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The share Of The Population At Risk Of Poverty And Social Exclusion is Steady At 16.7%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 12, 2024

The share of the population at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Cyprus, according to the EU AROPE indicator, remained steady at 16.7% in 2023 with the percentage of the population at risk of poverty unchanged at 13.9%, the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat) has said.

According to the results of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2023, with income reference period the year 2022, 16.7% of the population or 153,000 persons were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE indicator, the main indicator to monitor the EU 2030 target on poverty and social exclusion).

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“The indicator for 2023 remained at the same level compared to the previous year when it was also at 16,7%. Therefore, the indicator remained unchanged in 2023, after the continuous downward trend of the recent years,” Cystat added.

Even though the improvement in recent years has been reflected in both women and men, still throughout the years, women are maintaining their unfavorable position in respect to men.

In 2023, the relevant indicator for women was 18.1% and for men 15.3%, Cystat added.

Furthermore, in 2023, the percentage of the population that was at risk of poverty, meaning that its disposable income was below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, was 13.9% or 128,000 persons, remaining at the same level as that of the previous year.

The at-risk-of-poverty threshold, which is defined at 60% of the median total equivalized disposable income of the households, was estimated in 2023 at €11,324 for single-person households and at €23,780 for households with 2 adults and 2 children younger than 14 years old, exhibiting an increase of 5,7% in respect to 2022, where the respective thresholds were €10,713 and €22,498.

The median equivalized disposable income (one person) in 2023 was €18,873 in comparison to €17,856 in 2022, Cystat said.

Moreover, the share of the population living at risk of poverty, before any social benefits and pensions (social transfers) were included in the disposable income of the households, was estimated at 33.1%.

When only pensions were included in the disposable income of the households, dropped was reduced to 20%, while when social benefits were further included, the percentage was reduced to 13.9%

In 2023, all the social transfers reduced the indicator by 19.2 percentage points, (13.1 pp as a result of pensions and 6.1 as a result of the social benefits, Cystat added.

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Call for Reform: Cyprus Faces New Challenges with Emerging Tobacco Products

by News Editor

May 31, 2025

In the face of a burgeoning variety of tobacco products, existing smoking laws in Cyprus are struggling to keep pace, as highlighted by Christos Minas, the president of the Cyprus National Addictions Authority (AAEK). On World No-Tobacco Day, there was a push for legislative reforms to comprehensively cover all tobacco forms, including non-nicotine alternatives.

Addressing Rising Trends with Effective Policies

Minas emphasized the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes and flavored products, particularly among the youth. The proposed legal updates aim to enhance enforcement efficiency against these emerging trends.

In collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework, the AAEK has established the first set of national guidelines for smoking cessation in Cyprus, crafting prevention and treatment strategies based on robust scientific evidence.

Educating Youth and Public Awareness Initiatives

Efforts are underway to raise awareness, with informative materials distributed to secondary schools across Cyprus. A public event in Nicosia highlighted the state’s ongoing commitment, providing carbon monoxide testing and expert advice on new tobacco products.

Recent data from the Cyprus general population survey 2023 indicates that 38% of smokers have used e-cigarettes recently, and the smoking initiation age remains at 18.

A Glimpse into Youth Smoking Patterns

According to the latest European school survey, 14% of Cypriot students aged 15-16 reported smoking traditional cigarettes last month. Although this rate is declining, Cyprus still ranks high in Europe for e-cigarette and hookah use among students.

The concern is global, with WHO reports showing over 37 million children aged 13-15 engage in tobacco use, driven by aggressive marketing in loosely regulated environments.

The urgency for reform is clear: before these trends solidify, proactive measures are necessary to protect future generations from potentially hazardous habits.