Cyprus’s natural resources include minerals such as copper and iron, citrus and olive crops, and forest area covering 18.67% of the territory (1,725.3 km²), concentrated in Troodos. Which of Cyprus’s natural resources stand out for biodiversity? The island has recorded 275 bird species and 30 reptile species, and it scored 53.9 on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024, Yale University).
Cyprus is an island in the Eastern Mediterranean with a rich history and culture. Its geography is varied, with mountains, plains, valleys and rocky coastlines.
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Cyprus’s natural resources are abundant, ranging from minerals such as copper and iron to agricultural products such as citrus fruits and olives. The island’s biodiversity is unique, with endemic species such as the Cyprus cyclamen and the mouflon.
The island also has important ecological systems, such as the Akamas nature reserve and Troodos National Park.
What are Cyprus’s most notable natural resources? What natural wealth does the country have? Which minerals are mined, and how does it rank globally? How much water is available, and which resources are used to generate energy?
Natural resources
Natural resources are materials or energy sources provided by or found on Earth that are useful to humans. Every product we manufacture is made up of natural resources.
- Renewable resources: these can be restored by natural processes faster than the rate at which they are consumed. Examples include solar radiation, wind, hydroelectric power, water when used properly, and plant and animal life.
- Non-renewable resources: once extracted, these are depleted and cannot regenerate. Examples include hydrocarbons, metals and minerals.
Examples of Cyprus’s main natural resources
Cyprus: water, forests and protection
Key indicators of the country’s natural heritage, with their reference year.
| Renewable freshwater per capita | 586 m³ per year2022 |
|---|---|
| Forest cover | 18.7% of land area2023 |
| Annual change in forest area | stable (2018–2023) |
| Protected land area | 38.6% of land area2025 |
| Marine protected areas | 8.6% of its waters2025 |
| Threatened species | 78 mammals, birds, fish and plants2022 |
Water resources of Cyprus
Cyprus has 0.78 km³ of renewable freshwater resources, which placed it 143rd in the world ranking of water reserves in 2020; the country does not have large water reserves.
The country’s most important bodies of water include the Pedieos and Kouris rivers, as well as Cyprus’s largest salt lake, the Limassol Salt Lake.
Average rainfall and soils of Cyprus
Cyprus has an average annual rainfall of 498 mm, which places it 124th in the world for precipitation. Given this level of moisture, most of Cyprus’s soils lie in arid and semi-arid zones.
Forest resources of Cyprus
Cyprus has a forest area covering 18.67% of its territory, equivalent to 1,725.3 km². Although it is not near the top of the world ranking for forest area, this resource is very important. The country’s main forest region is Troodos.
Environmental performance and protection of Cyprus’s natural resources
Cyprus has an Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024, Yale University) score of 53.9 and ranks 43rd on the index. Its protected areas also cover 38.6% of its land area and 8.6% of its waters (World Bank, 2025). More: Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024).
Natural parks of Cyprus: the hidden wealth of natural resources
Biodiversity: animal and plant resources of Cyprus
Birds of Cyprus
Cyprus has a wide variety of species. In 2018, 275 bird species were recorded in the country, placing it 134th in the world.
However, 7 bird species in Cyprus are endangered, which makes it necessary to take measures to protect this valuable natural resource. The country’s flagship bird is the common kestrel.
Fish and amphibians of Cyprus
Cyprus has interesting biological diversity and is home to 3 amphibian species and 279 fish species, 24 of which are threatened. Worldwide, the country ranks 94th for number of amphibian species and 160th for number of fish species.
Reptiles of Cyprus
Cyprus has a rich diversity of reptiles, with a total of 30 species recorded in 2019, which places it 114th in the world. One of the most notable species is the Cyprus whip snake.
Few countries have lent their name to a chemical element, but Cyprus did so with copper. In Rome the metal was known as aes Cyprium, “metal of Cyprus,” a term later shortened to cuprum, which gave the periodic table its symbol Cu (Cyprus, Wikipedia).
Copper: the metal named after the island
For centuries, the deposits of the Troodos range supplied copper to the entire Mediterranean (Troodos Mountains, Wikipedia). Mining here is extremely old: the site of Apliki was already operating as a copper-mining area by the late 14th century BC (Apliki, Wikipedia). Copper still appears on the country’s official list of natural resources, along with pyrite and asbestos, although the ancient veins are almost exhausted (Geography of Cyprus, Wikipedia).
Offshore natural gas, still undeveloped
Cyprus’s largest energy resource lies beneath the sea. The Aphrodite field, in Block 12 of its Exclusive Economic Zone, was announced on December 28, 2011, with estimated reserves of between 3.6 and 6 trillion cubic feet of gas (Aphrodite gas field, Wikipedia). Despite its size, it remains unexploited: production is not expected before 2027, and development costs are estimated at between $2,500 million and $3,500 million.
Sun: the renewable that already delivers
With long, dry summers, solar power is the renewable resource with the most immediate payoff. By July 2023, Cyprus had more than 45,000 photovoltaic systems (Energy in Cyprus, Wikipedia); in 2025, renewable sources generated 1.6 TWh, or 28% of the country’s total generation of 5.9 TWh, and solar alone supplied 1.4 TWh (Ember, 2025). This progress matters because Cyprus imported 97% of its primary energy in 2008 and runs an isolated power grid.
Sources used
- Forest area (km²) – World Bank
- Forest area (% of land area) – World Bank
- Arable land area (km²) – World Bank
- Precipitation (mm) – World Bank
- Environmental Performance Index – Environmental Performance Index
- Bird species – Mongabay
- Amphibian species by country – Mongabay
- Mammal species – Mongabay
- Endemic mammal species – Our World in Data
- Plant species – Mongabay
- Reptile species by country – Mongabay
- Endemic bird species by country – Our World in Data
Organizations that protect or study Cyprus’s natural resources
- Department of Environment (Cyprus): National authority that protects nature and biodiversity and controls pollution.
- Department of Forests (Cyprus): Manages and protects Cyprus’s state forests sustainably.
- Game and Fauna Service (Cyprus): National service that protects wildlife and regulates hunting.
- Terra Cypria – Cyprus Conservation Foundation: Cypriot foundation dedicated to environmental education and nature protection.
- BirdLife Cyprus: NGO that protects wild birds, habitats and biodiversity through monitoring and education.
- Friends of the Earth Cyprus: Environmental NGO that promotes sustainable policies and the conservation of the natural environment.
Last updated: September 26, 2026
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