Cyprus Population Growth, Decline in Deaths, and Increase in Divorces: A 1.8% Population Rise in 2023

In 2023, Cyprus' population increased by 1.8% compared to the previous year. While the birth rate remained steady, there was a notable decrease in the number of deaths, marriages, and divorces. At the same time, life expectancy rose.

According to demographic data released by the Statistical Service, the population of the Republic of Cyprus at the end of 2023 was estimated to be 966,400. This marked an increase from 949,100 people in 2022.

The proportion of children under the age of 15 was estimated at 15.3%, while the percentage of people aged 65 and over grew to 17.7%. In 2022, these figures were 22.3% and 11.3%, respectively.

This shift suggests a gradual rise in the elderly population and a decrease in the number of children, signaling an aging population.

In 2023, the number of births increased slightly to 10,241, up from 10,187 the year before, resulting in a birth rate of 10.7 births per 1,000 people. The total fertility rate for 2023 remained steady at 1.4, the same as in 2022.

The average age for women having their first child was 30 years, and for those having a second or subsequent child, it was 31.5 years.

The number of deaths dropped to 6,742 in 2023, compared to 7,307 in 2022. The mortality rate decreased to 7 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, down from 7.8 the previous year.

Life expectancy at birth increased, with men expected to live 81 years and women 85 years in 2023. This is up from 80.2 years for men and 83.9 years for women in 2022.

The total number of marriages in 2023 decreased to 11,766, down from 13,350 in 2022. Church marriages fell from 4,486 to 4,355, and civil marriages dropped from 8,864 to 7,411.

As in previous years, a significant number of foreigners who married in Cyprus did not live on the island. Of the 7,411 civil marriages in 2023, only 2,076 were between residents of Cyprus. This means that the total number of marriages among Cyprus residents stood at 6,431.

The number of divorces increased to 2,134 in 2023, up from 1,503 in 2022. The divorce rate for 2023 was 2.23 per 1,000 people, compared to 1.60 in 2022.

Net migration in 2023 was estimated at 13,782. The number of long-term immigrants – both Cypriots and foreigners arriving to settle or work for a year or more – reached 40,761 in 2023, up from 37,558 in 2022. Meanwhile, the number of emigrants – Cypriots and foreigners who had lived in Cyprus for at least one year – rose to 26,979 in 2023, compared to 21,118 in 2022.