Cyprus has outpaced the European Union average in life expectancy, reaching 83.2 years in 2024, yet the island faces excess lifestyle-related deaths and a shortage of nursing staff.
According to the Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus, published by the OECD and the European Commission, the Republic’s healthcare landscape has been transformed by the General Healthcare System (GHS). Public health spending surged to 77% of total expenditure in 2023, up from just 42% in 2018. This shift has slashed out-of-pocket costs for households from nearly half of all health spending to 18%.
Longevity vs lifestyle risks
While Cypriots live 1.6 years longer than the typical EU citizen, the report highlights a significant “prevention gap.” Approximately 27% of deaths in Cyprus are attributed to behavioural risk factors, including smoking, poor diet, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity.
Cardiovascular diseases and cancer remain the leading causes of death, accounting for 46% of all fatalities in 2023. Public health officials are particularly concerned by:
- Smoking: Daily smoking rates stand at 22.5% among adults, significantly higher than the EU average of 18.5%.
- Youth Obesity: 24% of fifteen-year-olds are overweight or obese, compared to 21% across the EU.
- Physical Inactivity: Only 16% of teenagers meet recommended exercise guidelines.
The nursing crisis and infrastructure gaps
Despite a high density of doctors—5.2 per 1,000 residents compared to the EU average of 4.3—the island is grappling with a severe shortage of nurses. The ratio of nurses to doctors is nearly 1:1, whereas the EU average maintains 8.5 nurses per 1,000 residents.
Infrastructure also remains lean, with Cyprus providing 3.1 hospital beds per 1,000 people, well below the EU average of 5.1. Furthermore, while the population is ageing rapidly, Cyprus allocates only 5% of its health budget to long-term care, a fraction of the 18% seen across the rest of the bloc.
Financial pressures and chronic disease
The report warns that the rising burden of chronic diseases and an ageing population will exert “further pressure” on pharmaceutical spending and long-term care services. Currently, the state spends only 2% of its GDP on preventative medicine.
“The greatest challenge for the Cyprus health system is population ageing and the increase in chronic patients,” the report notes. Although 75% of Cypriots report being in “good or very good” health, the system must pivot from hospital-centric care toward prevention to remain sustainable.