percentage of Filipino speakers
1.1%
Percentage of speakers of other languages
4.3%
Percentage of unspecified language speakers
0.6%
Language Distribution in Cyprus (2011)
Imports - partners
Imports Partners for Cyprus ๐จ๐พ
In 2022, Cyprus had several key trading partners for imports. Here's how the pie of imports was split:
- Greece: 19% ๐ฅ
- Turkey: 12% ๐ฅ
- Italy: 9% ๐ฅ
- China: 9% ๐จ๐ณ
- Israel: 5% ๐ฎ๐ฑ
As you can see, Greece holds the largest slice of the import pie! ๐ฐ Itโs interesting to note that Turkey and Italy are also significant partners, each making up a notable part of Cyprus's imports.
Understanding these partnerships helps in grasping the economic landscape of Cyprus! ๐
Total Import Partners Documented
5
Import Partners of Cyprus (2022)
Population
๐ Cyprus' Population: As of the latest statistics, Cyprus has a total population of 1,320,525 people! That's a wonderful mix of cultures and communities living together on this beautiful island! ๐๏ธ
Total Population
1,320,525
Area
๐ Let's explore the area of Cyprus! ๐จ๐พ
Cyprus is a beautiful island with a total area of 9,251 square kilometers. Out of this, the land area covers 9,241 square kilometers while the water area is just 10 square kilometers. That's a lot of land for homes, parks, and adventures, and not too much water! ๐
Isn't it incredible how such a small island can have so much variety in its area?
Total Area
9251 sq km
Land Area
9241 sq km
Water Area
10 sq km
Area Distribution of Cyprus
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ Cyprus has been witnessing some exciting growth in its economy! Here are the real GDP (in purchasing power parity) estimates for recent years:
- In 2023, Cyprus's GDP is estimated to be $46.976 billion. ๐ต
- Back in 2022, it was around $45.845 billion.
- And in 2021, it stood at $43.637 billion.
As we can see, the economy has been steadily increasing, which is great news! ๐
2023 GDP Estimate
$46.976 billion
2022 GDP Estimate
$45.845 billion
2021 GDP Estimate
$43.637 billion
Real GDP Growth of Cyprus (PPP)
Real GDP per capita
๐ Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita in Cyprus! This number tells us how much money, on average, each person in the country makes each year. Hereโs how it has changed over the past few years:
- 2021: $48,500
- 2022: $50,200
- 2023: $50,600
Isn't it exciting to see how the economy is growing? ๐
GDP per capita in 2023
$50,600
GDP per capita in 2022
$50,200
GDP per capita in 2021
$48,500
Real GDP per Capita in Cyprus (2021-2023)
Imports
๐ Let's take a look at how much Cyprus has been bringing in through imports over the past few years! ๐ฆ๐ฐ The import values in billions of dollars are as follows:
- 2023: $29.091 billion
- 2022: $27.658 billion
- 2021: $25.164 billion
As you can see, Cyprus has been steadily increasing its imports year by year. ๐ Let's visualize this trend to see how it grows! ๐
Imports of Cyprus Over Time
Exports
๐ Cyprus is making waves with its export activities! In 2023, exports are estimated to reach a whopping $28.808 billion! That's a great increase from $27.72 billion in 2022 and $26.303 billion in 2021. ๐ It's like a wonderful upward trend showing that Cyprus is growing stronger in international trade! ๐
Export Estimate for 2023
$28.808 billion
Export Estimate for 2022
$27.72 billion
Export Estimate for 2021
$26.303 billion
Exports of Cyprus Over Time
Population growth rate
๐ Cyprus has a population growth rate of 0.95% as estimated in 2024. This means that the number of people living in Cyprus is slowly increasing each year! ๐ Keep an eye on the population trends to see how they change over time!
Population Growth Rate
0.95%