World Factbook
Cyprus
Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: a copper-colored silhouette of the island is centered on a white field above two crossed green olive branches meaning: the olive branches symbolize hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
note 1: one of two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Kosovo is the other
note 2: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but has narrow horizontal red stripes near the top and bottom edges, with a red crescent and a five-pointed red star between them; the banner is modeled on the Turkish national flag, but with the colors reversed
Capital
name
Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa)
etymology
may have been named after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory; the Greek name for the city, Lefkosia, and the Turkish name, Lefkosa, both mean "White City"
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
35 10 N, 33 22 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Constitution
note
note: in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution
history
ratified 16 August 1960
amendment process
constitution of the Republic of Cyprus -- proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964 constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” -- proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum
Country name
note
note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" or "TRNC" ("Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti" or "KKTC")
etymology
the Greek name for the island is Kupros, which is probably derived from the Sumerian kabar , meaning "copper" or "bronze;" copper mines were located on the island in antiquity
local long form
Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)
local short form
Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish)
conventional long form
Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form
Cyprus
Independence
16 August 1960 (from the UK)
note: Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but only Turkey recognizes these proclamations
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and civil law, with European law supremacy
Government type
Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency
note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "TRNC,” which is recognized only by Turkey
Judicial branch
note
note: the highest court in the TRNC is the Supreme Court (consists of 8 judges, including the court president)
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges, including the court president)
subordinate courts
Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "TNRC district and family courts"
judge selection and term of office
Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic on the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA
Executive branch
note
note 1: vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but the post has been vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government note 2: under the 1960 constitution, 3 ministerial posts are reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president, but Greek Cypriots currently hold the positions
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023)
election results
2023: Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (independent) 32%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS (independent) 29.6%, Averof NEOFYTOU (DISY) 26.1%, Christos CHRISTOU (ELAM) 6%, other 6.3%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDS 52%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS 48% 2018: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44%
head of government
President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023)
most recent election date
5 February 2023, with a runoff on 12 February 2023
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms)
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
note: Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day"
National color(s)
blue, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Paphos; Painted Churches in the Troodos Region; Choirokoitia
Political parties
area under government control: Democratic Front or DIPA Democratic Party or DIKO Democratic Rally or DISY Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance Movement of Social Democrats EDEK National Popular Front or ELAM Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) Solidarity Movement area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP Communal Liberation Party - New Forces or TKP-YG Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP Democratic Party or DP National Democratic Party or NDP National Unity Party or UBP New Cyprus Party or YKP People's Party or HP Rebirth Party or YDP Republican Turkish Party or CTP United Cyprus Party or BKP
Legislative branch
note
note: the area of Cyprus that Turkish Cypriots administer has a separate unicameral Assembly of the Republic, or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats); members are directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote
term in office
5 years
number of seats
80 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/30/2021
expected date of next election
May 2026
percentage of women in chamber
14.3%
parties elected and seats per party
Democratic Rally (DISY) (17); Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) (15); Democratic Party (DIKO) (9); National Popular Front (ELAM) (4); Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) (4); Democratic Alignment (DIPA) (4); Cyprus Green Party (KOP) (3)
National anthem(s)
title
"Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Freedom)
history
adopted 1966; Cyprus uses the Greek national anthem; the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus uses Turkey's national anthem
lyrics/music
Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
National symbol(s)
Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove
National coat of arms
The coat of arms of Cyprus features a yellow shield representing the island’s copper deposits. A dove, one of the national symbols, holds an olive branch symbolizing peace, and olive branches encircle the shield. The year 1960 on the shield is the date of Cyprus’s independence from the United Kingdom.
Administrative divisions
6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos)
note: the 5 "districts" of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 483-6710
chancery
2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 462-5772
chief of mission
Ambassador Evangelos SAVVA (since 15 September 2023)
consulate(s) general
New York
honorary consulate(s)
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco
email address and website
info@cyprusembassy.net https://www.cyprusembassy.net/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[357] (22) 780944
embassy
Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia
telephone
[357] (22) 393939
mailing address
5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC 20521-5450
chief of mission
Ambassador Julie Davis FISHER (since 21 February 2023); note - Ambassador FISHER is temporarily assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine as Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim; she remains fully accredited in Cyprus
email address and website
ACSNicosia@state.gov https://cy.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction