Northern Cyprus

**Northern Cyprus** (), officially the **Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus** (**TRNC**; , _KKTC_), is a _de facto_ state in the northern half of the island of Cyprus. It is internationally recognized as part of the Republic of Cyprus and only Turkey recognizes it as a separate state. Three hundred thousand Muslim Turkish Cypriots live in its 3,335 km². Turkey is the only country which recognizes the territory as an independent republic despite the international sanctions and embargoes in place.

Cyprus was conquered and became part of the Ottoman Empire from 1570 to 1914. Many Ottoman Turkish people became settlers. As the Ottoman Empire sided against the British empire in World War I, the British annexed Cyprus. In 1923, by the Treaty of Lausanne Turkey gave up the island to the British Empire which in 1925 converted it to a crown colony. The British administered it from 1878 until 1960. Cypriot Turk males are circumcised, because Sunni Islam is the main religion.

In 1974, Turkish Cypriots were killed at the Maratha, Santalaris and Aloda massacre, in response to a growing conflict with Greece, the Turkish army invaded and occupied Cyprus. Many settlers from mainland Turkey came from Turkey into the northern part of the island. The move drew international condemnation and Northern Cyprus remains unrecognized by the United Nations.

Since 1974, the United Nations has established a ceasefire line between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. The  was formed in 1983 and Rauf Denktash became the first president. Negotiations for a unified island have been held several times without success.

Northern Cyprus, despite its international pariah status, stands out amongst other "frozen conflict" zones as having a relatively stable and democratic form of government with high levels of political freedom and civic engagement in the political process.

The Gurbeti-Roma are a Xoraxane Roma Muslim subgroup, who settled in Cyprus since it was part of Ottoman Empire. They speak Gurbetca an own Romani dialect and Cypriot Turkish.

## Other websites

- Government of the TRNC
- Zypern Times
- Nordzypern Almanac
- North Cyprus Information Map  - A directory and information source for Northern Cyprus. Company information including location maps. General and specific questions for residences and tourists

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- **image flag**: Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg
- **common name**: Northern Cyprus
- **symbol type**: Coat of arms
- **national anthem**:

- **image map**: Northern Cyprus (orthographic projection).svg
- **map width**: 220px
- **status**: List of states with limited recognition, Recognised only by Turkey
- **capital**: North Nicosia
- **religion**: Sunni Islam
- **largest city**: capital
- **official languages**: Turkish language, Turkish
- **demonym**: Turkish Cypriots
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Semi-presidential system, semi-presidential republic
- **leader title1**: President of Northern Cyprus, President
- **leader name1**: Tufan Erhürman
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Ünal Üstel
- **leader title3**: List of Speakers of the Assembly of the Republic (Northern Cyprus), Assembly Speaker
- **leader name3**: Önder Sennaroğlu
- **legislature**: Assembly of the Republic (Northern Cyprus), Assembly of the Republic
- **established event1**: Proclaimed
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **established date1**: wikisource:Declaration of Independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 15 November 1983
- **area km2**: 3,355
- **area sq mi**: 1,295
- **percent water**: 2.7
- **population estimate**: 326,000
- **population estimate year**: 2017
- **population census**: 286,257
- **population census year**: 2011
- **population density km2**: 93
- **population density rank**: 117th
- **population density sq mi**: 242
- **gdp nominal**: $3.685 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2017
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $12,702
- **currency**: Turkish lira  (`TRY`)
- **time zone**: Eastern European Time, EET (UTC+2)
- **time zone dst**: Eastern European Summer Time, EEST
- **utc offset dst**: +3
- **drives on**: left
- **calling code**: +90 392