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Cyprus’ Population Growth: What’s Driving It And Where It’s Headed

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 21, 2025

Cyprus is on track for a demographic shift, with its population projected to grow by 5.3% over the next three decades, according to the United Nations’ latest World Population Prospects 2024 report. This places the island among a select group of nations experiencing significant relative population increases, alongside Bhutan, Colombia, and Iran.

The country’s population grew substantially, from 854,000 in 1995 to 1.352 million in 2024. By 2054, it is expected to reach 1.51 million before declining to 1.278 million by the end of the century.

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The Global Picture: A Tipping Point In Population Trends

The UN report paints a broader picture of shifting global demographics. While the world’s population continues to expand, it is expected to peak at 10.3 billion by the mid-2080s before gradually declining to 10.2 billion by 2100. A significant portion of the world—one in four people—already lives in countries where population growth has stagnated or started to decline. In fact, in 63 nations, including China, Germany, Japan, and Russia, population levels peaked before 2024.

One of the most striking trends is the sharp decline in fertility rates. Women today are having, on average, one child fewer than in 1990. The global fertility rate now stands at 2.25 births per woman, down from 3.31 three decades ago.

The Forces Shaping Population Growth

The world’s population has tripled since the mid-20th century, reaching 8 billion in 2022. This growth has been driven by increased longevity, improved healthcare, and urbanization. However, as birth rates fall and aging populations rise, the demographic landscape is shifting dramatically.

Africa: The Engine of Growth – More than half of the world’s population increase through 2050 will come from Africa, where sub-Saharan populations are expected to double.
Europe’s Population Decline – By 2050, 61 countries will see their populations shrink, with several—including Bulgaria, Latvia, and Ukraine—projected to decline by over 15%.
India Surpasses China – India’s population overtook China’s in 2023 and will continue growing, while China’s numbers are in decline and could drop below 1 billion by the end of the century.

The Role Of Migration In Cyprus’ Growth

While natural population growth plays a role, migration is a key driver of Cyprus’ demographic expansion. The island has become a popular destination for expatriates, retirees, and digital nomads, drawn by its strategic location, tax incentives, and quality of life. Economic migration, particularly from Europe and the Middle East, has contributed to workforce expansion and cultural diversity.

Longevity And Aging Population Trends

Cyprus, like much of Europe, is experiencing an aging population. Advances in healthcare and higher living standards have led to increased life expectancy, which is projected to impact pensions, healthcare infrastructure, and the labor market. As the elderly population grows, policymakers must address sustainability challenges in social services and workforce participation.

Broader Global Fertility Trends

While fertility rates are declining globally, Cyprus’ trends reflect a complex picture. Although birth rates remain below replacement levels, government incentives, and economic stability could play a role in influencing future population dynamics. Compared to other European nations, Cyprus has seen a slower decline in fertility, suggesting that targeted policies could help sustain growth.

UN’s Role In Population Policy

The United Nations closely monitors demographic trends, providing data-driven insights and policy recommendations to support sustainable development. Cyprus’ demographic trajectory aligns with global patterns, where migration, economic shifts, and longevity define population growth. As part of broader UN initiatives, the island may adopt strategies that balance population stability with economic resilience.

What It Means For Cyprus

Cyprus’ projected population increase sets it apart from much of Europe, where fertility rates have remained below replacement levels for decades. Migration, economic conditions, and policy decisions will shape the island’s demographic trajectory in the coming years.

As the global population shifts, countries like Cyprus must prepare for the socioeconomic impacts—balancing economic growth, infrastructure development, and social services to support an evolving population landscape.

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Women Make Up A Majority Of The EU’s Science And Technology Workforce But The Real Gap Is Elsewhere

by News Editor

June 25, 2026

Women now make up the majority of the EU’s science and technology workforce. According to Eurostat, in 2025, more than 81.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology occupations across the EU. Of those, 52.5% were women, equal to 42.8 million women. The number of women in these occupations rose by 27.9% compared with 2015, an increase of more than 9.3 million over a decade.

On the surface, the numbers resemble progress. However, Eurostat’s category requires context before that figure can be read accurately. The data refers to HRST, or Human Resources in Science and Technology, specifically people employed in science and technology occupations. These are roles where the main tasks require professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. That definition is wider and broader than engineering, ICT, laboratory science, or high-tech research alone.

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Zooming In

The gender picture changes once the data moves from a wider definition of the workforce to the narrower scientist-and-engineer (research and manufacturing) subgroup.

Scientists and engineers represented almost a quarter of all people employed in science and technology in the EU in 2025. Eurostat describes scientists and engineers as often being the innovators at the centre of technology-led development, making them an important subgroup to focus on separately.

Women accounted for only 40.8% of scientists and engineers in 2025, despite making up more than half of the wider category. That share has increased by a mere 0.5 percentage points over the past decade. The absolute number of women working as scientists and engineers rose from 5.3 million in 2015 to 8.2 million in 2025, despite the push from national and international organisations to increase the number of women in the field. Europe has expanded the number of women in science and technology occupations over ten years. However, that expansion has not extended equally into the scientist-and-engineer subgroup, where much of Europe’s research and innovation work is conducted.

In 2025, of the 39.4 million women aged 25 to 64 working in science and technology occupations in the EU, 35.5 million worked in service activities. Only 2.7 million worked in manufacturing. Women accounted for 57.5% of science and technology employment in services, but only 31.3% in manufacturing.

In 2025, the highest shares of women employed in science and technology occupations were recorded in Latvia at 62.4%, followed by Hungary’s Great Plain and North region at 61.1%, Estonia at 60.5%, Poland’s Central macroregion at 60.4%, and Lithuania at 60.3%. No EU country recorded a majority of women among science and technology workers in manufacturing.

Break-down

Eurostat’s figures measure employment in broad science and technology occupations. They do not show job security, pay levels, management roles, promotion rates, research leadership, or whether women are concentrated in junior or senior workplace positions.

The classification of “senior” also requires additional explanation. Eurostat reports that 45.9% of science and technology workers aged 25 to 64 in the EU were classified as “senior” HRST in 2025. In this dataset, “senior” refers to workers aged 45 to 64. It does not mean senior manager, senior researcher, team lead, or decision-maker.

A high female share in the wider Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) category does not parallel equal representation across scientists, engineers, manufacturing roles, senior posts, pay, research funding, or decision-making. These figures also reflect the occupational mix inside each country or region, not only structural progress across all areas of science and technology.

The Case Of Cyprus

Eurostat data places Cyprus’s overall science and technology employment at 37.2% of the labour force in 2025, slightly above the EU-27 figure of 36.9%, and above Greece at 26.8%, Malta at 33.9%, and Turkey at 18.2%. This figure covers the total share of the labour force employed in science and technology across all genders.

Progress Or Work-in-Progress?

52.5% in the broad category. 40.8% among scientists and engineers. 31.3% in manufacturing. Europe’s gender gap in science and technology hasn’t closed yet, and there is still work to be done to encourage and support more women to enter the field, especially in research and manufacturing.

Let’s not wait another decade for another couple of percentage points of hope.