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Reasons Why Cyprus is in ______

The age-old discussion of whether Cyprus is in Africa, Asia, or Europe never seems to end. This quiz will (hopefully but probably won't) convince you that Cyprus is in...
This is (mostly) a joke. Don't get too worked up.
Quiz by UG332
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Last updated: February 3, 2023
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First submittedFebruary 3, 2023
Times taken1,796
Average score62.9%
Rating4.76
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Question
Answer
To start off, according to the United Nations geoscheme, what continent is Cyprus located?
Asia
Ok now, geographically, what continent is Cyprus closer to?
Asia
Cyprus is also geographically closer to this continent than Europe.
Africa
Which tectonic plate is Cyprus located on? Hint it starts with Ana-, and it ends with -tolian.
Anatolian Plate
Good to know that it's on the same tectonic plate as Turkey. Now, Cyprus technically borders this European country.
United Kingdom
But here's the thing, some people like to argue since Cyprus was colonized by a European power, it's not European. But one other country has been colonized in Europe. What is it?
Malta
And it's in Europe...? Right?
Yes
Ok cool, so now, let's take a look at population demographics. In 2001, 77% of the country is this ethnicity...
Greek
And what's the majority language?
Greek
Just to make sure, Greece is in Europe right?
Yes
80.4% of Cypriots can also speak fluent this language.
English
Great to know; now what is the most practiced religion in Cyprus? (72.3%)
Eastern Orthodoxy
Interesting... that percentage also includes Northern Cyprus, which is mostly this ethnicity.
Turkish
Now we all know Turkey is Asian, except for this piece of land which 14% of Turks live. Hint: East Thrac_.
East Thrace
And just to be clear, that land is on Europe right?
Yes
Turkey also has this city that straddles Asia and Europe (not Constantinople...)
Istanbul
Historically, that city was owned by which European cultured empire(s)?
Rome | Byzantium
Turkey has a good argument to be considered European too, odd. Do you know what other country is considered European and Asian?
Russia
Oh right! Now geographically, is Russia more European or Asian?
Asian
Of course, Siberia accounts for 57% of Russia's land. That would make it more Asian than European right?
No
Hmm, alright. So if Russia isn't there, where is Russia always considered to be?
Europe
Interesting. So wait. If Russia is considered in Europe because it's more culturally similar, where is Cyprus again on JetPunk?
Asia
What do we call this? The dictionary definition is: "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense."

It also starts with an H...
and it ends with ypocrisy...
Hypocrisy
We're not done; historically, who were among the first people to settle on Cyprus?
Greeks | Phoenicians
Now you might be thinking, historically, Cyprus was part of the Persians, Assyrians, etc. But what about Venice, France, the United Kingdom & Rome? They all were centered in...
Europe
Cyprus has also joined this European organization in 2004 (By the way only 26 of the 45 countries considered in Europe are in this).
European Union
Oh it also joined this in 2008 (currency pact that's not the EU that also starts with Euro)... (If you're still stuck just type in Euro)...
Eurozone
The current president's name. (If you don't know, his name is Nicos Anastasiades. The point is that he has a Greek last name).
Nicos Anastasiades
There is actually one other country in Europe (not including Russia) that is more east than Cyprus. Which country? Hint, it starts with a U!
Ukraine
I'm not asking if you think that's European or not, but I probably should. Is it European?
Yes
Let's look at JetPunk's competition; Sporcle & FunTrivia both consider Cyprus as...
European
So to finish off, is Cyprus geographically more African, Asian or European?
Asian
Is it culturally more African, Asian or European?
European
And arguing that Cyprus is on this continent is just plain wrong
Africa
 
 
The Big Question
So now you decide. Is Cyprus in Europe or Asia...

