Cyprus: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Mediterranean island country in the Middle East}}

{{About|the country}}

{{Distinguish|Cypress}}

{{pp-sock|small=yes}}

{{pp-move}}

| image_map              = File:EU-Cyprus.svg

| map_caption            = {{Legend|#336830|Location of Cyprus}}

{{Legend|#c6debdff|[[Cyprus in the European Union]]}}

| sovereignty_type      = Independence {{nobold|from the United Kingdom}}

| area_label            = Total{{efn|name=island|Including Northern Cyprus, the [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|UN buffer zone]] and [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]].}}

| population_census      = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 923,272{{efn|Government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing 2021, Preliminary Results by District, Municipality/Community |url=https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/PressRelease?id=66208 |publisher=Statistical Service of Cyprus |access-date=4 August 2023 |location=Nicosia |date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524094953/https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/PressRelease?id=66208 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $61.298 billion<ref name="IMF WEO">{{cite web |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2025 |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2025/april/weo-report?c=423,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2024&ey=2026&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |access-date=22 April 2025 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=22 April 2025}}</ref>

| GDP_PPP_year          = 2025

| GDP_PPP_rank          = 126th

| GDP_PPP_per_capita    = {{increase}} $65,088<ref name="IMF WEO" />

| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 27th

| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $38.736 billion<ref name="IMF WEO" />

| GDP_nominal_year      = 2025

| GDP_nominal_rank      = 102nd

| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $41,132<ref name="IMF WEO" />

| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 26th

| Gini                  = 29.4 <!--number only-->

| Gini_year              = 2022

| Gini_change            = steady <!--increase/decrease/steady-->

| Gini_ref              = <ref>{{cite web |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |access-date=10 August 2023 |location=Luxembourg |date=28 June 2023 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091832/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506051232/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2025 |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]}}</ref>| currency              = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])

'''Cyprus'''{{efn|{{langx|el|Κύπρος|translit=Kýpros}} {{IPA|el|ˈcipros|}}; {{langx|tr|Kıbrıs}} {{IPA|tr|ˈkɯbɾɯs|lang|LL-Q256 (tur)-ToprakM-Kıbrıs.wav}}}} ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Cyprus.ogg|ˈ|s|aɪ|p|r|ə|s|}}), officially the '''Republic of Cyprus''',{{efn|{{Langx|el|Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία |translit=Kypriakí Dimokratía |links=no}}, {{IPA|el|cipriaˈci ðimokraˈti.a|}}, <small>lit:</small> Cypriot Republic; {{langx|tr|Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti |links=no}}, {{IPA|tr|ˈkɯbɾɯs ˈdʒumhuɾijeti|}}, <small>lit:</small> Republic of Cyprus}} is an [[island country]] in the eastern [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Situated in [[West Asia]], its cultural identity and [[geopolitical]] orientation are overwhelmingly [[Southeast Europe]]an. Cyprus is the [[List of islands in the Mediterranean|third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean]], after [[Sicily]] and [[Sardinia]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pariona |first=Amber |date=4 August 2017 |title=Biggest Islands In The Mediterranean Sea By Area |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/biggest-islands-in-the-mediterranean-sea.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512043924/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/biggest-islands-in-the-mediterranean-sea.html |archive-date=12 May 2018 |access-date=11 May 2018 |work=WorldAtlas |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nag |first=Oishimaya Sen |date=15 August 2017 |title=The Most Populated Islands In The Mediterranean Sea |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-most-populated-islands-in-the-mediterranean-sea.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512043814/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-most-populated-islands-in-the-mediterranean-sea.html |archive-date=12 May 2018 |access-date=11 May 2018 |work=WorldAtlas |language=en}}</ref> It is located southeast of [[Greece]], south of [[Turkey]], west of [[Syria]] and [[Lebanon]], northwest of [[Israel]] and [[Palestine]], and north of [[Egypt]]. Its capital and largest city is [[Nicosia]]. Cyprus hosts the [[British Overseas Territories|British]] military bases [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]], whilst the northeast portion of the island is ''[[de facto]]'' governed by the self-declared [[Northern Cyprus|Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]], which is separated from the Republic of Cyprus by the [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|United Nations Buffer Zone]].

Cyprus was first settled by [[hunter-gatherer]]s around 13,000 years ago, with farming communities emerging by 8500 BC. The late [[Bronze Age]] saw the emergence of [[Alashiya]], an urbanised society closely connected to the wider Mediterranean world. Cyprus experienced waves of settlement by [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean Greeks]] at the end of the [[2nd millennium BC]]. Owing to its rich natural resources (particularly copper) and strategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia, the island was subsequently contested and occupied by several empires, including the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Assyrians]], [[Ancient Egyptians|Egyptians]], and [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]], from whom it was seized in 333 BC by [[Alexander the Great]]. Successive rule by [[Ptolemaic Dynasty|Ptolemaic Egypt]], the [[Roman Empire|Classical]] and [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern Roman Empire]], [[Caliphate|Arab caliphate]]s, the [[Lusignan dynasty|French Lusignans]], and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] was followed by over [[Ottoman Cyprus|three centuries of Ottoman dominion]] (1571–1878).<ref name="Lausanne">{{cite web |url=http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Treaty_of_Lausanne |title=Treaty of Lausanne |access-date=7 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112221242/http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Treaty_of_Lausanne |archive-date=12 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|[[De jure|''De jure'']] until 1914.}} Cyprus was placed under [[United Kingdom|British]] administration in 1878 pursuant to the [[Cyprus Convention]] and formally annexed by the United Kingdom in 1914.

