Читать книгу The 2009 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 420

Flag description:

white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities

note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star

Economy ::Cyprus

Economy - overview:

The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for 78% of GDP. Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the most important sectors. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy in the area under government control has grown at a rate well above the EU average since 2000. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and adopted the euro as its national currency on 1 January 2008. An aggressive austerity program in the preceding years, aimed at paving the way for the euro, helped turn a soaring fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003) into a surplus of 1.2% in 2008, and reduced inflation to 5.1%. This prosperity will come under pressure in 2009, as construction and tourism slow in the face of reduced foreign demand triggered by the ongoing global financial crisis. Growth is expected to slow to less than 2%, which would be its lowest level since 2003. As in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants have been added to existing plants over the last year and are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial rainfall from 2001–04. Since then, rainfall has been well below average, making water rationing a necessity.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$22.76 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $21.94 billion (2007 est.)

$21.02 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$24.92 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 4.4% (2007 est.)

4.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $20,900 (2007 est.)

$20,400 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.1%

industry: 19.6%

services: 78.3% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

397,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 8.5%

industry: 20.5%

services: 71% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 3.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line: