CapitalEpiskopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
LanguagesEnglish, Greek
Akrotiri Intelligence Report
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Introduction
Background
According to the provisions of the Treaty of Establishment signed in 1960, which led to the formation of the independent Republic of Cyprus, the United Kingdom maintained complete sovereignty and authority over two territories covering approximately 254 square kilometers: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The smaller and southernmost of these regions is known as the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, often referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.
Geography
Area
total
123 sq km
Climate
temperate; characterized by a Mediterranean climate featuring hot, arid summers and mild winters
Location
Eastern Mediterranean, situated on the southwestern coast of Cyprus
Coastline
56.3 km
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
48 km
border countries
Cyprus 48 km
Geography - note
British extraterritorial privileges also applied to various small sites outside the main bases throughout Cyprus; within the Sovereign Base Area (SBA), approximately 60% is privately held and cultivated, 20% belongs to the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is classified as SBA Crown land
Area - comparative
approximately 0.7 times the area of Washington, DC
Geographic coordinates
34 37 N, 32 58 E
People & Society
Languages
Languages
English, Greek
major-language sample(s)
Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Population
(2020) around 18,195 individuals were present in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, comprising 11,000 Cypriots alongside 7,195 members of the Service and UK-based contract staff and their dependents.
Age structure
0-14 years
NA
15-64 years
NA
65 years and over
NA
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
NA
youth dependency ratio
NA
potential support ratio
NA
elderly dependency ratio
NA
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: NA
improved: total
total: NA
improved: urban
urban: NA
unimproved: rural
rural: NA
unimproved: total
total: NA
unimproved: urban
urban: NA
Education expenditures
NA
Current health expenditure
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
NA
Environment
Climate
Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, arid summers and mild winters
Environment - current issues
hunting in the vicinity of the salt lake; important note - nesting site for loggerhead and green turtles; the last existing colony of griffon vultures is located at the base
Government
Capital
name
Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
etymology
"Episkopi" means "episcopal" in Greek and stems from the fact that the site previously served as the bishop's seat of an Orthodox diocese
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, in Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, commencing on the last Sunday of March and concluding on the last Sunday of October
geographic coordinates
34 40 N, 32 51 E
Constitution
history
introduced on 3 August 1960, coming into effect on 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960 acts as a fundamental legal framework)
amendments
amended 1966
Country name
etymology
named for the village that lies within the Western Sovereign Base Area on Cyprus
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Akrotiri
Legal system
the laws governing the Cypriot populace are, to the greatest extent possible, aligned with the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; it should be noted that the Sovereign Base Area Administration maintains its own judicial system for civil and criminal cases
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
subordinate courts
Resident Judges' Court; Courts Martial
judge selection and term of office
see entry for United Kingdom
National anthem
note: as a UK territory of special sovereignty, "God Save the King" is the official anthem (refer to United Kingdom)
Executive branch
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
head of government
Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Peter J.M. SQUIRES (since 1 September 2022); it is important to note that the administrator answers to the British Ministry of Defense and also holds the position of Commander, British Forces Cyprus (BFC); the chief officer, who is a civilian appointee, oversees the daily operations of the civil government within the Sovereign Base Areas
elections/appointments
the monarchy is inherited; the administrator is selected by the monarch based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Defense
Flag description
the flag of the United Kingdom is displayed
Dependency status
a unique category of UK overseas territory; managed by an administrator who also serves as the Commander of the British Forces Cyprus
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Economy
Exchange rates
note: employs the euro
Communications
Broadcast media
The British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) delivers a multi-channel satellite television service and BFBS radio broadcasts to the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area.
Transportation
Military & Security
Military - note
The obligation of defense lies with the United Kingdom; Akrotiri, also known as the Western Sovereign Base Area, contains a complete Royal Air Force base, serves as the headquarters for British Forces Cyprus, and includes the Episkopi Cantonment.
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
NA
