Cyprus: Country Health Profile 2025 (State of Health in the EU)

–

Each figure is read twice, separately, and kept only when both readings agree and the number appears word for word in the text.

• Indicatoronly pass B found this figureWaiting

The text is shortened here. The full text is available from the API.

State of Health in the EU 
Cyprus
Country Health Profile 2025 


The Country Health Profiles series
The State of Health in the EU’s Country Health Profiles provide a 
concise and policy-­relevant overview of health and health systems 
in the EU/European Economic Area. They emphasise the particular 
characteristics and challenges in each country against a backdrop of 
cross-­country comparisons. The aim is to support policy makers and 
influencers with a means for mutual learning and knowledge transfer. 
The 2025 edition of the Country Health Profiles includes a special 
section dedicated to pharmaceutical policy. 
The profiles are the joint work of the OECD and the European 
Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, in co-­operation with 
the European Commission. The team is grateful for the valuable 
comments and suggestions provided by the Observatory’s Health 
Systems and Policy Monitor network, the OECD Health Committee 
and the EU Expert Group on Health Systems Performance 
Assessment (HSPA).
Demographic and socioeconomic context in Cyprus, 2024
Demographic factors
Cyprus
EU
Population size
966 365
449 306 184
Share of population over age 65
18 %
22 %
Fertility rate 20231
1.4
1.4
Socioeconomic factors
 
GDP per capita (EUR PPP)2
37 768
39 675
At risk of poverty or social exclusion rate3
17.1 %
20.9 %
1.	 Number of children born per woman aged 15-­49.
2.	 Purchasing power parity (PPP) is defined as the rate of currency conversion that equalises the purchasing power of different currencies by 
eliminating the differences in price levels between countries.
3.	 At risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) is the percentage of people who are either at risk of poverty, severely materially and socially 
deprived, or living in a household with very low work intensity.
Source: Eurostat Database.
Disclaimers: For the OECD, this work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and 
arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD. The views and opinions expressed in 
European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies publications do not necessarily represent the official policy of the Participating Organizations. 
This work was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the 
official opinion of the European Union.
The names and representation of countries and territories used in this joint publication follow the practice of the WHO. This document, as well 
as any data and map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international 
frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. Specific territorial disclaimers are applicable to the OECD and can be 
found at the following link: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions/oecd-disclaimers.html. Additional disclaimers for WHO apply. The 
information in this document relates to the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
© OECD and World Health Organization (acting as the host organisation for, and secretariat of, the European Observatory on Health Systems 
and Policies) 2025
Data and information sources
The data and information in the Country Health Profiles are based 
mainly on national official statistics provided to Eurostat and the 
OECD, which were validated to ensure the highest standards of data 
comparability. The sources and methods underlying these data are 
available in the Eurostat Database and the OECD Health Database. 
Some additional data also come from the Institute for Health Metrics 
and Evaluation (IHME), the European Centre for Disease Prevention 
and Control (ECDC), the Health Behaviour in School-­Aged Children 
(HBSC) surveys, the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in 
Europe (SHARE), the European Cancer Information System (ECIS), 
and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other national 
sources.
The calculated EU averages are weighted averages of the 27 Member 
States unless otherwise noted. These EU averages do not include 
Iceland and Norway.
This profile was finalised in September 2025, based on data that were 
accessible as of the first half of September 2025.
Contents
1 
Highlights
1
2 Health in Cyprus
2
3 Risk factors
5
4 The health system
6
5 Performance of the health system
9
6 Spotlight on pharmaceuticals
17
7 
Key findings
20


State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  1
 1  Highlights
Health Status
At 83.2 years, life expectancy in Cyprus was above the EU average in 2024, 
even though overall life expectancy dropped temporarily by a full year 
between 2019 and 2021 due to the COVID-­19 pandemic. In 2024, 75 % of the 
Cypriot population reported being in good health – a higher proportion than 
the EU average (68 %) – but inequalities by income level are significant.
Risk Factors
The proportion of adults smoking daily in 2019 was higher in Cyprus than in 
most EU countries – particularly among men. Smoking rates were also higher 
among those with higher education levels in Cyprus than across the EU. 
However, alcohol consumption in particular, and obesity rates, are below the 
EU averages.
The Health System
Current health expenditure per capita in Cyprus was below the EU average 
in 2023, but the share of public expenditure has increased dramatically with 
the introduction of the General Healthcare System. Out-­of-­pocket spending 
has decreased significantly, falling to 18 % of health spending in 2023 – only 
slightly above the EU average (16 %).
Health System Performance
Effectiveness
Both preventable and treatable 
mortality were lower in Cyprus than 
the EU averages in 2022. Lung cancer 
is the leading cause of preventable 
mortality in Cyprus; this is linked to 
high smoking rates. Data limitations 
mean that attributing low treatable 
mortality rates to the performance of 
specific parts of the health system is 
not possible.
Accessibility
For all income levels, unmet medical 
care needs were very low in Cyprus. 
Fewer than 1 % of people needing 
care reported being unable to access 
it for reasons of cost, waiting times or 
distance to travel in 2024. Reported 
unmet needs for dental care were 
higher in 2024 – especially among 
those at risk of poverty. 
Resilience
Ensuring the sustainability of the health 
workforce is a key challenge in building 
resilience. While Cyprus has managed 
to increase the supply of doctors – 
especially general practitioners – the 
country has among the lowest densities 
of nurses in the EU, and recent trends 
show a further decline in nursing 
graduates. The ratio of nurses to 
doctors was nearly 1:1 in 2023. 
Spotlight: pharmaceuticals
In 2023, Cyprus spent EUR 467 per capita on retail pharmaceuticals, which is comparatively low; but the public financing 
share of expenditure on pharmaceuticals reached 71 %, which is comparatively high. The introduction of the General 
Healthcare System has brought expanded coverage of pharmaceuticals, including inpatient drugs and new treatments. 
However, access to novel medicines remains a challenge due to the “small market” problem; this limits Cyprus’ attractiveness 
as a market for pharmaceutical companies and the country’s bargaining power, resulting in inelastic pricing. 




