The island's future became a matter of disagreement between its [[Greek Cypriots|Greek]] and [[Turkish Cypriots|Turkish]] communities. Greek Cypriots sought ''[[enosis]],'' or union with Greece, which became a Greek national policy in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Faustmann |first1=Hubert |last2=Ker-Lindsay |first2=James |title=The Government and Politics of Cyprus |year=2008 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=978-3-03911-096-4 |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AzIXtVdDDwgC&pg=PA48 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517121228/https://books.google.com/books?id=AzIXtVdDDwgC&pg=PA48#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mirbagheri |first1=Farid |title=Historical Dictionary of Cyprus |date=2009 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |page=25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f82Jn_H4VukC&pg=PA25 |isbn=9780810862982 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517123640/https://books.google.com/books?id=f82Jn_H4VukC&pg=PA25#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Turkish Cypriots initially advocated for continued British rule, then demanded the annexation of the island to Turkey, with which they established the policy of ''[[Taksim (politics)|taksim]]:'' portioning Cyprus and creating a Turkish [[polity]] in the north of the island.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Trimikliniotis |first1=Nicos |title=Beyond a Divided Cyprus: A State and Society in Transformation |date=2012 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-137-10080-1 |page=104 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zS_HAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA104 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517121219/https://books.google.com/books?id=zS_HAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA104#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Following [[Cyprus Emergency|nationalist violence in the 1950s]], Cyprus was [[London and Zürich Agreements|granted independence in 1960]].<ref name=independence/> The [[Bloody Christmas (1963)|crisis of 1963–64]] brought further [[Cypriot intercommunal violence|intercommunal violence between the two communities]], displaced more than 25,000 Turkish Cypriots into [[Turkish Cypriot enclaves|enclaves]],<ref name="Hoffmeister 2006" />{{rp|56–59}}<ref name="Intercommunal Violence"/> and ended Turkish Cypriot political representation. On 15 July 1974, [[1974 Cypriot coup d'état|a coup d'état]] was staged by [[EOKA B|Greek Cypriot nationalists]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Mallinson |first=William |title=Cyprus: A Modern History |publisher=I.&nbsp;B. Tauris |year=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HEjkuhF2GsMC&pg=PA81 |isbn=978-1-85043-580-8 |page=81 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517121124/https://books.google.com/books?id=HEjkuhF2GsMC&pg=PA81 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2297653.stm |title=website |work=BBC News |date=4 October 2002 |access-date=25 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040726144124/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2297653.stm |archive-date=26 July 2004 |url-status=live}}</ref> and elements of the [[Greek military junta of 1967–1974|Greek military junta]].<ref name=hoff>{{cite book |author= Hoffmeister, Frank |title= Legal aspects of the Cyprus problem: Annan Plan and EU accession |publisher= EMartinus Nijhoff Publishers|year= 2006 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LZXbg3ZwvGoC | pages = 34–5 |isbn= 978-90-04-15223-6}}</ref> This action precipitated the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]] on 20 July,<ref>{{cite book |author=Eyal Benvenisti |title=The International Law of Occupation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKgeX_sdQG0C&pg=PA191 |date=23 February 2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-958889-3 |page=191 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910212611/https://books.google.com/books?id=JKgeX_sdQG0C&pg=PA191 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> which captured the present-day territory of Northern Cyprus and [[Cypriot refugees|displaced]] over 150,000 Greek Cypriots<ref>Barbara Rose Johnston, Susan Slyomovics. ''Waging War, Making Peace: Reparations and Human Rights'' (2009), American Anthropological Association Reparations Task Force, [https://books.google.com/books?id=jOU9_BQU9SYC&pg=PA211 p. 211] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412133508/https://books.google.com/books?id=jOU9_BQU9SYC&pg=PA211 |date=12 April 2016}}</ref><ref>Morelli, Vincent. ''Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive'' (2011), DIANE Publishing, [https://books.google.com/books?id=dyWwReoc81oC&pg=PA10 p. 10] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413033218/https://books.google.com/books?id=dyWwReoc81oC&pg=PA10& |date=13 April 2016}}</ref> and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots.<ref>Borowiec, Andrew. ''Cyprus: A Troubled Island'' (2000), Greenwood Publishing Group, [https://books.google.com/books?id=hzEDg6-d80MC&pg=PA125 p. 125] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412142842/https://books.google.com/books?id=hzEDg6-d80MC&pg=PA125 |date=12 April 2016}}</ref> A separate Turkish Cypriot state in the north was [[Declaration of Independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus|established by unilateral declaration in 1983]], which was widely condemned by the [[international community]] and remains [[List of states with limited recognition|recognised]] only by Turkey. These events and the resulting political situation remain subject to [[Cyprus dispute|an ongoing dispute]].

Cyprus is a [[Developed country|developed]] [[representative democracy]] with an advanced [[high income economy|high-income economy]] and very high [[Human Development Index|human development]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=Lesley Pender |author2=Richard Sharpley |title=The Management of Tourism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R9r90RAJM5cC&pg=PA273 |year=2005 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=978-0-7619-4022-7 |page=273 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910231130/https://books.google.com/books?id=R9r90RAJM5cC&pg=PA273 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Richard Sharpley|title=Tourism Development and the Environment: Beyond Sustainability?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=id8Me6CogPYC&pg=PT296 |date=16 May 2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-57330-9 |page=296 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918182700/https://books.google.com/books?id=id8Me6CogPYC&pg=PT296 |archive-date=18 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Sharpley, Richard |author2=Telfer, David John |title=Tourism and Development: Concepts and Issues |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wvo1sIjZH3UC&pg=PA334 |year=2002 |publisher=Channel View Publications |isbn=978-1-873150-34-4 |page=334 |access-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918222742/https://books.google.com/books?id=Wvo1sIjZH3UC&pg=PA334 |archive-date=18 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The island's intense [[Mediterranean climate]] and rich cultural heritage make it a major [[Tourism in Cyprus|tourist destination]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-03 |title=Cyprus {{!}} History, Flag, Map, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Cyprus |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> Cyprus is a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and a [[Cyprus and the Non-Aligned Movement|founding member]] of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] until it [[Cyprus in the European Union|joined the European Union]] in 2004;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nam.gov.za/background/background.htm#4|title=The Non-Aligned Movement: Background Information |date=21 September 2001 |publisher=[[Non-Aligned Movement]] |access-date=19 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209210107/http://www.nam.gov.za/background/background.htm#4 |archive-date=9 February 2016}}</ref> it joined the [[eurozone]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Human Development Index (HDI)–2011 Rankings |url=https://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/war_peace/confrontation/hcypruseu.html |publisher=[[Stanford University]] |access-date=17 November 2019 |archive-date=3 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403004203/http://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/war_peace/confrontation/hcypruseu.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Cyprus has long maintained [[Cyprus–NATO relations|good relations]] with [[NATO]] and announced in 2024 its intention to officially join.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cyprus Wants U.S. Help to Join NATO, But Turkey Stands in the Way |url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/cyprus-wants-u-s-help-to-join-nato-but-turkey-stands-in-the-way/ |website=[[The National Herald]] |access-date=13 December 2024 |date=7 December 2024}}</ref>

{{Main|History of Cyprus|Timeline of Cypriot history}}

At the end of the Bronze Age, the island experienced two waves of Greek settlement.<ref>Thomas, Carol G. and Conant, Craig: ''The Trojan War'', pp.&nbsp;121–122. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005. {{ISBN|0-313-32526-X}}, 9780313325267.</ref> The first wave consisted of [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean Greek]] traders, who started visiting Cyprus around 1400&nbsp;BC.<ref>[[Andreas G. Orphanides]], "Late Bronze Age Socio-Economic and Political Organization, and the Hellenization of Cyprus", Athens Journal of History, volume&nbsp;3, number&nbsp;1, 2017, pp.&nbsp;7–20</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOwOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA168 |title=Greek Pottery in the Bronze Age |author=A.D. Lacy |page=168 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915234014/https://books.google.com/books?id=YOwOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA168 |archive-date=15 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="lcweb2.loc.gov">{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+cy0013%29 |title=Library of Congress Country Studies. ''Cyprus'' |publisher=Lcweb2.loc.gov |access-date=1 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110091429/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+cy0013%29 |archive-date=10 January 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> A major wave of Greek settlement is believed to have taken place following the [[Late Bronze Age collapse]] of Mycenaean Greece from 1100 to 1050&nbsp;BC, with the island's predominantly Greek character dating from this period.<ref name="lcweb2.loc.gov" /><ref>Thomas, Carol G. ''The Trojan War''. Santa Barbara, CA, US: Greenwood Publishing Group 2005. p.&nbsp;64. [https://books.google.com/books?id=UzASgBf2W10C&pg=PA98] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203171026/https://books.google.com/books?id=UzASgBf2W10C&pg=PA98|date=3 December 2015}}</ref>  Cyprus occupies an important role in [[Greek mythology]], being the birthplace of [[Aphrodite]] and [[Adonis]], and home to [[Cinyras|King Cinyras]], [[Teucer]] and [[Pygmalion (mythology)|Pygmalion]].<ref>Stass Paraskos, The Mythology of Cyprus (London: Orage Press, 2016) p.1f</ref> Literary evidence suggests an early Phoenician presence at [[Kition]], which was under [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyrian]] rule at the beginning of the 10th century BC.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hadjisavvas |first=Sophocles |title=The Phoenician Period Necropolis of Kition, Volume&nbsp;I |year=2013 |publisher=Shelby White and Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publications |url=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~semitic/wl/publications/2012/hadjisavvas.html |page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111945/http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~semitic/wl/publications/2012/hadjisavvas.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=9 September 2019 }}</ref> Some [[Phoenicia]]n merchants who were believed to come from [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] [[colony|colonised]] the area and expanded the political influence of Kition. After c.&nbsp;850&nbsp;BC, the Phoenicians rebuilt and reused the sanctuaries [at the Kathari site].[[File:Kition, Zeus Keraunios.jpg|thumb|upright|Zeus Keraunios, 500–480 BC, Nicosia museum]]

