Northern Cyprus

The Block

Northern Cyprus is a polity covering the northern and eastern portions of the island of Cyprus. Although it has its own legislature, utilizes the Turkish lira, and is home to a notable Turkish military presence, it is legally considered to be a part of the Republic of Cyprus by every country except Turkey. Due to this lack of international recognition, Northern Cyprus does not have a block on the Quilt of Belonging made for them. Further information on Northern Cyprus can be found in the Cultural Profile section below.

Cultural Profile

Northern Cyprus has a population of 382,836 as of the last census. Its capital city is North Nicosia and its official language is Turkish.

The foundations of Northern Cyprus as currently constituted date back to 1974 when a coup d’etat overthrew the previous Cypriot government with the hope of becoming a part of Greece. This dismayed the largely Turkish population that formed most of the northeast third or so of the island’s population. In response, Turkey invaded the island within a few months and established its own administration. On November 15, 1983, Northern Cyprus declared independence with Turkish support. In spite of its independent administration enduring to the present day, it remains unrecognized by any other nation besides Turkey.

The economy of Northern Cyprus is largely services-based with a special emphasis on the tourism sector. It is heavily dependent on Turkish support as Northern Cyprus’ goods are embargoed by much of the world due to the contested legitimacy of its government.

The culture of Northern Cyprus reflects the overwhelming Turkish makeup of its population.