	

		





 












	





				



 

 






	


			

			

















	











		

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
















	




2  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
2  Health in Cyprus
Life expectancy in Cyprus is one and a half years 
above the EU average
In 2024, life expectancy at birth in Cyprus stood at 
83.2 years – 1.6 years higher than the EU average (Figure 1). 
Following the reduction in life expectancy in 2021 during the 
COVID-­19 pandemic, life expectancy rebounded in 2023 to 
surpass its 2019 pre-­pandemic level. As in other European 
countries, in Cyprus women tend to live longer than men. In 
2024, Cypriot women could expect to live 85.5 years, more 
than 4 years longer than men (81.1 years). This gender gap 
is more than one year smaller than the EU average gap 
(5.2 years).
Figure 1. Life expectancy in Cyprus is higher than the EU average
Notes: The EU average is weighted. 2024 data for Ireland refer to 2023. 
Source: Eurostat (demo_mlexpec).
Cardiovascular diseases and cancer were the main 
causes of death, followed by respiratory diseases
In 2023, the leading causes of death in Cyprus were 
cardiovascular diseases (including ischaemic heart disease 
and stroke) and cancer (particularly lung, breast and 
colorectal cancer), which together accounted for 46 % of all 
deaths (Figure 2). Respiratory diseases accounted for 10.3 % 
of all deaths in 2023. COVID-­19 still caused 4 % of all Cypriot 
deaths in 2023, down from a high of 9.3 % in 2022. 
Three quarters of adults report being in good health, 
but sizeable disparities exist across income groups
In 2024, 75 % of the Cypriot population reported being in 
good health, which is a higher proportion than the EU average 
(68 %). However, as in other EU countries, there was a large 
gap in how people rate their health by income level: only 57 % 
of women in the lowest income quintile reported being in 
good health compared to 86 % of those in the highest quintile. 
The gap between men was similar and also larger than the EU 
average gap (Figure 3).
Women live a greater proportion of their lives after 
age 65 with health issues and disabilities
As in other EU countries, the share of people aged 65 and 
over is increasing in Cyprus: it grew from 11 % in 2000 to 
18 % in 2024 because of higher life expectancy and lower 
fertility rates. This share is projected to increase to 22 % by 
2050 in Cyprus.
In 2022, at age 65, Cypriot women could expect to live 
another 20.7 years, while men could expect to live another 
18.3 years, but much of this is with activity limitations 
(Figure 4). Healthy life expectancy between men and women 
in Cyprus is relatively equal, but women are living longer 
with activity limitations – 12.1 years for women compared to 
9.5 years for men.
Over 40 % of Cypriot women and men aged 65 and over 
reported multiple chronic conditions in 2022, which is 
comparable to the EU average. There is a large gender gap in 
people reporting limitations in daily activities: more than one 
in four women (26 %) aged 65 and over reported limitations in 
daily activities compared to one in nine men (11 %). However, 
both of these rates are below the EU averages of 31 % of 
women and 21 % of men aged 65 and over.




     












































	






 


­€
	
	€
‚
ƒ
­
„
…
†‡
 ˆ
‰€

‰

Š€ˆ

‚
„‡

ˆ
‹

„
Œ
ƒ








State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  3
Cyprus
Prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular 
diseases are low in Cyprus
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are not only the leading 
causes of death in Cyprus but also leading causes of 
morbidity and disability, mirroring patterns observed 
across the EU. According to estimates from the Institute 
for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), approximately 
6 800 new cases of CVD occurred in Cyprus, and more 
than 71 000 people were living with a CVD in 2021. This 
is equivalent to an age-­standardised rate of 955 per 
100 000 population, which was 17 % lower than the EU 
average, while the estimated prevalence rate was 26 % below 
the EU average. The combination of both incidence and 
prevalence of CVD being below average indicates a relatively 
low overall CVD burden (Figure 5).
As in other EU countries, the estimated incidence and 
prevalence rates of CVDs in Cyprus were higher among men 
than among women, but the gender gap was significantly 
narrower than the EU average gap. Ischaemic heart disease 
is one of the most frequent types of CVD, representing one 
quarter of all CVDs.
The cancer incidence rate in Cyprus is slightly 
above the EU average
Over 4 600 new cases of cancer were estimated for the 
year 2022 for Cyprus, and more than 36 000 people 
were estimated to be living after a cancer diagnosis in 
2020 according to the European Cancer Information System 
(ECIS). Compared to the EU average, the 2022 age-­
standardised incidence rate of cancer in Cyprus is almost 2 % 
higher while the estimated 2020 prevalence rate is 3 % lower 
(Figure 6). Cancer prevalence has increased over the past 
decade in Cyprus, highlighting the importance of focusing on 
the quality of life of cancer patients as people are living longer 
with cancer, and more people have a history of the disease 
(OECD/European Commission, 2025).
In 2022, men were estimated to have a cancer incidence 
rate that is 7 % higher than women, which is much smaller 
than the EU average gender gap of 20 %. The leading newly 
diagnosed cancer sites for men in 2022 are prostate, lung and 
colorectum, while among women the leading cancer sites are 
breast, thyroid and lung. The number of new cancer cases 
is projected to increase by 30 % by 2040 due to population 
ageing alone.
Figure 2. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer accounted for just under half of all deaths in Cyprus
Note: IHD = ischaemic heart diseases; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Source: Eurostat (hlth_cd_aro); Data refer to 2023.









