Demographics of Cyprus

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Cyprus: population growth 1961-2003 (numbers for the entire island, excluding in recent years some 150,000 Turkish immigrants residing in Northern Cyprus).

Age structure of the population of Cyprus.

The Demographics of Cyprus is about the demographic features of the population of Cyprus, including population growth, population density, ethnicity, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population.

The people of Cyprus are broadly divided into two main ethnic communities, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who share many customs but maintain distinct identities based on religion, language, and close ties with their respective motherlands. Before the division of 1974, the peoples of Cyprus (then 77% Greek Cypriots, 18% Turkish Cypriots, 5% other nationalities, including Armenians and Maronites)^[1] were living dispersed over the entire island. The 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus de facto partitioned the island in two: 99.5% of Greek Cypriots now live in the south of the island, in the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus government, while 98.7% of Turkish Cypriots live in Northern Cyprus (of other nationalities, 99.2% live in the Greek Cypriot area in the south).^[2] Greek is predominantly spoken in the South, where the majority are Greek Cypriots, Turkish in the north, where the majority are Turkish Cypriots and immigrants from Turkey. English is widely used all over the island.

The total population of Cyprus as of the end of 2006 is slightly over 1 million, comprising 789,300 in the territory controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus^[3] and 265,100 in Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The population of Northern Cyprus includes some 150,000-160,000 Turkish immigrants who are regarded as "illegal settlers" by the Republic of Cyprus government and are not included in the population statistics of the Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service.^[4][5]

[edit] Immigration

Large-scale demographic changes have been caused since 1974 by the influx of settlers from Turkey to Northern Cyprus. The South has seen an influx of British and Arab (mostly Palestinian and Lebanese) immigration, as well as migrant workers from Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, China and the Philippines. According to the 2007 Demographic report, there were 125,300 non-Cypriot residents, about 14.3% of the total population of Cyprus as stated by the Cyprus government (which does not include non-Turkish Cypriots resident in the TRNC).^[6] The demographic changes in society have led to some racist incidents^{[7] [8] [9]}, and the formation of the charity KISA in response.

The demographic character of Northern Cyprus changed after the Turkish invasion in 1974 and especially during the last 10-15 years. The TRNC census carried out in April 2006 showed that out of a total de jure (permanent) population of 256,644 in Northern Cyprus, 132,635, or 52%, were Turkish Cypriots in the sense that they were born in Cyprus of at least one Cyprus-born parent (for 120,007 of these both parents were Cyprus-born). In addition, 43,062 TRNC citizens (17%) had at least one non-Cypriot Turkish-born parent, 2,334 TRNC citizens (1%) had parents born in other countries, 70,525 residents (27%) had Turkish citizenship, and 8,088 (3%) were citizens of other countries (mainly UK, Bulgaria, and Iran).^[10] Based on these census data, it can be argued that 113,687 TRNC residents, or 44% of the population, are not Turkish Cypriots properly speaking, but are in fact "Turkish immigrants" or "Turkish settlers" from Anatolia. Alternative sources suggest that there are 146,122 Turkish settlers from Anatolia in TRNC (2007 figures)^{[11][not in citation given]} and that the Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus are today outnumbered by the Turkish settlers,^{[12][dead link]} contrary to the picture presented by the 2006 TRNC census.

Almost one-third of the Turkish settlers in Northern Cyprus have been granted TRNC citizenship by the authorities of Northern Cyprus and have thus been naturalized.^{[13][not in citation given]} Settlement in Northern Cyprus, especially if accompanied by naturalization, is a violation to the Geneva Conventions Protocol of 1977, since the Turkish occupation has been declared illegal by the UN. The Republic of Cyprus government regards these Turkish immigrants as "illegal settlers" and does not include them in the population estimates for the entire island published by the Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service.^[5]

[edit] Religion

The Greek Cypriot community adheres to the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot community adheres to Islam. The religious groups of Armenians, Maronites and Latins (about 9,000 people in total) opted, in accordance with the 1960 constitution, to belong to the Greek Cypriot community.^[4]

According to the 2001 census carried out in the Government controlled area,^[14] 94.8% of the population are Christian Orthodox, 0.9% Armenians and Maronites, 1.5% Roman Catholics, 1.0% Church of England, and 0.6% Muslims. The remaining 1.3% adhere to other religious denominations or did not state their religion.

