Eurostat report highlights link between poverty and health limitations in Cyprus

Data published by Eurostat on October 28, 2026, reveals a stark disparity in the physical and cognitive health of citizens in Cyprus based on their economic status in 2025. The report indicates that individuals living at or below the risk-of-poverty threshold, defined as 60% of the national median income, experience significantly higher rates of difficulty in performing daily tasks compared to those with higher incomes.

The most prominent gap was recorded in mobility, where 38% of those at risk of poverty reported moderate or severe walking difficulties, compared to only 14.1% of those above the threshold. Similar inequalities were identified in self-care (16.3% vs 3.9%), vision (16.8% vs 7.2%), and memory or concentration tasks (13.8% vs 3.8%). Additionally, disparities were noted in hearing, with rates of 12.3% for the impoverished versus 4.9% for others, and communication difficulties, affecting 4.6% of the low-income group compared to 1.3% of the higher-income population.

These findings highlight a systemic correlation between economic instability and diminished quality of life. The data underscores that poverty is not merely a financial condition but a significant factor impacting the physical and functional health of the population in Cyprus, reflecting similar trends observed across the broader European Union.