| Country: | Cyprus |
| Election Date: | 13 December 1959 |
| Next Election: | 1968 Cypriot presidential election |
| Next Year: | 1968 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Candidate1: | Makarios III |
| Image1: | Makarios III and Robert F. Wagner NYWTS cropped.jpg |
| Popular Vote1: | 114,501 |
| Percentage1: | 66.82% |
| Candidate2: | Ioannis Clerides |
| Popular Vote2: | 71,753 |
| Percentage2: | 33.18% |
| President | |
| After Election: | Makarios III |
Presidential elections were held in Cyprus for the first time on 13 December 1959.[1] Only two candidates contested the election; Makarios III, who was backed by EOKA, and Ioannis Clerides, a member of the Democratic Union who was also supported by AKEL.[2] The result was a victory for Makarios III, who received 67% of the vote, although he did not take office until 16 August 1960.[3] Voter turnout was 91.2%.[2]
A separate election for Vice President of Cyprus took place. Fazıl Küçük was the only candidate, and was elected unopposed.[4]
The elections were held using a two-round system; if no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round, a second round was to be held between the top two candidates. The constitution required the President of Cyprus to be a Greek Cypriot and the Vice-President to be a Turkish Cypriot. Greek Cypriots elected the President and Turkish Cypriots elected the Vice-President.[5]