	



	














 


­€
‚


ƒ„
…

ƒ	

†‡
‚
	ˆ

‰Š‹ˆŒ‹
ˆ

Ž


Figure 3. Inequalities in self-­reported health by 
income level in Cyprus were larger than the 
EU average
Note: Low income refers to adults in the bottom 20 % (lowest quintile) of 
the national equivalised disposable income distribution, while high income 
refers to adults in the top 20 % (highest quintile).
Source: Eurostat based on EU-­SILC (hlth_silc_10); data refer to 2024.













	


	
		
	
	
			
	


4  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
Figure 4. As in other EU countries, over half of life expectancy of people at age 65 in Cyprus is lived with 
some disabilities
Source: Eurostat for healthy life years (tespm120, tespm130) and SHARE survey (for chronic conditions and limitations in daily activities); data refer to 
2022 and 2021–22, respectively.
























	









	




























		





	























	





		




Figure 5. About one in ten people were living with a cardiovascular disease in Cyprus in 2021
Note: Cardiovascular disease prevalence and incidence estimates from IHME were rescaled to reflect the population of the government-­controlled areas of 
the Republic of Cyprus, ensuring consistency with other national statistics presented in this profile.
Source: IHME, Global Health Data Exchange; estimates refer to 2021.






	

	






		



	

	






Figure 6. About one in twenty-­five people were estimated to be living with cancer in Cyprus in 2020
Notes: These are estimates that may differ from national data. Cancer incidence includes all cancer sites except non-­melanoma skin cancer.
Source: European Cancer Information System; estimates refer to 2022 for incidence and 2020 for prevalence.





			







			




State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  5
Cyprus
3  Risk factors
Over a quarter of all deaths are attributable to 
behavioural risk factors in Cyprus
Around 27 % of all deaths in Cyprus in 2021 could be 
attributed to behavioural risk factors such as tobacco 
smoking, dietary risks, alcohol consumption and low physical 
activity. Tobacco smoking alone was estimated to account for 
nearly half of these deaths (13 % of all deaths). Air pollution in 
the form of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone exposure 
alone accounted for an estimated 6 % of all deaths in 2021.
Smoking remains a major public health issue, 
especially for men
Tobacco consumption remains a major public health concern 
in Cyprus (Figure 7). The proportion of adults reporting 
that they smoked every day was 22.5 % in 2019 (latest year 
available), which was above the EU average (18.5 % in 2022). 
This is mainly due to a high smoking rate among men (32 %), 
which is more than double the rate among women (13 %). 
While many tobacco control policies are in place, they are 
relatively weak and poorly enforced (see Section 5.1).
Tobacco consumption patterns among adolescents are 
changing. The proportion of 15-­year-­olds reporting smoking 
cigarettes (11 %) was lower in Cyprus than in most EU 
countries in 2022, but e-­cigarettes have become more 
popular, and more than one quarter (27 %) of 15-­year-­olds in 
Cyprus reported smoking e-­cigarettes in the last 30 days in 
2022. This rate is among the highest in Europe.
Figure 7. Smoking among adults and vaping among adolescents are important public health issues 
in Cyprus
Note: The closer the dot is to the centre, the better the country performs compared to other EU countries. No country reaches the white target area, 
indicating that all countries have room for improvement in all areas.
Sources: OECD calculations based on HBSC survey 2022 for adolescents indicators; and Eurostat based on EU-­SILC and OECD Data Explorer for adult 
indicators (2022 or nearest available year), except smoking (EHIS 2019).
Overweight and obesity rates among adolescents 
are higher than the EU average
Almost a quarter of 15-­year-­olds in Cyprus (24 %) were 
overweight or obese in 2022 – a higher rate than the EU 
average of 21 %. A much higher proportion of 15-­year-­old boys 
were defined as overweight or obese (30 %) than girls (17 %) 
in 2022. An earlier WHO survey in the period 2018-­20 showed 
even higher overweight and obesity rates among younger 
children aged 9, with 39 % of girls and 48 % of boys at that 
age defined as overweight or obese – among the highest 
rates in the EU (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2022).
Most adolescents and adults do not perform 
sufficient physical activity
Physical activity is an important contributor to the health 
of people at all ages. In 2022, only 16 % of 15-­years-­olds 
performed at least moderate physical activity for 60 minutes 
each day, which was close to the EU average (15 %). Among 
adults, about 41 % reported performing physical activity 
outside work more than three times per week, which is above 
the EU average (31 %) but substantially lower than in some 
Nordic countries where the majority of adults (60 % or more) 
report exercising more than three times per week.




	











	
	


