Cyprus
Europe Β· Capital: Nicosia
How it is run: Cyprus is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Cyprus is home to 1.4 million people in Southern Europe, where people speak Greek, Turkish.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
1.4 million people
That is about 169 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
9,251 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
About 148 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
36th most people in Europe
39th largest by land in Europe.
π£οΈ Official languages
Greek, Turkish
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Euro (β¬)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
81.8 years on average
One of the healthier countries β good hospitals and clean water make a big difference.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$41,783
An upper-middle-income country: growing cities, and more families joining the middle class.
π’ Living in cities
66.7% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
16.1% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+357
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.cy
π§ People here are called
Cypriot
π·οΈ Name at home
ΞΟΟΟΞΏΟ Β· KΔ±brΔ±s
Also written: KΓ½pros, KΔ±brΔ±s, Republic of Cyprus.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Asia and the Pacific Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Cyprus has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Chipre
French
Chypre
Arabic
ΩΨ¨Ψ±Ψ΅
Chinese
ε‘桦路ζ―
Japanese
γγγγΉ
Russian
ΠΠΈΠΏΡ
Portuguese
Chipre
German
Zypern
Put it in perspective π
- Russia β the most populated country in Europe β has about 104.7Γ as many people as Cyprus.
- Cyprus covers roughly 88 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Cyprus lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 685 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Cyprus is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Cyprus
ποΈ Capital
Nicosia
π Region
Europe Β· Southern Europe
π€ Country code
CY
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Cyprus π
π§ Where on the map
35.0Β° N, 33.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Nicosia.
- π¨πΎ is the flag of Cyprus. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is CY.
- Cyprus sits in the temperate zone, the belt where most of the world's farms and big cities are.
- Cyprus is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Cyprus is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Cyprus sits in Southern Europe, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Cyprus has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Cyprus can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Cyprus spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Cyprus?
Nicosia
Which money do people spend in Cyprus?
Euro (β¬)
How many countries share a land border with Cyprus?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Cyprus?
1.4 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.