MigrantoCypriot Diaspora
80.8K Cypriots live abroad — 6% of the population of Cyprus
Cypriot diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 88% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Turkey | 30993 |
| Greece | 23412 |
| Australia | 16610 |
| Canada | 3907 |
| Bulgaria | 2034 |
| South Africa | 661 |
| Italy | 474 |
| Denmark | 401 |
| Hungary | 362 |
| Argentina | 356 |
| Sri Lanka | 254 |
| Finland | 239 |
| Norway | 234 |
| Malta | 228 |
| Slovakia | 186 |
| Luxembourg | 166 |
| Latvia | 54 |
| Lithuania | 54 |
| Estonia | 48 |
| Portugal | 35 |
| Iceland | 17 |
| Venezuela | 12 |
| Slovenia | 11 |
| Central African Republic | 6 |
| Costa Rica | 4 |
| Bolivia | 2 |
By region
38% of the diaspora lives in the Middle East
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Key facts
The Cypriot diaspora in numbers
Most Cypriots abroad live in Turkey
38% of the diaspora lives in Turkey, while the next country accounts for just 29%.
The share of the diaspora living in the Middle East has grown since 1990
10.5% of the diaspora lived in the Middle East in 1990, compared with 38.4% today.
The community in Turkey is growing fastest
The number of Cypriots living in Turkey has grown 53% since 2015, from 20.2K to 31K.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 52% to 38%.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Sri Lanka, Latvia, Estonia. Sri Lanka climbed from outside the top 20 to #11.
1 in 17 people born in Cyprus lives abroad
80.8K people born in Cyprus now live in other countries — 5.9% of a population of 1.4M.
Cypriot diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 87065 |
| 1995 | 74433 |
| 2000 | 63149 |
| 2005 | 65886 |
| 2010 | 68736 |
| 2015 | 70451 |
| 2020 | 75728 |
| 2024 | 80760 |
Largest communities over time
Cypriots living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Turkey | Greece | Australia | Canada | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9159 | 45588 | 24057 | 4285 | 103 |
| 1995 | 9757 | 33684 | 23367 | 4307 | 126 |
| 2000 | 10354 | 22334 | 22831 | 4336 | 149 |
| 2005 | 13484 | 22208 | 22457 | 4234 | 187 |
| 2010 | 16779 | 22882 | 21355 | 3954 | 222 |
| 2015 | 20247 | 21562 | 20077 | 4155 | 883 |
| 2020 | 26185 | 22039 | 18425 | 4124 | 1479 |
| 2024 | 30993 | 23412 | 16610 | 3907 | 2034 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Cypriots in each country has changed since the selected year
Cypriots among immigrants in other countries
Where Cypriots make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Cypriots live outside Cyprus?
Around 80.8K Cypriots live abroad, the world's #155 largest diaspora.
Where do most Cypriots abroad live?
Most Cypriots live in Turkey, Greece and Australia — these three countries account for about 88% of all Cypriots living abroad.
Which country has the largest Cypriot population outside Cyprus?
Turkey is home to the largest Cypriot community abroad — 31K people, about 38% of all Cypriots living abroad.
What share of the population of Cyprus lives abroad?
About 6% of the population of Cyprus lives abroad — that's 80.8K out of a total population of 1.4M.
Is the Cypriot diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Cypriots living abroad has grown from 70.5K to 80.8K, about 15%.
Where does the data on the Cypriot diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Cyprus who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Cyprus
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