6  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
Fruit and vegetable consumption among 
adolescents and adults is higher than the EU 
average, but there is still room for improvement
While the proportion of 15-­year-­old adolescents in Cyprus 
who report eating at least one portion of fruit or vegetables 
per day was slightly higher than the EU average, only 33 % 
reported eating fruit daily and a slightly higher proportion 
(38 %) reported eating vegetables daily in 2022.
Daily consumption of fruit and vegetables is higher among 
adults: 68 % of adults reported daily intake of fruit (compared 
to a 61 % EU average), while 65 % reported daily vegetable 
intake (also higher than the 60 % EU average).
Socioeconomic inequalities in risk factors contribute 
to inequalities in health status
As in other countries, many risk factors in Cyprus are more 
common among people from disadvantaged socioeconomic 
backgrounds. For example, people with lower education 
levels are more likely to be physically inactive and obese than 
those with higher education levels (Figure 8). However, in 
Cyprus this is not the case for smoking, as people with higher 
education levels smoke more than people with lower levels. 
This pattern is also seen in a few other EU countries (Croatia, 
Greece, Romania and Slovenia).
Figure 8. People with lower education levels are more likely to be obese and exercise less than those with 
higher education levels
Notes: Low education is defined as people who have not completed secondary education (ISCED 0-­2), whereas high education is defined as people who 
have completed tertiary education (ISCED 5-­8). Low physical activity is defined as people doing physical activity three times or fewer per week.
Sources: Eurostat based on EHIS 2019 for smoking (hlth_ehis_sk1e), and EU-­SILC 2022 for physical activity and obesity (ilc_hch07b, ilc_hch10).
4  The health system
The health system in Cyprus was reorganised in 2019, 
guaranteeing near-­universal population coverage
The General Healthcare System – Geniko Systima Ygeias 
(GeSY) – was introduced in Cyprus in 2019, and provides near-­
universal population coverage through a blend of public and 
private provision. It mixes the traditional social health insurance 
and national health service schemes, relying on financing from 
state revenues and contributions levied on wages, incomes 
and pensions. Previously, only about three quarters of the 
population had statutory coverage, leaving many reliant on 
either out-­of-­pocket (OOP) payments or private insurance, 
whereas GeSY offers coverage to all legal residents.
The Health Insurance Organisation is responsible for 
administration of GeSY. Providers come from both the public 
and private sectors in a competitive provider landscape 
(primary care centres and hospitals in the public sector; and 
clinics, diagnostic centres, laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals, 
physiotherapy and other healthcare providers in the private 
sector). Another key actor is the State Healthcare Services 
Organisation, which oversees the management, control, 
supervision and development of public healthcare providers, 
while the Ministry of Health has a more strategic role in its 
oversight of the health system.
Per capita health spending in Cyprus has grown 
considerably since the GeSY reform
Current health expenditure stood at EUR 2 795 per capita 
(adjusted for differences in purchasing power) in 2023 – this 
was roughly one fourth below the EU average of EUR 3 832 
(Figure 9). Spending on health accounted for 8.1 % of GDP, 
which was also lower than the EU average of 10.0 %. While 
rates in Cyprus remain below the EU averages on both these 
indicators, they are markedly higher since the implementation 
of the GeSY reforms. For example, compared to the last pre-­




	




















	


















State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  7
Cyprus
GeSY year of 2018, per capita spending in Cyprus had risen 
by 56 % by 2023.
There has been a large shift in the balance of health financing 
since GeSY came into force, with public expenditure reaching 
77 % of health expenditure in 2023, whereas it stood at just 
42 % in 2018 (and had hovered around this level going all 
the way back to 2005). Although this is slightly below the EU 
average of 80 %, the large increase in public spending in the 
new system has drastically reduced OOP payments: while 
the share of OOP payments in 2023 in Cyprus (18 %) was 
above the EU average (16 %), it had come down from 44 % 
in 2018 and from 50 % in 2005. Voluntary health insurance 
accounted for 5 % of health spending in 2023 – slightly above 
the EU average, and down from a peak of 14 % in 2018 – 
illustrating that GeSY’s broad benefits package and service 
coverage has reduced the need for supplementary insurance 
plans. Coverage of services for those who had previously 
lacked access has been a major factor in reducing household 
spending on health.
Figure 9. The share of public funding for health in Cyprus now covers over three quarters of 
health expenditure
Notes: PPP = purchasing power parity. The EU average is weighted (calculated by the OECD).
Sources: OECD Data Explorer (DF_SHA); Eurostat (demo_gind); data refer to 2023.
Inpatient and outpatient care make up nearly three 
quarters of health expenditure in Cyprus, while 
spending on long-­term care is very low
In terms of spending by function, Cyprus spends most on 
inpatient care, at 41 % of health expenditure in 2023, while 
outpatient care received 32 %; these shares were far above 
the EU average of 28 % in both categories (Figure 10). 
Spending on long-­term care in Cyprus accounted for only 
5 % of health spending – far below the EU average of 18 %, 
illustrating that formal long-­term care is still underdeveloped. 
Spending on outpatient pharmaceuticals and medical goods 
made up 18 % of health spending in Cyprus in 2023, just 
below the EU average, while spending on prevention (at 2 %) 
was also much lower than the EU average of 4 %.
There are fewer hospital beds in Cyprus than in 
many other EU countries, and bed occupancy rates 
are lower
Healthcare infrastructure in Cyprus features a comparatively 
low number of hospital beds – at 3.1 per 1 000 population in 
2023 – compared to an EU average of 5.1 per 1 000. The total 
number of beds has decreased slightly over the past 10 years, 
but hospital occupancy rates have decreased substantially – 
from 91 % in 2011 to 55 % in 2023 (well below the EU average 
of 68 %). Even during the COVID-­19 pandemic, bed 
occupancy rates in Cyprus hovered just over 50 %.
Health workforce challenges include shortages 
of nurses, and doctors gravitating towards the 
private sector
In 2023, Cyprus had 5.2 practising doctors per 
1 000 population – well above the EU average of 4.3 per 
1 000 – while nurse density was 5.3 per 1 000 population, 
which is far lower than the EU average of 8.5 per 1 000 
(Figure 11). Although the number of nurses has risen, it has 
not kept pace with the rapid growth in the number of doctors 
in Cyprus (increasing from 2.6 per 1 000 population in 2005). 
This nearly 1:1 ratio between nurses and doctors is only 
otherwise seen in Bulgaria among EU countries, whereas the 
average ratio across the EU is 2 nurses per doctor.
The distribution of human resources is another concern, as 
doctors are primarily employed in the private sector and 
nurses in the public sector. Before the implementation of 
GeSY, many doctors left the public system to work privately. 
The ongoing capacity master plan project has been designed 
to strengthen human resources planning in healthcare by 
enabling the Ministry of Health to define current capacities in 
the system and develop workforce planning models to meet 
future need.









		
	

	
		







 	


­€
‚

­ƒ
­
„…†‡
ˆ

‰ƒ
 	
Š

‚

‚


‡
‹
‡
Š

­

Œ	
€
‰
	





	
 Ž

 


­

„
‘‡
„

‹
‡


8  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
Figure 11. Cyprus has a higher density of practising doctors per 1 000 population than nearly all EU 
countries, but the density of nurses is far below the EU average
Note: The EU average is unweighted. The data on nurses include all categories of nurses (not only those meeting the EU Directive on the Recognition 
of Professional Qualifications). In Portugal and Greece, data refer to all doctors licensed to practise, resulting in a large overestimation of the number of 
practising doctors. In Greece, the number of nurses is underestimated as it only includes those working in hospitals.
Source: OECD Data Explorer (DF_PHYS, DF_NURSE); data refer to 2023 or nearest available year.
































