The Republic of Cyprus recorded only modest population growth at the end of 2024, while demographic indicators continue to point to an ageing society with persistently low birth rates, according to new data released by the Statistical Service.
The population in the south rose by 1.7 per cent in 2024 to approximately 983,000, up from 966,400 at the end of 2023. Despite the increase, driven largely by migration, long-term trends highlight declining fertility and a growing share of older residents.
Low fertility and fewer births
The total fertility rate in 2024 stood at 1.4 children per woman, unchanged from the previous year and well below the replacement level of 2.1 required to maintain population size without migration.
The number of births fell to 9,766 in 2024, down from 10,241 in 2023. The crude birth rate was calculated at 10.0 births per 1,000 inhabitants.
Fertility levels remain historically low. The Statistical Service notes that the total fertility rate peaked at 2.5 in 1982, the highest level recorded since 1974, and has remained below replacement level since 1995.
The average age of mothers at the birth of their first child was 30.4 years in 2024, while the average age across all births, regardless of birth order, was 31.6.
An ageing population
Demographic data show a continued shift in the population structure. Children under the age of 15 accounted for 15.2 per cent of the population in 2024, while people aged 65 and over made up 18.3 per cent.
By comparison, in 2000, children represented 22.3 per cent of the population and those aged 65 and above just 11.3 per cent, underscoring the scale of demographic ageing over the past two decades.
Mortality and life expectancy
The number of deaths recorded in the south in 2024 was 6,753, marginally higher than the 6,742 reported in 2023. The crude death rate was estimated at 6.9 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants.
Life expectancy at birth continued to rise. For 2024, it was estimated at 81.4 years for men and 85.8 years for women, compared with 81.0 and 85.0 respectively in 2023.
Infant mortality declined to three deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, down from 4.5 the previous year.
Migration remains a key driver
Net migration has been positive in Cyprus since 2016, following a period of negative net migration between 2012 and 2015. In 2024, net migration was estimated at 13,588.
A total of 40,471 people migrated to Cyprus in 2024, including returning Cypriots and foreign nationals arriving for settlement or employment lasting more than one year. This figure was broadly unchanged from 2023.
At the same time, 26,883 people emigrated from Cyprus in 2024, compared with 26,979 the year before.
Fewer marriages, stable divorces
The number of marriages fell to 10,334 in 2024, down from 11,766 in 2023. Church weddings declined from 4,355 to 3,801, while civil marriages dropped from 7,411 to 6,533.
As in previous years, a significant share of civil marriages involved non-residents. Of the 6,533 civil marriages recorded in 2024, only 1,908 were between residents of Cyprus. In total, marriages involving Cypriot residents amounted to 5,709.
The number of divorces decreased slightly to 2,107 in 2024, from 2,134 in 2023. The crude divorce rate stood at 2.16 per 1,000 inhabitants, compared with 2.23 the previous year.
The total divorce rate, which estimates the proportion of marriages expected to end in divorce, rose to 347.5 divorces per 1,000 marriages in 2024, a sharp increase from just 41.6 per 1,000 in 1980.
Source: CNA