If you believe it is in Europe, type in Cyprus. (This is the majority of the population's opinion)
If you believe it is in Asia, leave this question blank. (This is our overlord's opinion)
If you believe it is in Africa, then get help.
Cyprus
42 Comments
+4
Level 71
Feb 3, 2023
Me after taking this quiz: https://imgflip.com/i/79v74f
+12
Level 71
Feb 3, 2023
But in all seriousness, I don't think it matters. Europe and Asia as separate continents is a very arbitrary distinction. I don't see why it can't be both European and Asian at the same time. And to me, this quiz just proves that point.
+1
Level 58
Mar 20, 2025
You could use all the same arguments about Morocco - it's mainly peopled by Arabs, it's part of the Arab League, it's Muslim, surely it's in Asia? Except - no, it's just not.
+1
Level 57
Mar 25, 2025
The majority of Arabic speakers live in Africa, my dude...
+3
Level 67
Feb 3, 2023
Were the Netherlands not also colonized by Spain?
+5
Level 43
Jan 11, 2024
you could argue ireland by the british, poland (most of eastern europe really) by russia/germany too.
+12
Level 80
Feb 3, 2023
The cultural argument simply does not wash. Just because Australia is culturally European (well, predominantly since they bumped off most of the aborigines) doesn't make it part of Europe. It is geographically a part of Oceania. Just as Cyprus is geographically a part of Asia. End of story. Surely?
+8
Level 75
Feb 3, 2023
Similarly, reason why I'd argue Russia is considered more European is simply because while most of the land mass is in Asia, the vast majority of the population is in Europe.
+1
Level 70
Feb 3, 2023
Also, there are many more Cypriots living outside of Northern Cyprus than in Southern Cyprus. But I guess this is acceptable for Russia but not Cyprus.
+5
Level 70
Feb 3, 2023
I'm not seeing your point. One is its own defined continent where it is the only landmass on that continent. Nobody in their right mind would argue with Australia being in Europe.

Besides, similar comparisons can be made with the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and to an extent, South Africa. These are all predominantly anglicized nations. Also on completely different continents. Cyprus is much closer than these places and other factors I listed to make this a much more complex argument than comparing Australia.

+24
Level 75
Feb 3, 2023
What a bunch of dumbasses, Cyprus is in Antarctica.
+2
Level 70
Feb 3, 2023
Should have put that in somewhere
+9
Level 77
Feb 4, 2023
Good quiz, but, what do I do for the last blank if I'm a firm believer in #CyprusPartOfOceania?
+4
Level 70
Feb 4, 2023
Definitely seek additional help. Maybe you'll be locked up in padded room for that belief lol
+2
Level 43
Feb 4, 2023
The quiz: Is Russia more European or Asian?

Me: *types Russia before realizing that’s not an option...*

That quiz blew me up, though I totally agree, and though it makes sense 🤣

+2
Level 55
Feb 5, 2023
Genius. Almost walrus worthy.
+7
Level 14
May 4, 2023
what a factually incorrect quiz. cyprus is not culturally european, we share culture with those within the levantine region, notably including palestine, lebanon and turkey. you view cypriots as greek/turkish while we are neither: we are cypriot, both culturally and genetically.
+8
Level 75
Jul 4, 2023
I couldn't get the 'one other country has been colonised in Europe' question, because lots of European countries have been colonised - I guessed Ireland, Iceland, Finland and Bulgaria, but I could have gone on for ever.
+1
Level 67
Sep 12, 2023
I agree
+2
Level 67
Sep 12, 2023
I think that if Cyprus is considered Asia, Russia should be considered Asian. If geography matters, then it should matter universally.
+2
Level 35
May 19, 2024
Most Russians live in the European part. That's not the case for Turkey, and Cyprus has no European part. So makes sense to me Why Russia is Europe and those 2 countries + the Caucasus countries are West Asia.
+2
Level 67
Jun 22, 2024
Cyprus is nowhere and yet everywhere all at once....

but in all seriousness #cyprusisinasia

+2
Level 66
Nov 13, 2024
nothing but logic and courageous truthtelling, I hope this gets to the front page
+1
Level 97
Feb 26, 2025
loving this, nominated! #cyprusbelongstosouthamerica
+1
Level 78
Feb 26, 2025
The Philippines are also majority christian, so I guess it's in Europe.
+2
Level 64
Mar 20, 2025
You cant take one argument that applies to a broad spectrum without narrowing it down with one that meets all the criteria
+4
Level 83
Mar 1, 2025
Too Cyprus-centric
+3
Level 53
Mar 11, 2025
I think Cyprus is in Asia. It is geographically in Asia. Otherwise, we could bring the Australia argument into play here. Because Australia is culturally very close to European culture doesn't mean it is in Europe. Now I understand that Cyprus is way closer to Europe than Australia is. If this was an island very close between Europe and Asia geographically (like many of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.), I could understand choosing according to the cultural ties. Also, the Russian argument yes, Russia is a little bit more in Asia than in Europe geographically, but most of its population live in the European part. So in conclusion, I personally think the best way to define in which continent a country is located. Is to look at it geographically, if it's located in multiple continents you should look in which continent most of its population lives.
+2
Level 53
Mar 11, 2025
If we look at it this way, here is a list of examples for some disputed countries / countries spanning multiple continents:

