Cyprus country profile

Cyprus is the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean, and is situated south of Turkey. Cyprus joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.

Cyprus is the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean, and is situated south of Turkey. The two main mountain ranges are the Pentadactylos in the north and the Troodos in central and south-western part of the island, with the fertile plain of Messaoria in between.

Cyprus has long been a crossing point between Europe, Asia and Africa and still has many traces of successive civilisations – Roman theatres and villas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Crusader castles and pre-historic habitats.

The island’s main economic activities are tourism, clothing and craft exports and merchant shipping. Traditional crafts include embroidery, pottery and copper-work.

Since Turkey occupied the north of the island in 1974, the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities have been separated by the so-called Green Line.

Cyprus is well known as the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who, according to legend, was born there.

Official name: Republic of Cyprus

Area (km²): 9 250

Population: 789 000 (2008); 793 000 (forecast for 2009)

Capital: Nicosia

National holiday: 01 October

Currency: Euro (€)

Date of joining: 01 May 2004

Head of state: Dimitris Christofias, since February 2008

Head of government: Dimitris Christofias, of the communist AKEL party, since February 2008

GDP (millions €): 17 890 (2008); 18 461 (forecast for 2009)

GDP per capita in PPS: € 23 800 (2008); € 22 700 (forecast for 2009)

Real growth rate of GDP: 3.7% (2008); 0.3% (forecast 2009)

Unemployment rate: 5.4% (June 2009)

National debt as % of GDP: 49.1% (2008)

Inflation: -1,0% (October 2009)

Public deficit/surplus as % of GDP: 0.9% (2008)

Source: Eurostat

http://www.cyprus.gov.cy

http://www.cyprus.gov.cy

http://www.mfa.gov.cy

http://www.parliament.cy

Source: European Commission, Spanish EU Presidency