	




	



	
	
	

	
	
	



 ­€‚ƒ„„ ‚…†‚‚			‚…„…‡ˆ„­

 ­€‚­‡ † ‚…†‚‚			‚…„…‡ˆ„­



	


	








Figure 10. Hospital care accounts for just over 40 % of health spending in Cyprus, while outpatient care 
accounts for nearly one third
Notes: 1. Includes curative-­rehabilitative care in hospital and other settings; 2. Includes home care and ancillary services (e.g. patient transportation); 3. 
Includes only the outpatient market; 4. Includes only the health component; 5. Includes health system governance and administration and other spending. 
6. Includes only spending for organised prevention programmes; The EU average is weighted (calculated by the OECD).
Sources: OECD Data Explorer (DF_SHA); data refer to 2023.


















	

	

	

	

	
	


			


	
 ­

€‚
€‚ƒ

	

	

	

	


	

	

„
„





„

„





State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  9
Cyprus
5  Performance of the health system
5.1 Effectiveness
The preventable mortality rate in Cyprus remains 
below the EU average, but high smoking rates make 
lung cancer a leading cause of preventable deaths
The preventable mortality rate in people under age 75 in 
Cyprus was 123 per 100 000 population in 2022 – well below 
the EU average of 168 per 100 000 (Figure 12). Lung cancer 
remains the leading cause of preventable mortality in Cyprus, 
responsible for nearly one in five preventable deaths. This 
is related to high smoking rates in the country – particularly 
among Cypriot men (see Section 3). Despite banning smoking 
and vaping in enclosed and some outdoor public places, 
there are loopholes and a lack of enforcement, which leave 
scope for the introduction of stronger tobacco control policies. 
Tobacco use remains a major public health concern.
COVID-­19 deaths were the second leading cause of 
preventable mortality in Cyprus in 2022, playing a role in the 
spike in overall preventable mortality (up from 99.8 deaths per 
100 000 population in 2019). Ischaemic heart disease was the 
third major cause of preventable mortality, at 16.4 deaths per 
100 000 population in 2022.
Figure 12. Cyprus has among the lowest preventable and treatable mortality rates in the EU
Notes: Preventable mortality is defined as death that can be mainly avoided through public health and primary prevention interventions. Treatable (or 
amenable) mortality is defined as death that can be mainly avoided through healthcare interventions, including screening and treatment. Both indicators 
refer to premature mortality (under age 75). The lists attribute half of all deaths from some diseases (e.g. ischaemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, diabetes 
and hypertension) to the preventable mortality list and the other half to treatable causes, so there is no double-­counting of the same death.
Source: Eurostat (hlth_cd_apr); data refer to 2022.







	

	









	






 








­€‚ƒ	„
…‚ƒ	„







†
‡

ˆ‰‰‰	



	




	


Šƒ„
	
‹
Š
Œ
	
€	
„
Žƒ
‘’
		

	ƒ

‰	
„‰
ˆƒ	
€ 	
“
”	
„
Œ	
€	
­
	
•“„
­
ƒ 
‘	
•




10  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
Mortality from treatable causes is also lower in 
Cyprus than the EU average
Like other Mediterranean countries in Europe, Cyprus has 
a relatively low rate of mortality from treatable causes, at 
71 deaths per 100 000 in 2022, which was below the EU 
average of 90 per 100 000 (Figure 13). The main causes of 
treatable mortality include ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, 
colorectal and breast cancer, and stroke. The mortality rate in 
Cyprus from treatable causes has reduced from 84 deaths per 
100 000 in 2012 – a 15 % decrease over a decade compared to 
the 12 % decrease in the EU average over the same period.
Figure 13. Mortality from treatable causes in Cyprus has remained consistently below the EU average
Note: Preventable causes of mortality increased during the pandemic because COVID-19 deaths were classified as preventable.
Source: Eurostat (hlth_cd_apr).
There is low uptake of influenza vaccination among 
older people 
All those aged 65 and over are covered for influenza 
vaccination, even if they are not GeSY beneficiaries. However, 
just 30 % of adults in this cohort received an influenza 
vaccination in 2022/2023, which was down notably from over 
40 % the previous two years; this was also well below the EU 
average of 48 % (Figure 14).
For children, vaccination is provided free of charge, and 
uptake is monitored by school health visitors. In 2024, 
vaccination rates for measles among children aged less than 
1 year in Cyprus was almost universal for the first dose (99 %) 
and was above the EU average (92 %). Additionally, human 
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage among girls aged 
15 stood at 67 % in 2024 (up from 54 % in 2018) – above the 
EU average of 63 %. However, this is lower than in some other 
southern European countries such as Malta (80 %), Spain 
(85 %) and Portugal (96 %).
Figure 14. Measles and HPV vaccination coverage in Cyprus are above the EU averages
Notes: The EU average is weighted for influenza (calculated by Eurostat) and unweighted for measles and HPV.
Sources: OECD Data Explorer (DF_KEY_INDIC), Eurostat (hlth_ps_immu) and WHO/UNICEF.