Russia: in Europe

Turkey: in Asia

Cyprus: in Asia

Egypt: in Africa

Azerbaijan: in Asia

Georgia: in Asia

Armenia: in Asia

Indonesia: in Asia

France: in Europe

UK: in Europe

Denmark: in Europe

USA: in North America

Panama: in North America

Kazakhstan: in Asia

+1
Level 77
Mar 20, 2025
The Anglosphere argument is legit. But you have to consider both physical and cultural factors together. The separation of Europe and Asia into two separate continents is a physiographical fiction that exists because the distinction is defined by culture. But all other continents are explicable with only physiographical references - continental plates and narrow isthmuses. Where these physiographical realities suffice on their own, continenthood can be established. That isn't the case when considering Eurasia. We have to lean on cultural factors. Cyprus is much more culturally European than it is physically Asian. Being an island in the middle of the sea lessens the significance of proximity on its own (this is commonsense: Rhodes and other Greek islands are far closer to Asia than Europe, but we would only consider Greece transcontinental if they were connected to Anatolia). Where physiographical arguments cannot stand on their own, a much stronger cultural argument overcomes it
+1
Level 62
Mar 20, 2025
I found Thrace impossible to type in. Why?
+2
Level 84
Mar 20, 2025
Because the answer it's looking for is "East Thrace."
+1
Level 63
Mar 20, 2025
I tried "e" as an answer for an embarrassingly long time
+1
Level 81
Mar 20, 2025
As much as the geographical argument is viable, some inconsistencies really stand out. If the situation of the country/region is that much more important than its demographics, culture, religion, etc., why isn't Egypt mentioned in just about any quiz as a country that straddles two continents? The Sinai peninsula is quite unanimously geographically Asian. I don't think that the issue is simple enough to justify coming to a conclusion based on a single argument, but I feel like not all voices are being listened to here.
+1
Level 70
Mar 20, 2025
My thought on Egypt is that Sinai is definitely in Asia, but the vast majority of Egypt is located on the African continent. This is unlike Russia where a sizable chunk is on the European continent and Turkey where Istanbul and East Thrace were historically part of Europe. The Maghreb is similar but not identical to the Arabic culture in the Middle East, so I think it's a stronger argument to include Egypt into Africa in that way.

One thing I didn't mention in this quiz while making it is the whole Eurasian Continent premise. Europe and Asia are connected by landmass much stronger than Africa, or the Americas are for each other. Which yes, they are on different continental plates, but they're very closely aligned with another so using a cultural and regional argument with Cyprus makes a lot more sense in theory to include in Europe.

+1
Level 77
Mar 20, 2025
it's a clear inconsistency and there isn't a justification. I think it would be needlessly pedantic and annoying to include Egypt as an Asian country in Asia quizzes, but there's not a good logical reason it isn't.
+2
Level 58
Mar 20, 2025
Amazing quiz
+1
Level 60
Mar 20, 2025
We're missing the superior theory: there is no Europe or Asia

Given that N/S America is divided by Panama canal and Africa/Asia is divided by Suez Canal, we can assess that those are separate continents.

Europe and Asia don't have such a boundary. Therefore I decree Cyprus to be part of Eurasia

+3
Level 83
Mar 20, 2025
And maybe... Just maybe... The continents are arbitrary cultural constructs, and when it comes to islands, it becomes completely ridiculous to argue about the continent they belong to.
+2
Level 66
Mar 20, 2025
Man, I loved this. The whole debate aside, it was just such a joy to play a quiz with such a fun and snarky tone.
+2
Level 77
Mar 20, 2025
Absolutely brilliant. This quiz should be permanently added to the front page. And by the way - Cyprus is in Europe.
+1
Level 55
Mar 25, 2025
I think that for countries close to two or more continents we should count different factors in order to tell its exact predominance: history, ethnicity; culture and geography.

Russia: european, euro-asian, european and euro-asian = european overall

Turkey: euro-asian, asian, asian, euro-asian = asian overall

Kazakhstan: asian, asian, asian, euro-asian = asian overall

For Cyprus we could think the situation as a tie, but specifically: european (738 years of asian domination vs 1423 years of european domination), european (75% of Greek Cypriots), european, asian = EUROPEAN OVERALL.