Correlation between poverty and health issues in Cyprus

Recent reports from Eurostat and the World Health Organization (WHO) highlight a significant disparity in living quality and physical functionality between different income groups in Cyprus. Eurostat data for 2025 reveals that citizens at risk of poverty report significantly higher rates of difficulty in basic activities, including walking (38% versus 14.1%), self-care (16.3% versus 3.9%), and vision issues (16.8% versus 7.2%). Similar gaps were observed in memory, concentration, hearing, and communication, suggesting that economic instability directly correlates with health limitations.

Simultaneously, a WHO country profile for Cyprus indicates that aging residents face severe economic challenges. While only 10.9% of the population under 65 is at risk of poverty, this figure rises to 25.4% for those aged 65–74 and reaches 43.6% for those 75 and older. More than half of individuals aged 65 and over (56.5%) report health problems that limit their daily activities. The report underscores a lack of comprehensive national policy for long-term care and support for informal caregivers.

In response to these findings, local organizations including KYSYOA and OSOK plan to submit a detailed memorandum to the President of Cyprus in the coming days, seeking to address gaps in social care and health assessment for the elderly population.