Considered a safe haven, graced with scenic beauty, year-round sunlight, and a rising modern infrastructure, Cyprus is offering a relaxed lifestyle and a warm and welcoming culture.
Located in the eastern Mediterranean sea, Cyprus is situated north of Egypt, east of Greece, south of Turkey, and west of Lebanon and Syria, thus serving as the meeting point of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Cyprus is the third largest and also the third most populated island in the Mediterranean sea after Sicily and Sardinia. And with around 2 million tourist arrivals per year, Cyprus is classed as the 40th most popular destination in the World, awarded with 57 Blue Flag beaches.
The geopolitical division of the island of Cyprus
The island of Cyprus has been divided geopolitically into four segments since the Turkish invasion in 1974.
The northeast portion of the island, comprising about one-third of it, or 34.85%, is de facto occupied by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which was established after the invasion and is recognized today as a country only by Turkey.
The southwestern two-thirds of the island, about 59.74%, is governed by the Republic of Cyprus, a country member of the European Union.
The Buffer Zone in Cyprus, also known as the Green Line, is an area that separates the two powers, patrolled and controlled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Considered a neutral territory because neither side is allowed to hold it military or otherwise. The Green Line covers about 2.67% of the island, stretching for about 180 kilometers (or 112 miles) from Paralimni in the east to Kato Pyrgos in the west, where a separate section surrounds the coastal enclave of Kokkina.
The last division is a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus, comprising two army bases, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, covering about 2.74% of the island which includes the military bases and installations, as well as other lands.
Cyprus districts
The island of Cyprus is divided into six districts, presented from west to east as follows:
- Paphos / Pafos: located on the west side of the island, it includes the city of Paphos and the surrounding area. It is under the control of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Kyrenia/ Keryneia: It is located in the north of the island and includes the city of Kyrenia and its surrounding area. It is under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
- Nicosia / Lefkosia: located in the center of the island, it includes the city capital of Nicosia and the surrounding area. It is a district divided between the two sides, with the northern part under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the southern part under the control of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Limassol / Lemesos: located in the south of the island, it includes the city of Limassol and the surrounding area. It is under the control of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Larnaca / Larnaka: located in the south of the island, it includes the city of Larnaca and the surrounding area. It is under the control of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Famagusta / Ammochostos: located in the east of the island, it includes the city of Famagusta and the surrounding area. The district is mainly under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and a significant portion of the district remains uninhabited due to the ongoing conflict. The southeast part of the district, also known as the Free Famagusta is controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
The official languages spoken on the island of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish, and the population is predominantly Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot.