During the whole period of the Persian rule, there is a continuity in the reign of the Cypriot kings and during their rebellions they were crushed by Persian rulers from Asia Minor, which is an indication that the Cypriots were ruling the island with directly regulated relations with the Great King and there was not a Persian [[satrap]].<ref name="Parpas">{{Cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/8861166 |title=Alexander the Great and the Kingdoms of Cyprus – a Reconsideration |access-date=7 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807195911/https://www.academia.edu/8861166 |url-status=live |last1=Parpas |first1=Andreas P. }}</ref> The Kingdoms of Cyprus enjoyed special privileges and a semi-autonomous status, but they were still considered vassal subjects of the Great King.<ref name="Parpas"/>

The island was conquered by [[Alexander the Great]] in 333&nbsp;BC and Cypriot navy helped Alexander during the [[siege of Tyre (332 BC)]]. The Cypriot fleet was also sent to help [[Amphoterus (admiral)|Amphoterus]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0530%3Abook%3D3%3Achapter%3D6%3Asection%3D3 |title=Arrian, Anabasis, 3.6.3 |access-date=7 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807201301/https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0530:book%3D3:chapter%3D6:section%3D3 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, Alexander had two Cypriot generals [[Stasander]] and [[Stasanor]] both from the [[Soli, Cyprus|Soli]] and later both became satraps in Alexander's empire.

In 1156 [[Raynald of Châtillon]] and [[Thoros II|Thoros II of Armenia]] brutally sacked Cyprus over a period of three weeks, stealing so much plunder and capturing so many of the leading citizens and their families for ransom, that the island took generations to recover. Several Greek priests were mutilated and sent away to Constantinople.<ref>Norwich, J. J. (1995) ''Byzantium: The Decline and Fall''. London: Viking, p. 121</ref>

In 1185 [[Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus|Isaac Komnenos]], a member of the Byzantine imperial family, took over Cyprus and declared it independent of the Empire. In 1191, during the [[Third Crusade]], [[Richard I of England]] captured the island from Isaac.<ref>Riddle, J.M. ''A History of the Middle Ages''. Lanham, MD, US: Rowman & Littlefield 2008. p.&nbsp;326. [https://books.google.com/books?id=rhWpPr93KjMC&pg=PA326] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915220219/https://books.google.com/books?id=rhWpPr93KjMC&pg=PA326|date=15 September 2015}}</ref> He used it as a major supply base that was relatively safe from the [[Saracen]]s. A year later Richard sold the island to the [[Knights Templar]], who, following a bloody revolt, in turn sold it to [[Guy of Lusignan]]. His brother and successor [[Aimery of Cyprus|Aimery]] was recognised as [[Kingdom of Cyprus|King of Cyprus]] by [[Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor]].<ref name="lcweb2.loc.gov" />

[[File:Atlas Ortelius KB PPN369376781-073av-073br.jpg|thumb|left|''Cypri insvla nova descript 1573'', Ioannes á Deutecum f[ecit]. Map of Cyprus newly drawn by Johannes van Deutecom, 1573.]]

The ratio of Muslims to Christians fluctuated throughout the period of Ottoman domination. In 1777–78, 47,000 Muslims constituted a majority over the island's 37,000 Christians.<ref>{{citation |last=Hatay |first=Mete |year=2007 |title=Is the Turkish Cypriot population shrinking?|url=http://www.prio.org/Global/upload/Cyprus/Publications/Is%20the%20Turkish%20Cypriot%20Population%20Shrinking.pdf |page=19 |publisher=International Peace Research Institute |isbn=978-82-7288-244-9 |access-date=7 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702022552/https://www.prio.org/Global/upload/Cyprus/Publications/Is%20the%20Turkish%20Cypriot%20Population%20Shrinking.pdf |archive-date=2 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> By 1872, the population of the island had risen to 144,000, comprising 44,000 Muslims and 100,000 Christians.<ref>''Osmanli Nufusu 1830–1914'' by [[Kemal Karpat]], {{ISBN|975-333-169-X}} and ''Die Völker des Osmanischen'' by Ritter zur Helle von Samo.</ref> The Muslim population included numerous [[crypto-Christians]],<ref name="Jennings 1992">{{cite book |author=Ronald Jennings |title=Christians and Muslims in Ottoman Cyprus and the Mediterranean World, 1571–1640 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dslYF9LopnMC&pg=PT596 |date=1 August 1992 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=978-0-8147-4318-8 |pages=596– |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412181717/https://books.google.com/books?id=dslYF9LopnMC&pg=PT596 |archive-date=12 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> including the [[Linobambaki]], a crypto-Catholic community that arose due to religious persecution of the Catholic community by the Ottoman authorities;<ref name="Jennings 1992"/><ref>{{cite book |author=Captain A.&nbsp;R. Savile|title=Cyprus|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nxj9a-Stax4C&pg=PA130|year=1878 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |page=130 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911024127/https://books.google.com/books?id=nxj9a-Stax4C&pg=PA130 |archive-date=11 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> this community would assimilate into the Turkish Cypriot community during British rule.<ref>{{cite book |author=Chrysostomos Pericleous |title=Cyprus Referendum: A Divided Island and the Challenge of the Annan Plan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PHQAAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA131 |year=2009 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |isbn=978-0-85771-193-9 |page=131 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911014545/https://books.google.com/books?id=PHQAAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA131 |archive-date=11 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As soon as the [[Greek War of Independence]] broke out in 1821, several Greek Cypriots left for Greece to join the Greek forces. In response, the Ottoman governor of Cyprus arrested and executed 486 prominent Greek Cypriots, including the Archbishop of Cyprus, [[Kyprianos of Cyprus|Kyprianos]], and four other bishops.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mirbagheri |first1=Farid |title=Historical dictionary of Cyprus |date=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham, Md. [u.a.] |isbn=978-0-8108-6298-2 |pages=xxvii, 124 |edition=[Online-Ausg.]. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f82Jn_H4VukC}}</ref> In 1828, modern Greece's first president [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]] called for union of Cyprus with Greece, and numerous minor uprisings took place.<ref>{{cite book |author1=William Mallinson |author2=Bill Mallinson |title=Cyprus: a modern history |url=https://archive.org/details/cyprusmodernhist00mall |url-access=limited |publisher=I.B.Tauris |year= 2005 |page=[https://archive.org/details/cyprusmodernhist00mall/page/n30 10]|isbn=978-1-85043-580-8}}</ref> Reaction to Ottoman misrule led to uprisings by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, although none were successful. After centuries of neglect by the Ottoman Empire, the poverty of most of the people and the ever-present tax collectors fueled Greek nationalism, and by the 20th century the idea of ''[[enosis|union]]'' with newly independent Greece was firmly rooted among Greek Cypriots.<ref name="Ottoman" />

In October 1915, Britain offered Cyprus to Greece, ruled by King [[Constantine I of Greece]], on the condition that Greece join the war on the side of the British and went to [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]]’s assistance, in order to fulfill her Treaty obligations under the [[Greek–Serbian Alliance of 1913|Serbo-Greek pact]] of May 1913.<ref name=Stavridis>Stavridis, Stavros Terry (31 July 1993),

''Greek-Cypriot Enosis of October 1915: “A Lost Opportunity?”''. [[La Trobe University]]. p. 289. Retrieved 5 August 2024.</ref> It gave Greece a golden  

“opportunity” in achieving ''[[enosis]]'' with Cyprus.<ref name=Stavridis/> Alternatively it was a

“lost opportunity” when the [[Alexandros Zaimis|Zaimis]] administration declined the British proposal.<ref name=Stavridis/>

