The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report in early October highlighting serious health and economic challenges faced by the elderly population in South Cyprus. According to the findings, 56.5% of individuals aged 65 and over suffer from health conditions that limit their daily activities.
The report notes that a person reaching the age of 60 can expect to live an additional 24.2 years on average. However, only 18.4 of those years are projected to be lived in good health, while the remaining 5.8 years involve functional limitations.
The risk of poverty also rises sharply with age, according to the report. While the poverty risk stands at 10.9% for those under 65, it climbs to 25.4% among those aged 65 to 74, and reaches 43.6% for individuals aged 75 and above.
As reported by the Fileleftheros newspaper, South Cyprus had an estimated population of 1.3 million in 2023, of whom 19.7%—approximately 265,000 people—were aged 60 or older. The figures underline a clear trend of demographic ageing in the country.
