CapitalEpiskopi Cantonment serves as the administrative hub for Akrotiri and Dhekelia and is situated within Akrotiri.
LanguagesEnglish, Greek
Dhekelia Intelligence Report
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Introduction
Background
According to the stipulations of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that established the independent Republic of Cyprus, the United Kingdom maintained complete sovereignty and authority over two regions covering approximately 254 square kilometers -- Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The more extensive of these regions is known as the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.
Geography
Area
total
131 sq km
Climate
characterized by a temperate climate; Mediterranean with hot, arid summers and mild winters
Location
located in the Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeastern coastline of Cyprus close to Famagusta
Coastline
27.5 km
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
108 km
border countries
Cyprus 108 km
Geography - note
British extraterritorial privileges also applied to various small off-base locations throughout Cyprus; several minor enclaves of Cyprus are found within the Sovereign Base Area (SBA); of the land within the SBA, 60% is privately held and cultivated, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is classified as SBA Crown land
Area - comparative
approximately three-quarters the area of Washington, DC
Geographic coordinates
34 59 N, 33 45 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
around 15,500 individuals reside in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, comprising 9,700 Cypriots and 5,800 personnel from the Service and UK-based contractors, along with 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
the capture and ensnaring of small migratory songbirds during the spring and fall seasons
Government
Capital
name
Episkopi Cantonment serves as the administrative hub for Akrotiri and Dhekelia and is situated within Akrotiri.
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 in advance of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1 hour, 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
presented on 3 August 1960, with an effective date of 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, which acts as the foundational legal framework); amended in 1966.
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Dhekelia
Legal system
The laws that apply to the Cypriot populace are, to the extent feasible, aligned with those of the Republic of Cyprus; it is important to note that the Sovereign Base Area Administration possesses its own judicial system for addressing civil and criminal issues.
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
subordinate courts
Resident Judges' Court; military courts
judge selection and term of office
see entry for United Kingdom
National anthem
note: as a region of special sovereignty under the United Kingdom, "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 (in office since 1 September 2022); it is noteworthy that the administrator is accountable 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, manages the daily operations of the civil administration within the Sovereign Base Areas.
elections/appointments
The monarchy operates on a hereditary basis; 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 utilized.
Dependency status
This area represents a unique type of UK overseas territory; it is governed by an administrator who concurrently serves as the Commander of British Forces Cyprus.
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Economy
Industries
none
Exchange rates
note: employs the euro
Communications
Broadcast media
The British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) offers a multi-channel satellite television service along with radio broadcasts to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base.
Transportation
Military & Security
Military - note
The responsibility for the defense of Dhekelia, also known as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area, lies with the United Kingdom. This area encompasses Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station, which are linked by a roadway.