	




















	












	











































	




	



	



State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  11
Cyprus
Population survey data show fairly high screening 
rates for cervical and breast cancers, but 
programme data are incomplete
Before the introduction of GeSY, there were no country-­
wide, population-­based screening programmes. Chances of 
early detection relied on opportunistic screening, and were 
affected by inequalities in access. In Cyprus, problems with 
waiting lists for cancer care mainly pertain to availability 
of appointments for screening in public facilities (OECD/
European Commission, 2025). Cyprus now runs breast 
cancer screening programmes with a target range of women 
aged 45-­74.
Patchy programme data show fairly low coverage of breast 
cancer screening, at 29 % in Cyprus compared to an EU 
average of 81 % in 2022. This, however, could be due to 
programme data not capturing people who attend cancer 
screening privately. EHIS population survey data from 
2019 show higher participation rates of 66 % of women aged 
50-­69 accessing breast cancer screening in the previous two 
years, which is above the EU average of 56 %. Similarly, 69 % 
of women aged 20-­69 were screened for cervical cancer in 
2019, compared to 71 % across the EU (see also Box 1).
For colorectal cancer, coverage (based on EHIS data from 
2019) was still low – at 3.3 %, compared to a 33.4 % EU 
average. A new national screening programme for colorectal 
cancer is based on personalised invitations sent with 
screening kits and instructions, with samples tested by 
designated laboratories. From May 2025, men and women 
aged 50-­74 who are registered with GeSY are invited to 
participate via a faecal immunochemical test. If the results 
are negative, participants will be asked to repeat the test in 
two years; if the results are positive, they will be referred to a 
gastroenterologist (GeSY, 2025).
1 The data from the Eurofound survey are not comparable to those from the EU-­SILC survey because of differences in methodologies.
Comparable data on quality of healthcare services 
are very limited
Internationally comparable data on quality of care have not 
been systematically collected in Cyprus. For example, data 
on avoidable hospital admissions (a proxy indicator for the 
quality of primary care) and 30-­day mortality hospital fatality 
rates (a quality indicator for hospital care) are not publicly 
available. As part of the introduction of GeSY, the process of 
integrating data on quality into the health information system 
is ongoing, so that the information can be used to assess and 
improve the quality of services provided. In the meantime, 
Cyprus has high rates of treatable mortality from diabetes 
(the second highest rate in the EU; the rate was falling until 
2019 but has since been increasing). This suggests that there 
are gaps in care for common chronic conditions.
In order to raise the quality of care in the future, plans are 
in place in Cyprus to create a National Cancer Institute 
(with funding announced in 2023), which will oversee the 
organisation, evaluation and accreditation of all oncology 
services and help enhance earlier detection, and a Cancer 
Research Institute (OECD/European Commission, 2025). 
Furthermore, there are ambitions to develop multidisciplinary 
team practices for cancer care.
5.2 Accessibility
Unmet needs for medical and dental care are very 
low in Cyprus, but higher for primary care and 
mental healthcare
According to the EU-­SILC survey, unmet needs for medical 
care in Cyprus were very low in 2024 (Figure 15). Only 0.1 % 
of all respondents who reported needing medical care said 
that they could not access it due to costs, distance to travel or 
waiting times. Those at risk of poverty who reported needing 
medical care have higher unmet needs than the overall 
population, reaching 0.5 %, but this was the lowest level 
in the EU. Unmet needs for dental care among those who 
reported needing it were also low (2.4 % of all respondents, 
but reaching 7.9 % among those at risk of poverty); both 
values were well below the EU averages of 6.3 % and 13.6 % 
respectively.
Similarly, further survey data from Eurofound on access to 
primary and mental healthcare show relatively low levels of 
unmet needs.1 In 2024, 3 % of surveyed Cypriots reported 
unmet needs for mental healthcare, while 1 % reported unmet 
needs for primary care (Figure 16).
Population coverage in Cyprus is universal, and all 
legal residents are entitled to healthcare
Since the full implementation of GeSY, the Cypriot health 
system has offered universal coverage to the entire resident 
population. Those classified as legal residents include 
citizens; EU nationals; third-­country nationals with permanent 
residency (and dependents), regardless of income or payment 
Box 1. New initiatives for cervical cancer 
screening are underway
Plans are being developed for a national population-­
based screening programme for cervical cancer 
in Cyprus, which mainly relies on opportunistic 
screening, with doctors recommending screening 
to their patients. A series of information activities 
are also mandated in the National Cancer Strategy 
from 2019 to promote participation, with a target of 
covering 80 % of eligible women. Cytology/pap tests 
are covered by GeSY for women aged 18-­64 every two 
years, as is the HPV vaccine for boys and girls aged 11-­
13. HPV vaccination was introduced into the National 
Immunisation Programme in 2016.


12  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
of contributions; and refugees. Those seeking asylum 
receive coverage for care from public providers, as was the 
case prior to GeSY. However, they are not covered under 
GeSY, complicating access to primary and elective care. 
Undocumented migrants and students from outside the EU 
are entitled to healthcare for the treatment and prevention of 
infectious diseases. Prior to the introduction of near-­universal 
population coverage, entitlements were linked to citizenship, 
income or contributions, and only around 83 % of the 
population was covered free of charge.
GeSY’s comprehensive benefits package covers 
primary, specialist outpatient and inpatient care
Since the switch to GeSY, public funding of all types of health 
services has increased substantially. In 2023, 93 % of all 
spending on hospital care was public (compared to an EU 
average of 91 %), as was 71 % of spending on pharmaceuticals 
(EU average: 59 %) and 75 % of outpatient medical care 
(EU average: 77 %) (Figure 17). However, public funding of 
dental care in Cyprus is low (15 % of all dental care spending, 
compared to 35 % across the EU).
2 Catastrophic health spending occurs when OOP health payments exceed 40 % of a household’s capacity to pay, potentially forcing households into 
financial hardship.
Affordability is not a major barrier to accessing 
healthcare in Cyprus
The share of OOP payments in health expenditure has 
fallen greatly with the extension of coverage and increased 
availability of healthcare providers under GeSY (see 
Section 4). In 2023, OOP spending in Cyprus (18 %) was 
slightly above the EU average (16 %), with shares of outpatient 
medical care and dental care within OOP spending notably 
larger in Cyprus than the EU averages (Figure 18). The large 
historical burden of OOP spending2 in Cyprus was one of 
the major reasons to create GeSY and move away from the 
previous system, but data on catastrophic spending have 
not been updated since 2015. Informal payments have not 
been described as a large problem in Cyprus, partly because 
providers’ remuneration is considered to be sufficient. 
Furthermore, any complaint upheld against a provider for 
informal payments serves as grounds for termination of their 
GeSY contract.
Overall, availability of services in Cyprus has 
increased with the implementation of GeSY, but 
specific gaps remain
While the change from the previous system to GeSY has 
resulted in a more comprehensive benefits package, there 
is still a lack of availability of providers or facilities for some 
services that prevents people in Cyprus from accessing their 
full entitlements. This is especially the case for long-­term care 
and rehabilitation services, which have been partially covered 
under GeSY since 2020, as well as physiotherapy, speech 
therapy and home care – particularly for patients with chronic 
conditions. As Cyprus is an ageing society (see Section 2), 
there is a growing need for a comprehensive and integrated 
Figure 16. Self-reported unmet needs for primary 
care and mental healthcare in Cyprus are below 
EU averages
Note: Primary care includes access to a general practitioner/family doctor 
or a health centre.
Source: Eurofound’s Living and working in the EU survey (2025) (data 
refer to 2024).












