Cyprus's Native Population May Halve in 25 Years

A special commission investigating demographic issues has raised alarms about the declining population in Cyprus. In 2023, the birth rate dropped to 1.2%. If this trend continues, the Greek Cypriot population could be reduced by half within 20 to 25 years.

The parliamentary committee on demographic issues reported that in 2022, the birth rate was 1.37, while the replacement rate should be 2.1. Moreover, the birth rate among the native population has continued to fall from 2022 to 2023.

Linos Papayiannis, head of the committee, remarked, "We face a significant problem with population replenishment. Cyprus has one of the highest proportions of foreign residents relative to its total population, and the measures we are taking are unfortunately very slow."

He also highlighted that in the first nine months of 2024, approximately 7,500 people were deported from Cyprus, which is 2,500 more than the number of people who arrived on the island during the same period.

Experts warn that many areas in Cyprus may soon have more foreign residents than locals. In particular, there are over 40 districts in Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos where Greek Cypriots are "at imminent risk of becoming a minority."

DISY representative Prodromos Alabritis pointed out that the population replacement index in Cyprus has been below required levels for the past 25 years. According to the 2021 census, the average household size was 2.6 people, down from 2.8 in 2011. He also noted that people over 65 years old make up 17.2% of the population, while those under 15 years old account for 15.4%.

"These figures are alarming and should concern us all. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. There are examples from other countries that we can learn from, and it's crucial to implement a substantial and comprehensive policy to address demographic challenges, low birth rates, and support families," emphasized the parliamentarian.