Eid al-Fitr, celebrated today, marks the end of Ramadan, the month during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. It is one of the two main festivals in Islam and is observed with prayer, family gatherings and charitable giving.
The holiday begins at the end of Ramadan and is typically marked by a communal prayer, visits with relatives and friends, shared meals, sweets, gifts for children and the exchange of greetings. Charity is also a central part of the observance, with donations given before the Eid prayer so that poorer households can take part in the celebrations.
In Cyprus, Eid is observed by Muslim communities across the island as both a religious and social occasion. For many families, the day combines worship with visits, hospitality and meals shared at home or with relatives.
The size of the Muslim population on the island is measured through different sources. In the Republic of Cyprus, the latest official figure comes from the 2021 census, which recorded 19,534 Muslims in the government-controlled areas. The Cyprus Statistical Service notes that the religion question was optional, meaning the figure reflects those recorded as Muslim rather than a definitive total.
For the occupied north, there is no official census breakdown by religion. The U.S. State Department says sociologists estimate that as much as 97% of the population in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots is Sunni Muslim. The same report says the Alevi Culture Association estimates there are approximately 10,000 Alevis.
Taken together, those figures suggest that Muslims make up a significant part of the island’s population. But the available data is not directly comparable, as it is based on two different methods: an official census count for the Republic and an external estimate for the occupied north.
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