	
		
	






	
	
		
			
Figure 15. Self-­reported unmet needs for medical 
care in Cyprus are the lowest in the EU 
Notes: The EU average is weighted. Data refer only to individuals who 
reported having medical care needs. People at risk of poverty are defined 
as those with an equivalised disposable income below 60 % of the 
national median disposable income.
Source: Eurostat (hlth_silc_08b); data refer to 2024.







	
	
	



	





 
­

€	
‚

 
€

ƒ


‚


„
…
†„
†…
„
…
‡
€ˆˆˆ‰ˆ
ŠŠ


State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  13
Cyprus
long-­term care system with adequate funding: long-­term 
care spending in Cyprus was only 5.3 % of current health 
expenditure in 2023. In palliative care, one ongoing effort to 
improve provision is the inclusion of services for end-­of-­life 
cancer care (home care, day care and residential care) in the 
GeSY service package since 2024 (GeSY, 2024)
Health workforce shortages – especially of nurses – remain a 
system-­wide concern (see Section 4). However, one positive 
development in recent years was a substantial increase 
in the number of general practitioners (GPs) – both per 
1 000 population and as a share of doctors. The density of 
GPs per 1 000 population increased from 1.0 in 2019 to 1.4 in 
2023 (Figure 19), while the share of GPs among all doctors 
increased from 22.3 % to 26.5 %, exceeding the EU average of 
20.1 % in 2022.
Monitoring of patient complaints is also shedding 
light on accessibility challenges
The Patients’ Rights Observatory, run by the Cyprus 
Federation of Patients’ Associations, has become an 
important mechanism to monitor patient experience and 
lobby for improvements in healthcare within GeSY. The 
Observatory recorded a 44.9 % increase in patient complaints 
in 2023 compared to the previous year. While this increase 
is not a direct measure of satisfaction, it probably reflects 
a growing public awareness of patients’ rights and greater 
confidence in the Observatory’s role. Most complaints relate 
to five key areas: medication shortages and costs (32 %), 
barriers to accessing services (19 %), poor behaviour or 
service from healthcare professionals (17 %), unexpected 
healthcare expenditure (14 %), and concerns about the quality 
Figure 17. Public funding for hospital care, outpatient medical care and pharmaceuticals in Cyprus is near 
or above the EU average
Notes: Outpatient medical services mainly refer to services provided by generalists and specialists in the outpatient sector. Pharmaceuticals include 
prescribed and over-­the-­counter medicines and medical non-­durables. Therapeutic appliances refer to vision products, hearing aids, wheelchairs and 
other medical devices. The EU average is weighted.
Source: OECD Data Explorer (DF_SHA), data refer to 2023.
























	





	








Figure 18. Most OOP spending in Cyprus goes towards pharmaceuticals, outpatient medical care and 
dental care
Note: VHI refers to voluntary health insurance, which also includes other voluntary prepayment schemes. The EU average is weighted.
Source: OECD Data Explorer (DF_SHA); data refer to 2023.




	






	




	



	



	
	
	 
­€





	
	
	 
­€






	







	


Figure 19. The density of general practitioners in 
Cyprus has increased substantially, far exceeding 
the EU average
Note: The EU average is unweighted.
Source: OECD Data Explorer (DF_PHYS_CAT).













	
















