Akrotiri Country Information

BACKGROUND:
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.
GEOGRAPHY:
Area: total: 123 sq km
country comparison to the world: 222
note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

POPULATION:
Approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK-based contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents
country comparison to the world: 218

Languages:
English, Greek.

COUNTRY NAME:
Government type:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Akrotiri.
Capital:
name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Independence:
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs).
FLAG DESCRIPTION:
the flag of the UK is used.
ECONOMY:
ECONOMY OVERVIEW:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.