– officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is a partially recognized state – recognized only by Turkey. Northern Cyprus is considered by the international community to be part of the Republic of Cyprus (Southern Cyprus).
A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island’s largest city and capital of both sides. Attempts to reach a solution to the Cyprus dispute have been unsuccessful.
Northern Cyprus is a semi-presidential, democratic republic with a cultural heritage incorporating various influences and an economy dominated by the services sector. The economy has seen growth through the 2000s and 2010s, but is held back by an international embargo due to the official closure of the ports in Northern Cyprus by the Republic of Cyprus. The official language is Turkish, with a distinct local dialect being spoken. The vast majority of the population consists of Sunni Muslims, while religious attitudes are mostly moderate.