[edit] Education

Cyprus has a well-developed system of primary and secondary education. The majority of Cypriots earn their higher education at Greek, Turkish, British, or American universities, while there are also sizeable emigrant communities in the United Kingdom and Australia. Private colleges and state-supported universities have been developed by both the Turkish and Greek communities.

[edit] Demographic statistics

[edit] Population

789,300 in Government controlled area (end 2007 est.) ^[15]

265,100 in Northern Cyprus (2006 population census).^[10]

1,054,400 total population of Cyprus (sum of population in Government controlled area and Northern Cyprus, 2006-2007 data)

Population by citizenship

Republic of Cyprus government controlled area:^[14]

1992 census: 95.8% Cypriot, 4.2% Non-Cypriot

2001 census: 90.6% Cypriot, 9.4% Non-Cypriot

Northern Cyprus:^[10]

2006 census (de facto population): 66.7% TRNC, 29.3% Turkey, 4.0% other

The data in subsections Age structure through Divorce rate are for the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus government only. The estimates are for 2007 from the Republic of Cyprus Statistical Abstract 2007 (pp. 63-88)^[5] unless indicated otherwise.

[edit] Age structure

0-14 years: 17.47% or 137,900 ( 70,700 males/67,200 females)

15-64 years: 70.07% or 553,100 ( 274,300 males/278,800 females)

65 years and over: 12.46% or 98,300 ( 44,600 males/53,700 females)

[edit] Population growth rate

1.4%^[15]

[edit] Birth rate

10.9 births/1,000 population

[edit] Death rate

Death rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 population

Male/female death ratio: 1,095 male deaths/1,000 female deaths

[edit] Net migration rate

Total immigrants: 19,142

Total emigrants: 11,752

Net migration: +7,390

Net migration rate: 9.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population

[edit] Sex ratio

At birth: 1.087 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female

[edit] Infant mortality rate

Total male IMR at birth: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births^{[citation needed]}

Total female IMR at birth: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births^{[citation needed]}

Total IMR at birth: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births

[edit] Life expectancy at birth

Estimates for 2004/05

Total population: 79.35 years^{[citation needed]}

Males: 77.00 years

Females: 81.7 years

[edit] Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman

[edit] Marriage rates

Estimates for 2006

Number of marriages:

Marriages of residents of Cyprus: 5,252

Total marriages (including tourists): 12,617

Marriage rates:

Residents of Cyprus: 6.8/1,000 population

Total marriages (including tourists): 16.4/1,000 population

Mean age at marriage:

Groom 33.7

Bride 30.5

[edit] Divorce rates

Total Divorces: 1,753

Divorce Rate: 2.27/1,000 population

[edit] Nationality

Noun: Cypriot(s)

Adjective: Cypriot

[edit] HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)^[16]

People living with HIV/AIDS: fewer than 1,000 (1999 est.);^[16] 518 cases reported between 1986 and 2006 (58% Cypriots, 42% foreigners/visitors);^[17]

Deaths: 85 reported between 1986 and 2006.^[17]

"The information presented here concerns only part of Cyprus, due to an absence of reliable information concerning the island as a whole".^[17]

[edit] Ethnic groups

Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001 est., entire island)^[16]

[edit] Religions

Amongst total population incl. immigrants:^{[citation needed]}

Greek Orthodox 80%, Sunni Muslim 11%, Other Eastern Orthodox 2%, Other 7% (includes Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Protestant, Aglican)

[edit] Languages

Greek and Turkish are the official languages according to Article 3 of the Constitution of Cyprus. In Northern Cyprus, the official language is Turkish (Article 2 of the 1983 Constitution of Northern Cyprus). English is widely spoken on the island, and Russian has become fairly widespread in recent years due to the influx of immigrants and investors from CIS countries.

[edit] Literacy

From 2001 population census of the Republic of Cyprus^[5]

Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 97%

Male: 99%

Female: 95%

[edit] See also

• Aging of Europe

[edit] References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2006 edition".

• EU27 population projections 2008-2060, Eurostat Newsrelease 119/2008, 26 August 2008.