Cyprus recorded a population of 982,966 on January 1, 2025, up from 966,365 in 2024, placing it among the European Union’s fastest-growing member states over the past two decades, according to Eurostat data published on Thursday.
The island’s population has grown by around 34% between 2005 and 2025, one of the highest relative increases among EU member states over the period. Across the EU, 19 member states recorded population growth over the same period and eight recorded a decline.
Cyprus represents approximately 0.2% of the total EU population and remains among the least populous member states. The five largest — Germany (84 million), France (69 million), Italy (59 million), Spain (49 million) and Poland (36 million) — account for 66% of the EU’s total population.
EU population
The EU population reached 451 million in 2025, up by around one million from 2024 and up from 435 million in 2005, a rise of around 4% over 20 years, Eurostat said.
Ageing population
The share of EU residents aged 65 and over rose from 17% in 2005 to 22% in 2025, with 6% of the population aged 80 and over. The EU median age stood at 44.9 in 2025, up from 39.6 in 2005.
Cyprus has a median age of 41, below the EU average.
Age structure
Children and young people under 15 make up 14% of the EU population. In Cyprus the figure is 15.2%.
Migration
Around six million people migrated to the EU in 2024, with 74% coming from third countries and 26% from other EU member states, Eurostat said.
Cyprus recorded 40,471 arrivals in 2024, down slightly from 40,761 in 2023. Departures stood at 26,883 in 2024, compared with 26,979 in 2023.
Natural population change
Deaths have exceeded births across the EU since 2012, with the crude rate of natural change standing at -2.8% in 2024, Eurostat said.
Cyprus recorded a positive natural change rate of 3.1% in 2024, placing it among a small number of member states with positive natural change alongside Ireland (3.4%) and Luxembourg (2.9%).
Intra-EU mobility
Some 45 million EU residents — 10% of the total — live in a country other than that of their citizenship, of whom 14 million (3%) are citizens of another EU member state.