The Greek Cypriot population, meanwhile, had become hopeful that the British administration would lead to ''enosis''. The idea of ''enosis'' was historically part of the ''[[Megali Idea]]'', a greater political ambition of a Greek state encompassing the territories with large Greek populations in the former Ottoman Empire, including Cyprus and [[Asia Minor]] with a capital in [[Constantinople]], and was actively pursued by the [[Cypriot Orthodox Church]], which had its members educated in Greece. These religious officials, together with Greek military officers and professionals, some of whom still pursued the ''Megali Idea'', would later found the guerrilla organisation [[EOKA]] ''(Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston'' or National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ker-Lindsay |first1=James |title=The Cyprus Problem: What Everyone Needs to Know |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-975716-9 |pages=14–5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTL382g5sWwC |quote=They hoped that the transfer of administration would pave the way for the island to be united with Greece—an aspiration known as 'enosis.' At the time, these calls for enosis were not just limited to Cyprus. Instead, Cyprus was part of a wider political movement&nbsp;... This overarching political ambition was known as the Megali Idea (Great Idea).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lange |first1=Matthew |title=Educations in Ethnic Violence: Identity, Educational Bubbles, and Resource Mobilization |date=2011 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-50544-4 |page=88 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ac2NRpHoY3EC}}</ref> The Greek Cypriots viewed the island as historically Greek and believed that union with Greece was a natural right.<ref name="Diez 2002" /> In the 1950s, the pursuit of ''enosis'' became a part of the Greek national policy.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Huth |first1=Paul |title=Standing Your Ground: Territorial Disputes and International Conflict |date=2009 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-02204-5 |page=206 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NIAc-R5fgQoC |quote=From early 1950s onward Greece has favored union with Cyprus through a policy of enosis}}</ref>

In January 1950, the Church of Cyprus organised a [[Cypriot enosis referendum, 1950|referendum]] under the supervision of clerics and with no Turkish Cypriot participation,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grob-Fitzgibbon |first1=Benjamin |title=Imperial Endgame: Britain's Dirty Wars and the End of Empire |date=2011 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-30038-5 |page=285}}</ref> where 96% of the participating Greek Cypriots voted in favour of ''enosis''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Dale C. Tatum |title=Who Influenced Whom?: Lessons from the Cold War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=70NxlYekQIgC&pg=PA43 |access-date=21 August 2013 |date=1 January 2002 |publisher=University Press of America |isbn=978-0-7618-2444-2 |page=43 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012220734/http://books.google.com/books?id=70NxlYekQIgC&pg=PA43 |archive-date=12 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Kourvetaris, George A. |title=Studies on modern Greek society and politics |publisher=East European Monographs |year=1999 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bE5oAAAAMAAJ&q=90%25 |page=347 |isbn=978-0-88033-432-7 |access-date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517125913/https://books.google.com/books?id=bE5oAAAAMAAJ&q=90%25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hoffmeister 2006" />{{rp|9}} The Greeks were 80.2% of the total island's population at the time ([[Demographics of Cyprus|census 1946]]). Restricted autonomy under a constitution was proposed by the British administration but eventually rejected. In 1955 the EOKA organisation was founded, seeking union with Greece through armed struggle. At the same time the [[Turkish Resistance Organisation]] (TMT), calling for Taksim, or partition, was established by the Turkish Cypriots as a counterweight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/www.cyprus-conflict.net/mavratsas.html |title=Politics, Social Memory, and Identity in Greek Cyprus since 1974 |author=Caesar V. Mavratsas |publisher=cyprus-conflict.net |access-date=13 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605233259/http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/www.cyprus-conflict.net/mavratsas.html |archive-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> British officials also tolerated the creation of the Turkish underground organisation TMT The Secretary of State for the Colonies in a letter dated 15 July 1958 had advised the Governor of Cyprus not to act against TMT despite its illegal actions so as not to harm British relations with the Turkish government.<ref name="Bellingeri 2005" />

Intercommunal violence [[Bloody Christmas (1963)|erupted]] on 21 December 1963, when two Turkish Cypriots were killed at an incident involving the Greek Cypriot police. The violence resulted in the death of 364&nbsp;Turkish and 174&nbsp;Greek Cypriots,<ref>Oberling, Pierre. ''The road to Bellapais'' (1982), Social Science Monographs, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XIK6AAAAIAAJ&q=According+to+official+records%2C+364+Turkish+Cypriots+and+174+Greek+Cypriots+were+killed+during+the+1963-1964+crisis. p.&nbsp;120] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428082807/https://books.google.com/books?id=XIK6AAAAIAAJ&q=According+to+official+records,+364+Turkish+Cypriots+and+174+Greek+Cypriots+were+killed+during+the+1963-1964+crisis. |date=28 April 2023 }}: "According to official records, 364&nbsp;Turkish Cypriots and 174&nbsp;Greek Cypriots were killed during the 1963–1964 crisis."</ref> destruction of 109 Turkish Cypriot or mixed villages and displacement of 25,000–30,000 Turkish Cypriots. The crisis resulted in the end of the Turkish Cypriot involvement in the administration and their claiming that it had lost its legitimacy;<ref name="Hoffmeister 2006" />{{rp|56–59}} the nature of this event is still controversial. In some areas, Greek Cypriots prevented Turkish Cypriots from travelling and entering government buildings, while some Turkish Cypriots willingly withdrew due to the calls of the Turkish Cypriot administration.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ker-Lindsay |first1=James |title=The Cyprus Problem: What Everyone Needs to Know |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-975716-9 |pages=35–6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTL382g5sWwC |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517123104/https://books.google.com/books?id=xTL382g5sWwC |url-status=live }}</ref> Turkish Cypriots started living in [[Turkish Cypriot enclaves|enclaves]]. The republic's structure was changed, unilaterally, by Makarios, and Nicosia was divided by the [[Green Line (Cyprus)|Green Line]], with the deployment of [[UNFICYP]] troops.<ref name="Hoffmeister 2006" />{{rp|56–59}}

