Unemployment in Cyprus remained below the European average in January 2026, according to figures released by Eurostat.
The unemployment rate in Cyprus stood at 4.2%, compared with 5.8% in the European Union and 6.1% in the Eurozone, placing the country in a stronger position than the overall European average.
However, youth unemployment remains significantly higher, reaching 15% in Cyprus, reflecting a broader challenge seen across many European economies.
Small gender gap in unemployment
Data also show a small difference between male and female unemployment rates in Cyprus.
Unemployment among men stood at 4.0%, while the rate for women was slightly higher at 4.4%, a gap considered relatively limited compared with several other EU countries.
Countries with the lowest and highest unemployment
Among EU member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in:
Poland with 3.1%
Czech Republic with 3.2%
Malta with 3.4%
At the other end of the scale, the highest unemployment levels were recorded in:
Finland with 10.2%
Spain, with 9.8%
Greece with 7.7%
Lower unemployment than in several major European economies
Cyprus recorded lower unemployment than several larger European economies, including:
France, with 7.7%
Portugal with 5.6%
Ireland with 4.7%
Meanwhile, Germany and the Netherlands also maintained relatively low unemployment rates at 4.0%.
Italy recorded a notable improvement, with unemployment falling to 5.1% from 6.6% in January 2025.
Youth unemployment remains high across Europe
Despite improvements in overall labour market indicators, youth unemployment remains high in many EU countries.
In Cyprus it stood at 15%, while higher levels were recorded in:
Spain with 23.5%
Greece with 16%