The percentage of Cyprus’ population at risk of poverty or social exclusion dropped slightly in 2024, reaching 17.1% compared to 17.4% in 2023, according to the latest Household Income and Living Conditions Survey published by the Cyprus Statistical Service. This means that approximately 164,000 individuals still face economic hardship, despite marginal improvements in key indicators.

The survey defines individuals at risk of poverty or social exclusion as those living in households with an income below the poverty threshold, experiencing severe material and social deprivation, or residing in households with very low work intensity.

While the overall situation has improved, women continue to be more vulnerable than men. The data reveals that 18.5% of women were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 15.6% of men, highlighting a persistent gender gap.

The at-risk-of-poverty rate, which measures the proportion of people with disposable incomes below 60% of the national median, declined from 14.9% in 2023 to 14.6% in 2024. The poverty threshold rose significantly due to inflation and rising living costs, reaching €12,400 for single-person households and €26,039 for families with two adults and two children under 14—marking a 7.4% increase from the previous year.

Meanwhile, the median disposable income per person increased from €19,247 in 2023 to €20,667 in 2024.

The percentage of people living in households with very low work intensity—where working-age members have little or no employment—fell from 4.5% in 2023 to 4.2% in 2024. However, severe material and social deprivation, which accounts for difficulties in affording essential goods and services, saw a slight uptick from 2.4% to 2.5%.

The data underscores the importance of social benefits in reducing poverty. Before accounting for pensions and social transfers, the at-risk-of-poverty rate stood at 34.2% in 2024. Pensions lowered this figure to 21%, and further social benefits reduced it to 14.6%. In total, social transfers helped cut poverty risk by 19.6 percentage points, with pensions contributing 13.2 points and other benefits 6.4 points.

A concerning trend emerged among older adults, as poverty among individuals aged 65 and over surged from 26.9% in 2023 to 31.1% in 2024. In contrast, poverty risk declined for children (0-17 years), dropping from 14.4% to 12.6%, and for working-age adults (18-64 years), falling from 11.8% to 10.6%.