In 1964, Turkey threatened to invade Cyprus<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/10/newsid_3037000/3037898.stm |work=BBC News |date=24 April 2004 |access-date=25 October 2009 |title=1964: Guns fall silent in Cyprus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217190225/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/10/newsid_3037000/3037898.stm |archive-date=17 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> in response to the continuing [[Cypriot intercommunal violence]], but this was stopped by a strongly worded telegram from the US President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] on 5 June, warning that the US would not stand beside Turkey in case of a consequential Soviet invasion of Turkish territory.<ref>{{cite book |title=Johnson's 1964 letter to Inonu and Greek lobbying of the White House |author=Jacob M. Landau|publisher=Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations |year=1979}}</ref> Meanwhile, by 1964, ''enosis'' was a Greek policy and would not be abandoned; Makarios and the Greek prime minister [[Georgios Papandreou]] agreed that ''enosis'' should be the ultimate aim and King [[Constantine II of Greece|Constantine]] wished Cyprus "a speedy union with the mother country". Greece dispatched 10,000 troops to Cyprus to counter a possible Turkish invasion.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mirbagheri |first1=Farid |title=Cyprus and International Peacemaking 1964–1986 |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-67752-6 |page=28 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Znp9AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517125857/https://books.google.com/books?id=Znp9AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Republic of Cyprus has ''[[de jure]]'' [[sovereignty]] over the entire island, including its [[territorial waters]] and [[exclusive economic zone]], with the exception of the Sovereign Base Areas of [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]], which remain under the UK's control according to the [[London-Zürich Agreements|London and Zürich Agreements]]. However, the Republic of Cyprus is de facto partitioned into two main parts: the area under the effective control of the Republic, in the south and west and comprising about 59% of the island's area, and the north,<ref>{{cite web |title=According to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 550 and 541 |url=https://www.un.org/documents/sc/res/1984/scres84.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319123420/http://www.un.org/documents/sc/res/1984/scres84.htm |archive-date=19 March 2009 |access-date=27 March 2009 |publisher=United Nations}}</ref> administered by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, covering about 36% of the island's area. Another nearly 4% of the island's area is covered by the [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|UN buffer zone]]. The international community considers the northern part of the island to be territory of the Republic of Cyprus occupied by Turkish forces.{{efn|See:<ref>{{cite book |author=European Consortium for Church-State Research. Conference |title=Churches and Other Religious Organisations as Legal Persons: Proceedings of the 17th Meeting of the European Consortium for Church and State Research, Höör (Sweden), 17–20 November 2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hogL92shGUIC&pg=PA50 |year=2007 |publisher=Peeters Publishers |isbn=978-90-429-1858-0 |page=50 |quote=There is little data concerning recognition of the 'legal status' of religions in the occupied territories, since any acts of the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' are not recognized by either the Republic of Cyprus or the international community.|access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412144859/https://books.google.com/books?id=hogL92shGUIC&pg=PA50 |archive-date=12 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Quigley |title=The Statehood of Palestine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iTR3BQ0aJ6UC&pg=PA164 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-49124-2 |page=164 |quote=The international community found this declaration invalid, on the ground that Turkey had occupied territory belonging to Cyprus and that the putative state was therefore an infringement on Cypriot sovereignty. |date=6 September 2010 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906001102/https://books.google.com/books?id=iTR3BQ0aJ6UC&pg=PA164 |archive-date=6 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nathalie Tocci |author-link=Nathalie Tocci |title=EU Accession Dynamics and Conflict Resolution: Catalysing Peace Or Consolidating Partition in Cyprus?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T6Z0Io3kQZ4C&pg=PA56 |date=January 2004 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=978-0-7546-4310-4 |page=56 |quote=The occupied territory included 70&nbsp;percent of the island's economic potential with over 50&nbsp;percent of the industrial&nbsp;... In addition, since partition Turkey encouraged mainland immigration to northern Cyprus.&nbsp;... The international community, excluding Turkey, condemned the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) as a. |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915202840/https://books.google.com/books?id=T6Z0Io3kQZ4C&pg=PA56 |archive-date=15 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Dr Anders Wivel |author2=Robert Steinmetz |title=Small States in Europe: Challenges and Opportunities |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iUeWqEjS6-IC&pg=PA165 |date=28 March 2013 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=978-1-4094-9958-9 |page=165 |quote=To this day, it remains unrecognised by the international community, except by Turkey |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922110421/https://books.google.com/books?id=iUeWqEjS6-IC&pg=PA165 |archive-date=22 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Peter Neville |title=Historical Dictionary of British Foreign Policy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dVosJPY04xAC&pg=PA293 |date=22 March 2013 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-7371-1 |page=293 |quote=Ecevit ordered the army to occupy the Turkish area on 20 July 1974. It became the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but Britain, like the rest of the international community, except Turkey, refused to extend diplomatic recognition to the enclave. British efforts to secure Turkey's removal from its surrogate territory after 1974 failed. |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918212811/https://books.google.com/books?id=dVosJPY04xAC&pg=PA293 |archive-date=18 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} The occupation is viewed as illegal under international law and amounting to illegal occupation of EU territory since Cyprus became a member of the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=James Ker-Lindsay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R1QEn3G4L7MC&pg=PA15 |title=An Island in Europe: The EU and the Transformation of Cyprus |author2=Hubert Faustmann |author3=Fiona Mullen |date=15 May 2011 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |isbn=978-1-84885-678-3 |page=15 |quote=Classified as illegal under international law, and now due to Cyprus' accession into the [[European Union]] is also an illegal occupation of EU territory. |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918194718/https://books.google.com/books?id=R1QEn3G4L7MC&pg=PA15 |archive-date=18 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

After the restoration of constitutional order and the return of Archbishop [[Makarios&nbsp;III]] to Cyprus in December 1974, Turkish troops remained, occupying the northeastern portion of the island. In 1983, the [[Assembly of the Republic (Northern Cyprus)|Turkish Cypriot parliament]], led by the Turkish Cypriot leader [[Rauf Denktaş]], [[Declaration of Independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus|proclaimed]] the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognised only by Turkey.<ref name="CIA"/>

On 1 May 2004 Cyprus joined the [[European Union]], together with nine other countries.<ref>Stephanos Constantinides & Joseph Joseph, 'Cyprus and the European Union: Beyond Accession', ''Études helléniques/Hellenic Studies'' 11&nbsp;(2), Autumn 2003</ref> Cyprus was accepted into the EU as a whole, although the EU legislation is suspended in Northern Cyprus until a final settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The [[European Union]] warned in February 2019 that Cyprus was selling [[Passports of the European Union|EU passports]] to [[Russian oligarch]]s, and thus would allow [[organized crime|organised crime]] syndicates to infiltrate the EU.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/cyprus-golden-passports-bring-russians-eu-190202172320680.html |title=Cyprus 'golden passports' bring Russians into the EU |work=Al Jazeera |access-date=4 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204165732/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/cyprus-golden-passports-bring-russians-eu-190202172320680.html |archive-date=4 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, leaked documents revealed a wider range of former and current officials from Afghanistan, China, Dubai, Lebanon, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Vietnam who bought a Cypriot citizenship prior to a change of the law in July 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/exclusive-cyprus-sold-passports-politically-exposed-persons-200823204320183.html |title=Exclusive: Cyprus sold passports to 'politically exposed persons' |work=Al Jazeera |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824100832/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/exclusive-cyprus-sold-passports-politically-exposed-persons-200823204320183.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rakopoulos |first1=Theodoros |last2=Fischer |first2=Leandros |title=In Cyprus, the Golden Passports Scheme Shows Us How Capitalism and Corruption Go Hand in Hand |journal=Jacobin |date=10 November 2020 |url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/11/cyprus-golden-passports-citizenship-corruption |access-date=13 November 2020 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112225241/https://jacobinmag.com/2020/11/cyprus-golden-passports-citizenship-corruption |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2020 Cyprus and Turkey have been [[Cyprus–Turkey maritime zones dispute|engaged in a dispute]] over the extent of their [[exclusive economic zone]]s, ostensibly sparked by oil and gas exploration in the area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cyprus: EU 'appeasement' of Turkey in exploration row will go nowhere |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-turkey-eu-cyprus-idUSKCN25D1FZ |work=Reuters |date=17 August 2020 |access-date=13 September 2020 |archive-date=17 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817150821/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-turkey-eu-cyprus-idUSKCN25D1FZ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after the [[List of islands of Italy|Italian islands]] of [[Sicily]] and [[Sardinia]], both in terms of area and population.<ref name="CIA"/> It is also the [[List of islands by area|world's 80th largest by area]] and [[List of islands by population|world's 51st largest by population]]. It measures {{convert|240|km|mi|0}} long from end to end and {{convert|100|km|mi|0}} wide at its widest point, with Turkey {{convert|75|km|mi|0}} to the north. It lies between latitudes [[34th parallel north|34°]] and [[36th parallel north|36° N]], and longitudes [[32nd meridian east|32°]] and [[35th meridian east|35° E]].

