Focus on Cyprus immigration and life in Cyprus: Cyprus is located in the northeastern Mediterranean, is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, and is the birthplace of Venus, the goddess of love in Greek mythology. It covers an area of approximately 10,000 square kilometers, which is less than the area of the entire Greater Hangzhou (approximately 16,000 square kilometers), with a population of 1.1 million.
Since 1974, Cyprus has been in a state of division. What we commonly refer to as Cyprus actually refers to the internationally recognized "Republic of Cyprus," which governs only the southern Greek-populated area. The northern part is controlled by the Turkish Cypriots and is recognized only by Turkey as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."
Cyprus has historically been a vital transportation hub connecting the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. In modern times, it has been likened to the "unsinkable aircraft carrier of the Eastern Mediterranean," but in recent years, it has faced financial troubles.
Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004 and officially became a member of the Eurozone in 2008, adopting the euro, which integrated it into the entire euro community and financial monetary system. However, the economic scale of Cyprus accounts for only 0.15% of the total GDP of the Eurozone, making it the third smallest country in the Eurozone.
The standard of living for Cypriots is very high, and the wealth gap is minimal, making it a typical example of a "poor country, rich people" in the eyes of many. According to EU statistics, the median living standard of Cypriot households in 2009 was comparable to that of the British. To maintain the high standard of living for its citizens, successive governments in Cyprus have incurred massive national debts, with a debt burden comparable to that of Greece.