Where Is Cyprus Located?

Cyprus: Geographic Coordinates and Regional Context

Cyprus is an island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 35°N latitude and 33°E longitude.

Neighbors and Distances

• Turkey (North): ~75 km (40 nautical miles) at the closest point (Cape Kormakitis to Anamur).
• Syria (East): ~105 km (Latakia).
• Lebanon (East): ~165 km (Beirut).
• Israel (Southeast): ~230 km (Haifa).
• Egypt (South): ~380 km (Port Said).
• Greece (West/Northwest): ~400 km (Rhodes); ~800 km (Crete); ~950 km (mainland).

Strategic Significance

This location has made Cyprus a coveted prize for empires throughout history—Egyptian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader (Lusignan), Venetian, Ottoman, and British. Today, it sits at the intersection of European Union, Middle Eastern, and North African geopolitical spheres.

Maritime Zones

Cyprus has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that overlaps with those of Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey, leading to ongoing disputes over offshore hydrocarbon exploration.