Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: Cyprus
Location: | Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey |
Climate: | temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
Terrain: | central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast |
Size: | 9250 sq. km total (Land area: 9240 sq. km Water area: 10 sq.km) |
Population: | 792,604 (July 2008 est.) |
Languages: | Greek, Turkish, English |
Government: | republic |
Capital city: | Nicosia (Lefkosia) |
Legal system: | based on English common law, with civil law modifications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
Currency: | euro (EUR) |
Licensing: |
Country profile
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey.
The latest two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under direct government control, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots.
However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states. The election of a new Cypriot president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both the Turkish and Cypriot Governments to reopen unification negotiations.
Energy production and consumption
Oil | Gas | |
Production: | 300 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Consumption: | 56,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Exports: | ||
Imports: | 51,640 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Reserves: | ||
Major fields: |
Cyprus - recent news
08 Jul 25 |
Cyprus: ExxonMobil briefs the President of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the new gas discovery in Block 10 offshore Cyprus During a videoconference between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, and the Vice President of ExxonMobil, Mr John Ardill, President Christodoulides was briefed on the new natural gas discovery made at the 'Pegasus-1' well, in Block 10 of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus. |
08 Jul 25 |
Cyprus: Exxon Mobil finds natural gas reservoir offshore Cyprus A consortium led by ExxonMobil has encountered natural gas at a prospect off the island's coast, a Cypriot government spokesperson said on Monday, according to a Reuters report. |
26 Jun 25 |
Fugro to support deepwater gas project for Eni in Eastern Mediterranean Fugro has been awarded a contract to run a comprehensive site characterisation programme for an Eni operated development of a deepwater gas project in the Eastern Mediterranean. |
15 Apr 25 |
Cyprus: Exxon Mobil's Elektra-1 well in Block 5 disappoints The Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry has announced the completion of drilling operations at the Elektra-1 well, in Block 5 of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, conducted by the consortium of ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) and QatarEnergy International E&P. Well data and preliminary evaluation work indicate the presence of natural gas in non-commercial quantities. |
18 Feb 25 |
Cyprus/Egypt: Eni signs agreement with Egypt and Cyprus for the development and export of Cyprus Block 6 gas through Egypt’s existing infrastructure Eni signs agreement with Egypt and Cyprus for the development and export of Cyprus' Cronos Block 6 gas through Egypt’s existing infrastructure. Discovered in 2022 and subsequently appraised in 2024, Cronos gas in place is estimated at more than 3 trillion cubic feet (TCF). |
Cyprus - more news
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