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Cyprus Advances In Digital Services But Lags In AI Adoption

Robust Digital Infrastructure And Evolving Public Services

Cyprus continues to improve its performance in digital public services, connectivity, and business digitalisation, according to the European Commission’s 2026 State of the Digital Decade report.

The country achieved full 5G coverage in 2024 and has extensive gigabit connectivity, including in rural areas. Around three-quarters of small and medium-sized enterprises have reached a basic level of digital intensity, while cloud computing and data analytics are becoming more widely used.

Challenges In Artificial Intelligence And Digital Inclusion

Despite progress in several areas, the report points to a relatively low adoption of artificial intelligence among businesses. The European Commission also highlighted the need to ensure that digital public services remain accessible to all citizens. While Cyprus has introduced an AI-powered chatbot to support access to government services, further implementation efforts are still required.

Digital Skills Disparities And Health Information Trends

Eurostat data show that 70.1% of Cypriots aged 16 to 74 used online public services in 2025, slightly below the EU average. Differences in digital skills continue to be linked to factors such as age, education, and employment status. Online platforms are also increasingly used for health-related information. According to the data, 81% of Cypriots searched online for health information, while interest in physical and mental health topics was even higher.

Investments And The Road Ahead

Public investment continues to support Cyprus’ digital transition. The national Digital Decade roadmap includes 62 measures with a combined budget of almost €1 billion. Additional funding from recovery and cohesion programmes is also supporting digitalisation projects.

In its assessment, the European Commission noted that the effectiveness of digital services depends not only on the launch of new platforms but also on their accessibility and ease of use for citizens.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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