Eurostat data on Cyprus firefighting workforce and digital ticket purchases

In 2025, Cyprus reported 1,200 professional firefighters, accounting for 0.24% of the country’s total workforce, according to recent data released by Eurostat. This figure exceeds the European Union average of 0.18%. Across the bloc, there were 372,400 professional firefighters, with a notably younger demographic profile; 74.7% of these professionals were under the age of 50, compared to 64.4% of the general EU workforce. Among the 22 member states providing data, Greece recorded the highest concentration of firefighters at 0.47%, while the Netherlands saw the lowest at 0.05%.

However, Chief Fire Officer Nikos Longinos clarified in a local interview that the official figure of 1,200 is comprised of approximately 961 certified professionals who have completed academy training, and 237 hourly-paid seasonal workers. These seasonal staff typically assist with rural fires and operate under the supervision of certified firefighters. Separately, Eurostat reported that in 2025, 26.8% of individuals in the EU purchased event tickets online, a 3.8 percentage point increase from 2024. Cyprus performed above this average in digital ticket adoption, though specific figures for the island were not provided in the comparative breakdown where Ireland led with 51.5%.