ctancy at birth: 73 years male, 78 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Cypriot(s); adjective--Cypriot

_#_Ethnic divisions: Greek 78%; Turkish 18%; other 4%

_#_Religion: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian,
Apostolic, and other 4%

_#_Language: Greek, Turkish, English

_#_Literacy: 90% (male 96%, female 85%) age 10 and over can
read and write (1976)

_#_Labor force: Greek area--246,100; services 42%, industry 33%,
agriculture 22%; Turkish area--NA (1989)

_#_Organized labor: 156,000 (1985 est.)

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Republic of Cyprus

_#_Type: republic; a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities
inhabiting the island began after the outbreak of communal strife in
1963; this separation was further solidified following the Turkish
invasion of the island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de
facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only
internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish
Cypriot President Rauf Denktash declared independence and the formation
of a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has been recognized
only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of
intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of
government

_#_Capital: Nicosia

_#_Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos

_#_Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for
a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own Constitution
and governing bodies within the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, which
was renamed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983; a new
Constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum in May 1985

_#_Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October

_#_Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet);
note--there is a president, prime minister, and Council of Ministers
(cabinet) in the Turkish area

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (Vouli
Antiprosopon); note--there is a unicameral Assembly of the Republic
(Cumhuriyet Meclisi) in the Turkis