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Cyprus Sees 1.8% Population Growth In 2023, Statistical Data Reveal

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 16, 2025

The population in the Government-controlled areas of Cyprus reached an estimated 966,400 by the end of 2023, up from 949,100 in 2022, reflecting a 1.8% increase, according to demographic statistics published by the Statistical Service on Wednesday.

The data highlight the ageing of Cyprus’ population. In 2023, children under 15 years made up 15.3% of the population, while individuals aged 65 and over accounted for 17.7%. This is a notable shift from 2000 when children represented 22.3% and the elderly just 11.3%.

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Birth Rates

Births in the Government-controlled areas saw a slight increase, reaching 10,241 in 2023, up from 10,187 the previous year, resulting in a crude birth rate of 10.7 per 1,000 people. However, the total fertility rate remained unchanged at 1.4, well below the replacement level of 2.1, and a significant decline from its local peak of 2.5 in 1982.

Women in Cyprus are having children later in life, with the average age at first birth rising to 30 years, and the mean age at childbirth, regardless of order, increasing to 31.5 years.

Mortality And Life Expectancy

Deaths in the Government-controlled areas dropped to 6,742 in 2023, compared to 7,307 in 2022, bringing the crude death rate down to 7 per 1,000 population from 7.8.

Life expectancy improved slightly, reaching 81 years for males and 85 years for females in 2023, compared to 80.2 and 83.9, respectively, in 2022. However, infant mortality rose from 3.3 to 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Migration Trends

Cyprus has maintained positive net migration since 2016. In 2023, net migration was estimated at 13,782. Long-term immigrants—both Cypriots and foreigners—totalled 40,761, compared to 37,558 in 2022. Conversely, the number of emigrants rose to 26,979, up from 21,118 the previous year.

Marriage And Divorce Statistics

The total number of marriages declined in 2023, falling to 11,766 from 13,350 in 2022. Ecclesiastical marriages saw a small drop, from 4,486 in 2022 to 4,355 in 2023. Civil marriages experienced a sharper decline, from 8,864 to 7,411, with only 2,076 involving residents of Cyprus.

The number of divorces, however, increased significantly, reaching 2,134 in 2023, up from 1,503 in 2022. The crude divorce rate rose to 2.23 per 1,000 people, while the total divorce rate—indicating the percentage of marriages expected to end in divorce—surged to 347.8 per 1,000 marriages, a dramatic increase from 41.6 per 1,000 in 1980.

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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.

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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.