Cyprus (population 775,927) is an island republic covering an area of 9,250 square kilometres in the far north eastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea.

The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when conflicts between the Greek Cypriot majority and the Turkish Cypriot minority culminated in a Turkish military invasion. The UN subsequently established a buffer zone known as the ‘Green Line’, which separates the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island (Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north). This separation dominates Cypriot life and has a significant impact on provision of health services in the two communities. The internationally recognised Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus in the south is now a member of the European Union having joined in May 2004.

According to the United Nations human development index (HDI), Cyprus is ranked 30/177 countries worldwide (value 0.883).¹ This places Cyprus in the group of countries with high human development. There is some disparity between south and north. Greek Cypriots in the south are reportedly better economically with more available human resources than Turkish Cypriots in the north.²