According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, approximately 14.4% of children in Cyprus have experienced online bullying at least once or twice in recent months.

The survey also indicates that 9.5% of Cypriot children have admitted to bullying others online during the same period. Additionally, 4.3% of students have bullied peers at school multiple times over the past few months, a rate lower than the international average of 6.0%.

In Cyprus, 7.8% of students reported being bullied at school with similar frequency, which is also below the international figure of 11.0%. The data shows that 10.6% of Cypriot children engaged in physical altercations three times or more in the last year, aligning closely with global trends.

The findings underscore that while Cyprus follows global patterns in youth behavior, it fares better in categories such as bullying both at school and online. There is no significant difference in bullying rates between genders in Cyprus, unlike in some countries where girls are more frequently victimized.

The HBSC survey, conducted every four years, offers comparative international data on the health, quality of life, social environment, and behaviors of school children aged 11, 13, and 15. Initiated in 1983, the survey now includes around 50 countries globally. More details about the survey can be found on the HBSC Cyprus website.

The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth of Cyprus noted the importance of these findings and plans to use the survey data to enhance specific areas of the educational system that promote the health and well-being of school-aged children.