Cyprus is an island nation located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, just south of Turkey. It is bordered by Lebanon and Syria to the north and Israel to the east. The population of Cyprus is approximately 1.2 million people, with around 40% living in the capital Nicosia and the other 60% spread across the country’s six districts.
Cyprus is a small but diverse country, with a mix of Greek, Turkish, Armenian and Maronite cultures. Greek Cypriots make up about 80% of the population while Turkish Cypriots make up about 18%. In addition to this, there are also smaller communities of Armenians and Maronites living on the island.
The official language in Cyprus is Greek, although English is widely spoken as a second language due to its use in business and tourism. Other languages spoken on the island include Turkish, Armenian and Maronite Aramaic.
The economy of Cyprus has traditionally been based on agriculture and fishing but has become increasingly diversified in recent years due to its fast-growing tourism industry. The country also has a growing technology sector which provides jobs for many young professionals who are attracted by its attractive tax regime and favourable business environment.
Cyprus has a rich cultural heritage which includes ancient monuments such as Nea Paphos (the birthplace of Aphrodite), Kolossi Castle (built by Richard I of England) and Kykkos Monastery (one of the oldest monasteries in Europe). The country also boasts some stunning natural attractions such as Troodos Mountains National Park (home to Mount Olympus) as well as stunning beaches along its coastline.
The people of Cyprus are known for their hospitality and friendliness towards visitors from all over the world. Traditional Cypriot cuisine consists mainly of seafood dishes such as souvlaki (grilled meat skewers) or moussaka (eggplant casserole). Local dishes also include halloumi cheese, tahini sauce and lountza smoked pork loin slices served with pita bread or halloumi cheese sandwiches served with salad vegetables such as tomatoes or cucumbers.
Overall, Cyprus is an incredibly diverse country full of culture, history and natural beauty that attracts millions of visitors every year from all over the world.
Demographics of Cyprus
According to wholevehicles.com, Cyprus has an estimated population of 1.2 million people, with the majority of the population being of Greek origin and making up approximately 80% of the population. This is followed by Turkish Cypriots (18%), Armenians (1%), Maronites (0.4%) and other smaller minority groups such as Romanis, Arabs and British expatriates. The official language is Greek, although English is widely spoken due to its use in business and tourism, while other languages such as Turkish, Armenian and Maronite Aramaic are also spoken on the island.
The majority of the population lives in urban areas, with Nicosia being the largest city and home to around 200,000 people. Other major cities include Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos which are all popular tourist destinations due to their proximity to the sea or historic sites. The capital city Nicosia is divided into two parts; one part belonging to Greek Cypriots and another part belonging to Turkish Cypriots who live in a United Nations controlled buffer zone that separates them from each other.
The majority of Greeks belong to the Orthodox Church while a large number of Turkish Cypriots follow Sunni Islam. There are also small numbers of Armenians who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church as well as Maronites who follow Maronite Catholicism. Other religious groups include Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Buddhists and Hindus who make up a very small percentage of Cyprus’ population.
Cyprus has a highly educated workforce with over 70% having completed secondary education or higher qualifications such as university degrees or professional diplomas/certificates. According to Eurostat figures in 2016, unemployment in Cyprus was at 11%, which was lower than most European countries at that time but still slightly higher than the EU average rate which was 8%.
The economy of Cyprus relies heavily on tourism which accounts for around 13% of its GDP according to figures from 2017-2018 but it also has a fast-growing technology sector which provides jobs for many young professionals attracted by its attractive tax regime and favourable business environment. In addition to this, agriculture remains important with citrus fruits being one of Cyprus’ main exports followed by potatoes, vegetables and olives all grown locally on family farms across the country’s six districts.
Poverty in Cyprus
Poverty is a major issue in Cyprus and has been for many years. According to the most recent figures from 2018, 17.7% of the population is living in poverty with nearly one in five people struggling to make ends meet. This is slightly higher than the EU average of 16.9%.
The poverty rate in Cyprus is highest among those aged 65 and over, which stands at 32%, followed by children aged 0-17 at 26%. This is largely due to the fact that pensions are low and many elderly people are unable to work due to health issues or lack of employment opportunities. In addition to this, unemployment rates for young people are also higher than the EU average with 22% of those aged 15-24 unemployed as of 2018.
Income inequality is also an issue in Cyprus with the richest 20% of households earning almost five times more than the poorest 20%. This gap has widened since 2011 when it was around four times more but still remains significantly higher than other European countries such as Finland where it stands at only three times more.
The main contributing factors to poverty in Cyprus are low wages, rising costs of living and lack of social protection or welfare benefits for those who need them most. Although wages have increased overall since 2013, they still remain below average compared to other EU countries such as Ireland where hourly wages are around 25% higher than Cyprus’s. In addition to this, unemployment benefits are not generous enough to cover basic needs while social housing programs have been largely neglected leading many people into homelessness or inadequate housing situations.
In order to reduce poverty levels in Cyprus, there needs to be a focus on creating jobs with better wages and increasing social protection benefits for those who need them most such as pensioners and families with children under 18 years old. In addition, there should be an increase in investment into public services such as healthcare and education which can help reduce inequality levels by providing access to quality services regardless of income level. Finally, measures should be taken at local government level by creating initiatives that help bring communities together and provide support for those who are struggling financially or socially isolated due to their circumstances.
Labor Market in Cyprus
According to Countryvv, the labor market in Cyprus is characterized by a relatively small population and a high unemployment rate. The unemployment rate, which stood at 8.7% in 2018, is significantly higher than the EU average of 6.6%. This can be attributed to the fact that the country has not yet fully recovered from the economic crisis that hit it in 2013 and has struggled to create enough employment opportunities for its citizens. Furthermore, youth unemployment remains high with 22% of those aged 15-24 unemployed as of 2018.
In terms of wages, Cyprus falls slightly below the EU average with an hourly wage of €11 compared to €13 for other European countries such as Ireland and Finland. On top of this, wages have been slow to increase over recent years which has created difficulties for many people trying to make ends meet in an increasingly expensive economy.
The labor market is also characterized by a large informal sector which makes up around 40% of total employment in Cyprus. This is largely due to the prevalence of ‘envelope’ jobs where employers pay their employees off the books without declaring their income or paying taxes on it. This means that many workers are unable to access social security benefits such as health insurance or maternity leave and are often left vulnerable to exploitation by their employers.
In terms of job security, there is a lack of protection for employees who are dismissed without sufficient cause or understanding from their employers, meaning they are unable to challenge unfair dismissals or negotiate better terms and conditions with their employer due to fear of repercussions. Furthermore, workers who belong to trade unions face discrimination when it comes to promotions or pay rises due to employers’ fear that they will be more likely to take part in collective action should any issues arise within their workplace.
Overall, there remain many challenges facing those seeking employment in Cyprus today including low wages, lack of job security and rising costs of living making it difficult for many people trying make ends meet on a daily basis. In order for these issues to be addressed more effectively, there needs to be greater investment into public services such as education and healthcare as well as stronger enforcement measures against informal work practices so that all employees can benefit from basic rights such as minimum wage laws and job security protections regardless of their sector or occupation.
