THE population of Cyprus reached 940,100 at the end of 2015, an increase of 0.2 per cent from the previous year, but it is ageing, according to the findings of the latest demographic report of the statistical service.
According to the report, the estimated composition of the population is 701,000 Greek Cypriots, 91,800 Turkish Cypriots and 147,300 foreign nationals.
“Estimates of the number of Turkish Cypriots from 1974 onwards are the result of population projections based on the age and sex structure of the Turkish Cypriot community as at Census 1960 and with assumptions of fertility and mortality similar to the rest of the Cyprus population,” the report said. “Illegal settlers from Turkey in the Turkish occupied area are not included in the total population figures as they are not part of the Cyprus population”.
As regards religious minorities belonging to the Greek Cypriot population, Maronites represent 0.7 per cent of the population, Armenians 0.4 per cent and Latins 0.2 per cent.
Population in the government controlled areas, the report said, is estimated at 848,300 at the end of 2015 compared to 847,000 in 2014.
In 2015, there were 9,170 births, 88 less than in 2014, and 5,859 deaths, the report said.
The total fertility rate, which expresses the average number of children per woman, was estimated at 1.32 last year and remains since 1995, below 2.10 which is the rate that ensures replenishment of the population.
“There was a gradual increase in the proportion of old-aged persons and a decrease in the proportion of children, demonstrating the ageing process,” it said.
According to the report, the proportion of children below 15 was estimated at 16.4 per cent, in 2015 while the proportion of persons over 65 increased to 15.1 per cent. Children under 15 constituted one fourth of the population in 1992, the report said, and people over 65 were one in ten.
The findings also indicated the ageing of the working age population as persons between 45 and 64 have increased to 24.4 per cent last year from 19.3 per cent in 1992.
Life expectancy at birth is estimated at 79.8 years for men and 83.5 years for women, it said, while infant mortality, reached a very low level, as 2.7 deaths were estimated per 1,000 live births in 2015.
As regards migration, in 2015, 2,000 more people emigrated from the government controlled areas than immigrated. More specifically, there were 15,183 long term immigrants on the island – Cypriots and foreign nationals arriving for settlement or for temporary employment – and 17,183 emigrants.