Other neighbouring territories include Syria and Lebanon to the east and southeast ({{convert|105|and|108|km|mi|0}}, respectively), Israel {{convert|200|km|mi|0}} to the southeast, The Gaza Strip 427 kilometres (265&nbsp;mi) to the southeast, Egypt {{convert|380|km|mi|0}} to the south, and Greece to the northwest: {{convert|280|km|mi|0}} to the small [[Dodecanese|Dodecanesian]] island of [[Kastellorizo]] (Megisti), {{convert|400|km|mi|0}} to [[Rhodes]] and {{convert|800|km|mi|0}} to the Greek mainland. Cyprus is at the crossroads of three continents, with some sources placing Cyprus in Europe,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destination/cyprus |title=Travel – National Geographic |website=travel.nationalgeographic.com |access-date=19 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817175131/http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/cyprus-facts/ |archive-date=17 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1016541.stm |title=BBC News – Cyprus country profile |date=23 December 2011 |access-date=1 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728172734/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1016541.stm |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Europe map / Map of Europe – Facts, Geography, History of Europe – Worldatlas.com |url=http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/eu.htm |access-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516064446/http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/eu.htm |archive-date=16 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and some sources placing Cyprus in Western Asia and the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web |title=United Nations Statistics Division- Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49) |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia |website=United |publisher=[[United Nations Statistics Division|UNSD]] |access-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417070721/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia |archive-date=17 April 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{fv|date=April 2025}}<ref name="CIA" />

Cyprus has a [[Subtropics|subtropical climate]] – [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] and [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] type (in the north-eastern part of the island) – [[Köppen climate classification]]s ''Csa'' and ''BSh'',<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Peel, M.&nbsp;C. |author2=Finlayson B.&nbsp;L. |author3=McMahon, T.&nbsp;A. |name-list-style=amp | year=2007 |title=Updated world map of the Köppen – Geiger climate classification |journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P |issn=1027-5606  |doi-access=free}} ''(direct: [http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf Final Revised Paper] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203170339/http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf |date=3 February 2012}})''</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malta/ CIA Factbook] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402195116/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malta/ |date=2 April 2021 }} – Geographic location</ref> with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. Snow is possible only in the Troodos Mountains in the central part of island. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry.

As of 2007, the [[House of Representatives (Cyprus)|House of Representatives]] had 56 members elected for a five-year term by [[proportional representation]], and three observer members representing the [[Armenians in Cyprus|Armenian]], [[Roman Catholicism in Cyprus|Latin]] and [[Maronites in Cyprus|Maronite]] minorities. Twenty-four seats were allocated to the [[Turkish people|Turkish]] community but have remained vacant since 1964. The political environment was dominated by the communist [[Progressive Party of Working People|AKEL]], the liberal conservative [[Democratic Rally]], the [[centrism|centrist]]<ref>{{cite web |author=DotNetNuke |url=http://www.diko.org.cy/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611174508/http://www.diko.org.cy/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=24 |archive-date=11 June 2007 |title=Ιδεολογική Διακήρυξη του Δημοκρατικού Κόμματος |publisher=Diko.org.cy |language=el |access-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Democratic Party (Cyprus)|Democratic Party]], and the [[social democracy|social-democratic]] [[Movement for Social Democracy|EDEK]].

In 2008, [[Dimitris Christofias]] became the country's first Communist head of state. Due to his involvement in the [[2012–2013 Cypriot financial crisis]], Christofias did not run for re-election in 2013. The Presidential election in 2013 resulted in [[Democratic Rally]] candidate [[Nicos Anastasiades]] winning 57.48% of the vote. As a result, Anastasiades was sworn in on 28 February 2013. Anastasiades was re-elected with 56% of the vote in the [[Cypriot presidential election, 2018|2018 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribune.gr/world/news/article/434054/nikitis-ton-eklogon-stin-kypro-56-o-nikos-anastasiadis.html |title=Νικητής των εκλογών στην Κύπρο με 56% ο Νίκος Αναστασιάδης |first=Αίθουσα |last=Σύνταξης |date=4 February 2018 |access-date=5 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205003251/http://www.tribune.gr/world/news/article/434054/nikitis-ton-eklogon-stin-kypro-56-o-nikos-anastasiadis.html |archive-date=5 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17217956 |title=Cyprus country profile |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=19 October 2020 |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208054957/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17217956 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 February 2023, [[Nikos Christodoulides]], the winner of the 2023 presidential [[2023 Cypriot presidential election|election]] run-off, was sworn in as the eighth president of the Republic of Cyprus.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Cyprus president sworn in |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230228-new-cyprus-president-sworn-in |publisher=[[France 24]] |date=28 February 2023 |language=en |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228220614/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230228-new-cyprus-president-sworn-in |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts: [[Nicosia District|Nicosia]], [[Famagusta District|Famagusta]], [[Kyrenia District|Kyrenia]], [[Larnaca District|Larnaca]], [[Limassol District|Limassol]] and [[Paphos District|Paphos]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/abc/maps/members/cyprus_en.htm |title=EUROPA – The EU at a glance – Maps – Cyprus |publisher=Europa (web portal) |access-date=27 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418223806/http://europa.eu/abc/maps/members/cyprus_en.htm |archive-date=18 April 2009}}</ref>

The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the following international groups: [[Australia Group]], [[Commonwealth of Nations|CN]], [[Council of Europe|CE]], [[CFSP]], [[EBRD]], [[European Investment Bank|EIB]], [[EU]], [[FAO]], [[IAEA]], [[IBRD]], [[ICAO]], [[International Chamber of Commerce|ICC]], [[International Criminal Court|ICCt]], [[International Trade Union Confederation|ITUC]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], [[IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[IHO]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Meteorological Organization|IMO]], [[Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]], [[Inter-Parliamentary Union|IPU]], [[ITU]], [[MIGA]], [[Non-Aligned Movement|NAM]], [[Nuclear Suppliers Group|NSG]], [[OPCW]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]], [[Permanent Court of Arbitration|PCA]], UN, [[UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[UNHCR]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[UPU]], [[World Confederation of Labour|WCL]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[World Federation of Trade Unions|WFTU]], [[WHO]], [[WIPO]], [[WMO]], [[WToO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]].<ref name="CIA"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/enlargement_process/past_enlargements/eu10/cyprus_en.htm |title=European Commission – Enlargement: Archives Country Profiles |publisher=Europa (web portal) |access-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204003532/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/enlargement_process/past_enlargements/eu10/cyprus_en.htm |archive-date=4 February 2009}}</ref>

Cyprus is the 88th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf|title=2024 Global Peace Index}}</ref>

The [[Cypriot National Guard]] is the main military institution of the Republic of Cyprus. It is a [[combined arms]] force, with land, air and naval elements. Historically all male citizens were required to spend 24 months serving in the National Guard after their 17th birthday, but in 2016 this period of compulsory service was reduced to 14 months.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/07/15/cyprus-drastically-reduces-mandatory-army-service-to-14-months/ |title=Cyprus Drastically Reduces Mandatory Army Service to 14 Months |first=Kerry |last=Kolasa-Sikiaridi |date=15 July 2016

|website=GreekReporter.com |access-date=21 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713184252/http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/07/15/cyprus-drastically-reduces-mandatory-army-service-to-14-months/ |archive-date=13 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Cyprus Police]] (Greek: {{lang|el|Αστυνομία Κύπρου}}, {{langx|tr|Kıbrıs Polisi}}) is the only National Police Service of the Republic of Cyprus and is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993.<ref>{{cite web |title= Defence – Security – Police  

|url= http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/0/E58D7CBF76D5A989C225701400505902?OpenDocument |publisher=Cyprus Government Web Portal

