Discover Fascinating Cyprus Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Cyprus.

Cyprus

Background

๐ŸŒ Cyprus: A Quick Background ๐ŸŒ

Did you know that Cyprus was once a British colony? ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 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. ๐Ÿ›๏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! ๐Ÿค”

Cyprus has a rich history and a complex present, making it a unique destination! ๐ŸŒ…

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! ๐Ÿšข 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! ๐ŸŒŠโœˆ๏ธ

Key Export Commodities

Ships, Refined petroleum, Packaged medicine, Cheese, Scented mixtures

Exports - partners

๐Ÿšข Let's dive into Cyprus's export partners for 2022 and see where their goods are going! ๐Ÿค” Cyprus has strong trading ties with various countries, each receiving a share of the exports. Hereโ€™s how the pie is cut:

  • Hong Kong: 10% ๐Ÿ
  • Greece: 10% ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Lebanon: 7% ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง
  • UK: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง
  • Liberia: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ท

This means Hong Kong and Greece are at the top of Cyprus's export partners list, each receiving 10% of exports. ๐ŸŒ What's fascinating is that a good portion of Cyprus's goods are shared among these partners, highlighting the island's strategic economic connections! ๐Ÿ’ผ

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

๐Ÿ›๏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! ๐Ÿšข Hereโ€™s 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! ๐Ÿ‘—

With such a diverse range of imports, Cyprus ensures it has the best resources for its citizens. ๐Ÿ๏ธ

Key Imports for Cyprus in 2022

Refined Petroleum, Ships, Cars, Packaged Medicine, Garments

Climate

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐ŸŒŠ

Executive branch

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ 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! ๐Ÿš€

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! ๐Ÿ˜Š

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. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

This structure shows how governance is structured in Cyprus, representing different groups within the country! ๐ŸŒ

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

๐ŸŒ Cyprus is home to a variety of natural resources! Hereโ€™s 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! ๐Ÿช™
  • Pyrites: Also known as iron sulfide, this resource is important in many industrial processes. โš™๏ธ
  • Asbestos: Used in construction materials for its fire-resistant properties, although its use has decreased due to health concerns. ๐Ÿ”ฅ
  • Gypsum: A key ingredient in plaster and drywall that helps build homes! ๐Ÿ 
  • Timber: Cyprus provides plenty of trees, making timber an important resource for construction and furniture. ๐ŸŒฒ
  • Salt: A natural source that has been harvested for enhancing flavors in food and for preservation. ๐Ÿง‚
  • Marble: Known for its beauty, marble from Cyprus is used in luxurious designs and sculptures. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  • Clay Earth Pigment: Perfect for pottery and ceramics, showcasing the artistic side of Cyprus! ๐ŸŽจ

Cyprus has such a rich variety of natural resources that help both its economy and its culture thrive! ๐ŸŒŸ

Economic overview

๐ŸŒด 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. ๐Ÿ–๏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! ๐Ÿ’ช

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). ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ๐Ÿ’ฐ

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

๐ŸŒ 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. ๐Ÿ›๏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? ๐Ÿค”

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%! ๐ŸŒŸ 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? ๐Ÿ๏ธ

Percentage of Greek population

98.8%

Percentage of Other ethnic groups

1%

Percentage of Unspecified

0.2%

Ethnic Composition of Cyprus

Religions

๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ Let's explore the colorful tapestry of religions in Cyprus! Hereโ€™s how the population identifies:

  • Eastern Orthodox Christian: 89.1% ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  • Roman Catholic: 2.9% โ›ช
  • Protestant/Anglican: 2% ๐Ÿ“–
  • Muslim: 1.8% ๐ŸŒ™
  • Buddhist: 1% ๐Ÿง˜
  • Other (includes Maronite Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Hindu): 1.4% ๐ŸŒ
  • Unknown: 1.1% โ“
  • None/Atheist: 0.6% ๐Ÿšซ

As you can see, the majority of people in Cyprus predominantly follow the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith. ๐ŸŒ…

Total percentage of Eastern Orthodox Christians

89.1%

Total percentage of other religions

10.9%

Religious Distribution in Cyprus

Languages

๐ŸŒ 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. Thereโ€™s 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%. ๐Ÿ“Š 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 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ

In 2022, Cyprus had several key trading partners for imports. Here's how the pie of imports was split:

  • Greece: 19% ๐Ÿฅ‡
  • Turkey: 12% ๐Ÿฅˆ
  • Italy: 9% ๐Ÿฅ‰
  • China: 9% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Israel: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ

As you can see, Greece holds the largest slice of the import pie! ๐Ÿฐ Itโ€™s 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! ๐Ÿš€

Total Import Partners Documented

5

Import Partners of Cyprus (2022)

Population

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐Ÿ๏ธ

Total Population

1,320,525

Area

๐ŸŒ Let's explore the area of Cyprus! ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ

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! ๐ŸŒŠ

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)

๐ŸŒ 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. ๐Ÿ’ต
  • 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! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

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

๐Ÿš€ 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. Hereโ€™s 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? ๐Ÿš€

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

๐Ÿš€ Let's take a look at how much Cyprus has been bringing in through imports over the past few years! ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ’ฐ 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. ๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's visualize this trend to see how it grows! ๐ŸŒŸ

Imports of Cyprus Over Time

Exports

๐ŸŒ 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. ๐Ÿ“ˆ It's like a wonderful upward trend showing that Cyprus is growing stronger in international trade! ๐ŸŒŸ

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

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Keep an eye on the population trends to see how they change over time!

Population Growth Rate

0.95%