Official Name: Kipriakí Dimokratía (Greek); Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) (Republic of Cyprus)

Area: Europe

Size: 9,251 km² 

Coastline: 648 km

Independence: from the UK 16 August 1960 

Form of Govt.: Unitary multiparty republic

Head of Govt.: President

Capital: Nicosia

Largest City: Nicosia

Demographics (2005): 784,301 

Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5%

GDP per Capita (2005): $31,053

Languages: Greek, Turkish

Geography: It is the third largest Mediterranean island and its topography is dominated by two mountain ranges, the Troodos and the Kyrenia, which are separated by the Central Mesaoria Plain that extends the length of the island from east to west. The forest covered Troodos Ranges are an extensive massif formed from the local molten rock whereas the Kyrenia is a narrow limestone range. The coastline is indented and predominantly rocky, although there are several long sandy beaches. There are no perennial fresh water lakes or rivers on the island.

Climate: Cyprus has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters with rainfall occurring mainly between November and March while altitude tends to govern internal temperature and rainfall variations. The average annual precipitation for the island as a whole is 500 mm with an average of 300 to 400 mm in the central plain to nearly 1,200 mm at the highest point of the Troodos Massif. Average temperature ranges in Nicosia are from 5 to 15 degrees in January to 21 to 37 degrees in July.