The government-controlled area of Cyprus had a population of 983,000 at the end of 2024. That is fewer people than live in a mid-sized European city, spread across an island you can drive over in about two hours.

Roughly 24.8% of them are not Cypriot citizens — 243,289 people holding EU or non-EU passports. Few countries in Europe are as mixed.

983,000Total populationEnd of 2024
67%Live in towns654,700 people
NicosiaLargest district369,400 people
739,677Cypriot citizensEnd of 2024

Where people live

Population by district, end of 2024, with the change over the previous decade.

  1. Nicosia369,400▲ 11%
  2. Limassol280,300▲ 16%
  3. Larnaca165,500▲ 14%
  4. Paphos108,900▲ 19%
  5. Famagusta58,900▲ 21%

Change is against 2014.

Town and country

Cyprus is more urban than its reputation suggests.

  1. Urban654,700
  2. Rural328,300

Cypriots and everyone else

Population by citizenship, end of 2024. The figure beside each bar is the change since 2014.

  1. Cypriot citizens739,677▲ 6%
  2. From outside the EU144,259▲ 129%
  3. From other EU countries99,030▼ 2%

Worth knowing

These figures cover the government-controlled area only. CYSTAT has not produced official population statistics for the northern part of the island since 1974, so nothing here should be read as an all-island total.

These are people who actually live here, not visitors. The several million tourists who come each year are counted separately, on our visitor numbers page.

Read about each district

NicosiaLimassolLarnacaPaphosFamagustaCyprus villages

Common questions

How many people live in Cyprus?

The government-controlled area of Cyprus had a population of 983,000 at the end of 2024, according to the Cyprus Statistical Service.

What is the largest city in Cyprus?

Nicosia (Lefkosia) is the largest district with 369,400 residents, followed by Limassol. Nicosia is also the capital, and the last divided capital city in Europe.

How many foreigners live in Cyprus?

About 243,289 people living in Cyprus are not Cypriot citizens — roughly 25% of the population. Around 99,030 come from other EU countries and 144,259 from outside the EU.

Source: Cyprus Statistical Service (CYSTAT). This page mirrors the official figures and is refreshed nightly; CYSTAT publishes monthly tourism data about six weeks after the month ends.

Source tables: Population by district, annual · Population by citizenship, age and sex, annual

Last checked against CYSTAT: 12 October 2026, 03:30.