Source: Wikipedia
Flag of Cyprus
Capital: Nicosia 35°08′N 33°28′E Official language: Greek, Turkish Government: Republic
President: Tassos Papadopoulos

Independence From United Kingdom :
- Date 16 August 1960

Accession to EU:
- May 1, 2004

Area :
- Total 9,251 km² (167th) 3,572 sq mi
- Water (%) negligible

Population :
- 2005 estimate 835,0002 (157th)
- 2001 census 689,565
- Density 90/km² (105th) 233/sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate :
- Total $ 17.49 billion (115th)
- Per capita $ 21,232 (32nd)

HDI (2004): 0.903 (high) (29th)

Currency: Cyprus Pound (CYP)

Time zone: EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)

Internet TLD: .cy

Calling code: +357

Cyprus (Greek: Κύπρος, Kýpros; Turkish: Kıbrıs), officially the Republic of Cyprus (Greek: Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, Kypriakí Dhimokratía; Turkish: Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti), is a Eurasian island nation in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea south of the Anatolian peninsula (Asia Minor) or modern-day Turkey. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts [1]: Lefkosia (the capital), Ammochostos, Keryneia, Larnaka, Lemesos, and Pafos. A former British colony, the Republic of Cyprus gained independence in 1960 while the United Kingdom retained two Sovereign Base Areas. The north of the island has been under Turkish military occupation since 1974 when a large-scale Turkish invasion took place, resulting in the expulsion of thousands of ethnic Greeks from the north, and the subsequent establishment of a separatist regime to govern the occupied area which currently styles itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus . It is separated from the south by the United Nations-controlled Green Line and is only recognized by Turkey . The Republic of Cyprus has been a member state of the European Union since 1 May 2004.[2]