|access-date=11 October 2012}}{{Dead link |date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In "Freedom in the World 2011", Freedom House rated Cyprus as "free".<ref>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/cyprus Freedom in the World 2011 Report > Cyprus] ({{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307040239/http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/cyprus |date=7 March 2013}}). Retrieved 28 June 2013. Also, p.&nbsp;29.</ref> In January 2011, the Report of the Office of the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] on the question of Human Rights in Cyprus noted that the ongoing division of Cyprus continues to affect human rights throughout the island "including freedom of movement, human rights pertaining to the question of missing persons, discrimination, the right to life, freedom of religion, and economic, social and cultural rights".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/16session/A-HRC-16-21.pdf |title=Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of human rights in Cyprus: 16th Session, Human Rights Council, United Nations |date=7 January 2011 |publisher=Ohchr.org |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731132114/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/16session/A-HRC-16-21.pdf |archive-date=31 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The constant focus on the division of the island can sometimes mask other human rights issues.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/cyprus/usdos99_cyprus.htm |title=US Department of State Report on Human Rights in Cyprus |newspaper=Xpats.io |date=11 January 2010 |publisher=Asylumlaw.org |access-date=2010-11-17}}</ref> Prostitution is rife, and the island has been criticized for its role in the sex trade as one of the main routes of [[human trafficking]] from Eastern Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=26259&cat_id=1 |title=US report raps Cyprus over battle on flesh trade |author=Jean Christou |publisher=cyprus-mail.com |access-date=2007-10-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014803/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=26259&cat_id=1 |archive-date = 30 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=24784&cat_id=9 |title=A shame on our society |author=Jacqueline Theodoulou |publisher=cyprus-mail.com |access-date=2007-10-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202918/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=24784&cat_id=9 |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref>

In 2014, Turkey was ordered by the [[European Court of Human Rights]] to pay well over $100m in compensation to Cyprus for the invasion;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=12 May 2014 |title = European court orders Turkey to pay damages for Cyprus invasion |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/may/12/european-court-human-rights-turkey-compensation-cyprus-invasion |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=8 April 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150414060240/http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/may/12/european-court-human-rights-turkey-compensation-cyprus-invasion |archive-date=14 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ankara]] announced that it would ignore the judgment.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Karadeniz |first1=Tulay |last2=Tokasabay |first2=Ece |date=13 May 2014 |title=Turkey to ignore court order to pay compensation to Cyprus |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-cyprus-davutoglu-idUSBREA4C0AX20140513 | work=Reuters |access-date=7 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200741/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/13/us-turkey-cyprus-davutoglu-idUSBREA4C0AX20140513 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, a group of Cypriot refugees and a European parliamentarian, later joined by the Cypriot government, filed a complaint to the International Court of Justice, accusing Turkey of violating the [[Geneva Conventions]] by directly or indirectly transferring [[Turkish settlers in Northern Cyprus|its civilian population]] into occupied territory.{{citation needed |date=September 2018}} Other violations of the Geneva and the Hague Conventions—both ratified by Turkey—amount to what archaeologist Sophocles Hadjisavvas called "the organised destruction of Greek and Christian heritage in the north".<ref name="Hadjisavvas 2015" /> These violations include looting of cultural treasures, deliberate destruction of churches, neglect of works of art, and altering the names of important historical sites, which was condemned by the [[International Council on Monuments and Sites]]. Hadjisavvas has asserted that these actions are motivated by a Turkish policy of erasing the Greek presence in Northern Cyprus within a framework of ethnic cleansing. But some perpetrators are just motivated by greed and are seeking profit.<ref name="Hadjisavvas 2015">{{cite journal |last=Hadjisavvas |first=S. |year=2015 |title=Perishing Heritage: The Case of the Occupied Part of Cyprus |jstor=10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.3.2.0128 |journal=Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology & Heritage Studies |volume=3 |number=2 |pages=128–140 |doi=10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.3.2.0128}} Quote on p.&nbsp;129: "the deliberate destruction of [Greek] heritage as an instrument toward the obliteration of an identity of a people in the framework of ethnic cleansing."</ref> Art law expert Alessandro Chechi has classified the connection of cultural heritage destruction to ethnic cleansing as the "Greek Cypriot viewpoint", which he reports as having been dismissed by two [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|PACE]] reports. Chechi asserts joint Greek and Turkish Cypriot responsibility for the destruction of cultural heritage in Cyprus, noting the destruction of Turkish Cypriot heritage in the hands of Greek Cypriot extremists.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chechi |first1=Alessandro |editor1-last=Benzo |editor1-first=Andrea |editor2-last=Ferrari |editor2-first=Silvio |title=Between Cultural Diversity and Common Heritage: Legal and Religious Perspectives on the Sacred Places of the Mediterranean |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |pages=314–316 |chapter=Sacred heritage in Cyprus: bolstering protection through the implementation of international law standards and the adoption of an object-oriented approach}}</ref>

In the early 21st century, Cyprus boasted a prosperous service-based economy that made it the wealthiest of the ten countries that joined the European Union in 2004.<ref name="Econ" /> However, the Cypriot economy was later damaged by the [[2008 financial crisis]] and the [[European sovereign-debt crisis|Eurozone crisis]]. In June 2012, the Cypriot government announced it would need €{{Nowrap|1.8 billion}} in foreign aid to support the [[Cyprus Popular Bank]], and this was followed by [[Fitch Group|Fitch]] downgrading Cyprus's credit rating to [[junk status]].<ref name="BBC News 2012">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18577983 |title=Cyprus's credit rating cut to junk status by Fitch |date=25 June 2012 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC News Online |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628131610/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18577983 |archive-date=28 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Fitch stated Cyprus would need an additional €{{Nowrap|4 billion}} to support its banks and the downgrade was mainly due to the exposure of [[Bank of Cyprus]], [[Cyprus Popular Bank]], and [[Hellenic Bank]], Cyprus's three largest banks, to the [[Greek government-debt crisis]].<ref name="BBC News 2012" />

{{Main|Transport in Cyprus|Communications in Cyprus}}

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Cyprus has two international airports in the government-controlled areas, the busier one being in [[Larnaca International Airport|Larnaca]] and the other in [[Paphos International Airport|Paphos]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Stateman's Yearbook |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |page=386 |chapter=Cyprus}}</ref> The [[Ercan International Airport]] is the only active one in the non-government-controlled areas, but all international flights there must have a stopover in Turkey.<ref>{{cite web |title='Direct' flights to the north will go via Turkey |url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/09/23/direct-flights-to-the-north-will-go-via-turkey/ |publisher=Cyprus Mail |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=23 September 2022 |archive-date=23 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123001834/https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/09/23/direct-flights-to-the-north-will-go-via-turkey/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

|title=[[Religion in Cyprus]] ([[Pew Research Center|Pew Research]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/cyprus/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 |title=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project: Cyprus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717053131/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/cyprus/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 |archive-date=17 July 2014 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |date=2010}}</ref><ref name="CIA">{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Cyprus|access-date=9 February 2010}}</ref>

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[[File:Armenian Alphabet.jpg|thumb|right|The Armenian Alphabet at the [[Melkonian Educational Institute]]. [[Armenian language|Armenian]] is recognised as a minority language in Cyprus.]]

