Cyprus Flag

The national flag of Cyprus was formally approved on August 16, 1960. On this day independence was granted to Cyprus under the Zurich and London Agreements.
The Cyprus flag was chosen as a result of a national flag design competition held across the country. Among the several entries, the design that was chosen for the national flag was the one drawn up by an art teacher, Ismet Guney. The competition was judged by the President of the Republic, Mgr. Makarios.

The Cypriot Flag features a white field with a map of the island in the center. The island is represented in a copper-orange color signifying the abundance of copper ore in the nation. Below the image of the country are two olive branches that symbolize the peace and harmony which the country has been trying to negotiate between the Greek and the Turkish communities for a long time. For this purpose, the Constitution of Cyprus forbade the use of a cross or crescent, and blue (Greek) and red (Turkish) colors in the flag.

The white background of the flag represents international peace and solidarity that the nation must strive to maintain.

Official Name: The Republic of Cyprus

Flag Proportion: 2:3

Adopted on: August 16, 1960

Designed by: Ismet Guney

Location: Located in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea; Bordered by Greece, Israel, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt

Capital City: Nicosia

Major Cities: Larnaca, Kyrenia, Famagusta

Area: 3,572 square miles

Population: 838,897

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Official Languages: Greek, Turkish

National Anthem: Hymn to Liberty