14  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
of care (8 %). A recent and notable trend is the emergence 
of complaints from GPs within GeSY who report being 
pressured by patients to issue referrals, while at the same time 
facing strict monthly referral limits. This tension has led to 
dissatisfaction on both sides, with patients reporting that they 
are being denied specialist care and providers expressing 
concern that their clinical autonomy is being compromised.
5.3 Resilience
Health system resilience – the ability to prepare for, manage 
(absorb, adapt and transform) and learn from shocks and 
structural changes – has become central to policy agendas. 
Key priorities include easing pressures on service delivery, 
strengthening health infrastructure and workforce capacity, 
adapting crisis preparedness strategies, supporting digital 
innovation, and safeguarding long-­term sustainability.
3 The detailed methodology for producing the percentages can be found at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-WHE-CPI-2018.17.
Self-­assessed preparedness capacity in Cyprus is 
the second lowest in the EU, but a new project aims 
to boost key areas
In 2024, the EU average for countries self-­assessing their 
capacity to handle public health events, presented in the 
International Health Regulations (IHR) States Parties Self-­
Assessment Annual Report (SPAR) stood at 75 %, while 
Cyprus had the second lowest score at 61 %.3 The largest 
disparities between Cyprus and the EU average were in the 
competencies of coordination; financing; risk communication; 
and preparedness for zoonotic diseases, chemical events and 
radiation emergencies. However, Cyprus did meet or exceed 
the EU averages in laboratory, surveillance, human resources, 
health service provision, and points of entry and border health 
management (Figure 20).
Figure 20. Cyprus is far behind the EU averages on several core capacities to manage public health risks 
and emergencies
Notes: Scores represent a composite index aggregating each country’s self-­assessment across the 15 core capacities defined under the IHR. Values range 
from 0 (no capacity) to 100 (full capacity). The EU average is unweighted (calculated by the OECD).
Source: WHO IHR SPAR; data refer to 2024.
To further improve capacity to detect and handle public 
health events, a new reform is underway to modernise and 
digitalise the infectious disease surveillance system, with co-­
funding under the EU4Health Programme of EUR 3.5 million. 
A collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the University 
of Cyprus and the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will work to 
strengthen abilities to map the spread of infectious diseases 
and agents, analyse data in real time, communicate quickly 
and efficiently, and intervene immediately in a coordinated 
manner to manage outbreaks and future challenges in the 
face of the rapidly increasing consequences of climate change 
(Ministry of Health, 2024). Additionally, the Cypriot Ministry of 
Health conducted a first strategic risk assessment on potential 
health hazards and their effects on health security in March 
2025, assisted by WHO and supported by the EU (WHO 
Regional Office for Europe, 2025).
Public spending on the health system has grown 
significantly since GeSY was implemented
Public spending on health in Cyprus grew by 17 % between 
2015 and 2018 (when adjusted for inflation). However, since 
the GeSY system came into place, priority has been placed 
on boosting public funding and drastically shrinking the share 
of OOP health spending. Particular injections of public funds 








	











	








		



	




 








­





	






€‚


State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus  |  15
Cyprus
were evident from 2018, reflecting investments in reform 
efforts and then COVID-­19 pandemic response measures. 
In 2023, expenditure was approximately 12 % above the 
projections based on pre-­pandemic growth trends (2015-­19) 
(Figure 21). Similarly, the share of government spending on 
health as a percentage of public spending has more than 
doubled (from 6.5 % in 2017 to 14.5 % in 2023). Cyprus went 
from less than half the EU average to just under the EU 
average over that time span, outpacing projected trends, and 
with significant jumps seen during the COVID-­19 pandemic.
4 Recovery and Resilience Fund data are based on the information available as of 20 September 2025; potential future amendments may affect these figures.
With support from the Recovery and Resilience Plan 
(RRP), Cyprus has allocated EUR 101.1 million (8.3 % of total 
RRP funds of EUR 1.12 billion) to health, focusing on key 
investments and reforms by 2026.4 The Cypriot plan includes 
substantial funding for hospital construction and energy-­
efficient renovation, while also increasing support for a new 
blood bank facility. These investments will reinforce the plan’s 
aims to strengthen the healthcare sector’s effectiveness 
and resilience by increasing hospital capacity, modernising 
equipment, and building new mental health and children’s 
hospitals. The plan also continues reforms to enhance digital 
health services, improve hospital governance, and provide 
upskilling for health workers.
Additionally, Cyprus benefitted from European Commission 
support to establish a process to strengthen planning and 
decision making in the health system. The support ran from 
2017 to 2023 via the Structural Reform Support Programme and 
its successor, the Technical Support Instrument. The project’s 
main pillars were development of healthcare regulation, health 
needs assessment, quality data systems, audit of health 
facilities, and human resources for health planning.
Building a sustainable health workforce remains a 
key challenge in Cyprus
As mentioned in Section 4, Cyprus has among the 
lowest densities of nurses in the EU, and the trends for 
nursing graduates do not paint an optimistic picture 
(Figure 22). Whereas Cyprus had 31.1 nursing graduates per 
100 000 population in 2010 (slightly below the EU average 
at the time), by 2023, there were just 9.2 nursing graduates 
per 100 000 population (while the EU average was 38.6 per 
100 000). This was the second lowest in the EU.
For medical graduates, data are only available for Cyprus for 
recent years: studying medicine has only been possible in 
the country since 2013, and previously the system relied on 
medical graduates who studied abroad returning to practise 
in Cyprus. In 2023, Cyprus had 24.1 medical graduates per 
Figure 21. Public spending on health in Cyprus was 
already rising considerably before the 
COVID-­19 pandemic
Notes: The EU average is weighted (calculated by the OECD). The dashed 
line represents the projected trend based on pre-­pandemic (2015-­19) data.
Source: OECD Data Explorer (DF_SHA).




















			
	
	

	
				


			 	­
Figure 22. Nursing graduates per 100 000 population are the second lowest in the EU
Note: The EU average is weighted (calculated by the OECD). Data include graduates from all nursing programmes, not limited to those meeting the EU 
Directive for general nurses.
Source: OECD Data Explorer (DF_GRAD).



























	





























16  |  State of Health in the EU  |  Country Health Profile 2025: Cyprus
Cyprus
100 000 population, well above the EU average (15.2 per 
100 000). Human resources for health planning is a major 
focus of the capacity master plan supported by the EU, which 
considers recruitment, retention and reskilling of the health 
workforce as part of its long-­term objective to correct the 
ongoing imbalances in the health workforce.
There has been support for digital transformation 
in the health system, but uptake by users has 
been uneven
An integrated information system is the bedrock of GeSY 
and the basic tool for collecting, reporting, monitoring and 
analysing activity, with a major aim being the linking of 
spending to quality indicators and performance monitoring. 
This was co-­financed by EU Cohesion Policy during the 
2014-­20 programming period, to support the digitalisation 
5 Council Recommendation on stepping up EU actions to combat antimicrobial resistance in a One Health approach, 2023/C 220/01.
of public service and build a secure and integrated system 
(European Commission, 2025).
The digital health priorities of the GeSY system were also 
designed to end the paper-­based system and thus reduce 
fragmentation and potential duplication of tests and 
treatments. While this provides residents with new, convenient 
opportunities to be more active in managing their exp