Cyprus has a highly developed system of primary and secondary education offering both public and private education. The high quality of instruction can be attributed in part to the fact that nearly 7% of the GDP is spent on education which makes Cyprus one of the top three spenders of education in the EU along with Denmark and Sweden.<ref>[http://www.childinfo.org/files/IND_Cyprus.pdf UNICEF, Division of Policy and Practice, Statistics and Monitoring Section] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510004016/http://www.childinfo.org/files/IND_Cyprus.pdf |date=10 May 2011}} childinfo.org, May 2008.</ref> Cyprus was ranked 27th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.wipo.int |page=18 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2}}</ref>

[[File:Pagkiprio High school entrance Nicosia Republic of Cyprus.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|The entrance of the historic [[Pancyprian Gymnasium]]]]

 

Christophoros Savva (1924–1968) who also studied in London, at [[Saint Martin's School of Art]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hatjecantz.de/christoforos-savva-7519-1.html#:~:text=Christoforos%20Savva%20(1924%E2%80%931968),newly%20established%20Republic%20of%20Cyprus. |title=Christoforos Savva |publisher=www.hatjecantz.de |access-date=12 September 2021 |archive-date=19 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919011443/https://www.hatjecantz.de/christoforos-savva-7519-1.html#:~:text=Christoforos%20Savva%20(1924%E2%80%931968),newly%20established%20Republic%20of%20Cyprus. |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1960, Savva founded, together with Welsh artist Glyn Hughes, Apophasis [Decision], the first independent cultural centre of the newly established Republic of Cyprus. In 1968, Savva was among the artists representing Cyprus in its inaugural Pavilion at the 34th Venice Biennale. English Cypriot Artist [http://glynhughesart.com/ Glyn HUGHES] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619052247/http://glynhughesart.com/ |date=19 June 2021 }} 1931–2014.<ref>Ministry of Education and Culture, ''State Gallery of Contemporary Cypriot Art'' (Nicosia: MOEC,1998)</ref> In many ways these two artists set the template for subsequent Cypriot art and both their artistic styles and the patterns of their education remain influential to this day. In particular the majority of Cypriot artists still train in England<ref>Michael Paraskos, "The Art of Modern Cyprus", in ''Sunjet'', Spring 2002, 62f</ref> while others train at art schools in Greece and local art institutions such as the [[Cyprus College of Art]], [[University of Nicosia]] and the [[Frederick Institute of Technology]].

The traditional [[folk music]] of Cyprus has several common elements with [[Music of Greece|Greek]], [[Music of Turkey|Turkish]], and [[Arabic Music]], all of which have descended from Byzantine music, including Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot dances such as the '''tillirkotissa''', as well as the Middle Eastern-inspired ''[[tsifteteli]]'' and ''arapies''. There is also a form of musical poetry known as ''chattista'' which is often performed at traditional feasts and celebrations. The instruments commonly associated with Cyprus folk music are the violin ("fkiolin"), [[lute]] ("laouto"), Cyprus flute ([[fipple flute|''pithkiavlin'']]), [[oud]] ("outi"), [[kanonaki]] and percussions (including the "[[drum|tamboutsia]]"). Composers associated with traditional Cypriot music include [[Solon Michaelides]], [[Marios Tokas]], Evagoras Karageorgis and Savvas Salides. Among musicians is also the acclaimed pianist [[Cyprien Katsaris]], composer [[Andreas G. Orphanides]], and composer and artistic director of the European Capital of Culture initiative [[Marios Joannou Elia]].

Literary production of the antiquity includes the ''[[Cypria]]'', an [[epic poetry|epic poem]], probably composed in the late 7th&nbsp;century&nbsp;BC and attributed to [[Stasinus]]. The ''Cypria'' is one of the first specimens of Greek and European poetry.<ref>"An indication that at least the main contents of the ''Cypria'' were known around 650 BC is provided by the representation of the [[Judgment of Paris]] on the [[Chigi vase]]" (Burkert 1992:103). On the [[proto-Corinthian]] [[ewer]] of c.&nbsp;640&nbsp;BC known as the [http://www.wisc.edu/arth/ah300/13-myth/33.image.html Chigi "vase"] {{dead link |date=March 2017 |bot=Dr.K. |fix-attempted=yes}}, Paris is identified as ''Alexandros'', as he was apparently called in ''Cypria''. {{dead link |date=August 2016 |bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Cypriot [[Zeno of Citium]] was the founder of the [[Stoicism|Stoic]] school of philosophy.

Local television companies in Cyprus include the state owned [[Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation]] which runs two television channels. In addition on the Greek side of the island there are the private channels ANT1 Cyprus, Plus TV, Mega Channel, Sigma TV, Nimonia TV (NTV) and New Extra. In Northern Cyprus, the local channels are [[Bayrak|BRT]], the Turkish Cypriot equivalent to the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, and a number of private channels. The majority of local arts and cultural programming is produced by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and BRT, with local arts documentaries, review programmes and filmed drama series.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, George Filis produced and directed ''Gregoris Afxentiou'', ''Etsi Prodothike i Kypros'', and ''The Mega Document''. In 1994, Cypriot film production received a boost with the establishment of the Cinema Advisory Committee. In 2000, the annual amount set aside for filmmaking in the national budget was [[Cypriot pound|CYP£]]500,000 (about €850,000). In addition to government grants, Cypriot co-productions are eligible for funding from the [[Council of Europe]]'s [[Eurimages]] Fund, which finances European film co-productions. To date, four feature films on which a Cypriot was an executive producer have received funding from Eurimages. The first was ''I Sphagi tou Kokora'' (1996), followed by ''Hellados'' (unreleased), ''To Tama'' (1999), and ''O Dromos gia tin Ithaki'' (2000).<ref>"[http://www.filmbirth.com/cyprus.html Film Birth – History of Cinema – Cyprus] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924012748/http://www.filmbirth.com/cyprus.html |date=24 September 2015}}".</ref>

Notable sports teams in the Cyprus leagues include [[APOEL FC]], [[Anorthosis Famagusta FC]], [[AC Omonia]], [[AEL Lemesos|AEL Limassol FC]], [[Apollon Limassol FC]], [[Nea Salamis Famagusta FC]], [[Olympiakos Nicosia]], [[AEK Larnaca FC]], [[Aris Limassol FC]], [[AEL Limassol B.C.]], [[Keravnos B.C.]] and [[Apollon Limassol B.C.]] Stadiums or sports venues include the [[GSP Stadium]] (the largest in the Republic of Cyprus-controlled areas), [[Tsirion Stadium]] (second largest), [[Neo GSZ Stadium]], [[Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium]], [[Ammochostos Stadium]]. [[Makario Stadium]] and [[Alphamega Stadium]].

In the 2008–09 season, [[Anorthosis Famagusta FC]] was the first Cypriot team to qualify for the [[UEFA Champions League]] Group stage. Next season, [[APOEL FC]] qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage, and reached the last 8 of the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League]] after finishing top of its group and beating French [[Olympique Lyonnais]] in the Round of 16.

The [[Cyprus national rugby union team]] known as ''The Moufflons'' currently holds the record for most consecutive international wins, which is especially notable as the [[Cyprus Rugby Federation]] was only formed in 2006.

Footballer [[Sotiris Kaiafas]] won the [[European Golden Shoe]] in the 1975–76 season; Cyprus is the smallest country by population to have one of its players win the award. Tennis player [[Marcos Baghdatis]] was ranked 8th in the world, was a finalist at the Australian Open, and reached the [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] semi-final, all in 2006. High jumper [[Kyriakos Ioannou]] achieved a jump of 2.35m at the 11th [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics]] in [[Osaka]], Japan, in 2007, winning the bronze medal. He has been ranked third in the world. In motorsports, [[Tio Ellinas]] is a successful race car driver, currently racing in the [[GP3 Series]] for Marussia [[Manor Motorsport]]. There is also mixed martial artist [[Costas Philippou]], who competed in [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]]'s middleweight division from 2011 until 2015. Costas holds a 6–4 record in UFC bouts.

Also notable for a Mediterranean island, the siblings [[Christopher Papamichalopoulos|Christopher]] and [[Sophia Papamichalopoulou]] qualified for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were the only athletes who managed to qualify and thus represented [[Cyprus at the 2010 Winter Olympics]].

'''Further reading'''

* {{cite book |author=Durrell, Lawrence |title=Bitter Lemons |publisher=Faber and Faber |year=1957 |isbn=978-0-571-20155-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bitterlemonsofcy0000durr }}

* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cyprus/ Cyprus]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].

* [http://www.cyprustrade.co.uk/ Cyprus High Commission Trade Centre – London]

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