Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union, has revealed data highlighting Cyprus as one of the leading nations within the EU with the lowest incidence of individuals facing challenges in affording an internet connection.

As of 2022, a mere 0.5% of Cyprus' population encountered difficulties in accessing the internet due to financial constraints. This figure, while marginally higher at 1.5% among individuals considered at risk of poverty, still remains exceptionally low and positions Cyprus among the top-performing countries in Europe. A comparison with the previous year's data unveils a slight uptick in the proportion within the general population (up from 0.4%), but a decline among those at risk of poverty (down from 1.7%).

By contrast, the broader European Union encountered a higher hurdle, with 2.4% of its overall population grappling with internet unaffordability. A more significant discrepancy arises when examining individuals at risk of poverty, where the rate climbs to 7.6%.

Delving into the yearly progression, a positive trend emerges within the EU context. The year 2022 witnessed an improvement of 0.3 percentage points (representing a 2.7% change) for the general population, and an even more substantial enhancement of 0.8 percentage points (equivalent to an 8.4% change) for those deemed at risk of poverty.

Further investigation of the data discloses a distinct variance between the total population and the segment facing poverty risks across EU member states concerning their ability to afford internet connectivity.

Strikingly, the countries demonstrating the highest proportions of individuals at risk of poverty unable to access the internet were Romania (25.0%), Bulgaria (20.5%), and Hungary (16.5%). In stark contrast, the nations boasting the lowest proportions were Denmark and Finland (both at 1.0%), followed closely by Cyprus and Luxembourg (both at 1.5%).