Cyprus' population reached 838,897 persons on October 1, 2011, compared to 689,565 during the previous census in 2001, recording an increase of 21.7% over the past ten years, according to the preliminary results of the 2011 census, presented by the Statistical Service at a press conference on Thursday.
The results of the census, which began on October 1 and was concluded on December 23, were announced by Director of the Statistical Service George Georgiou.
The distribution of the population by gender was 51.3% women and 48.7% men, with Nicosia holding 38.8% of the total population, Limassol 28%, Larnaca 17.1%, Paphos 10.5%, and Famagusta 5.5%.
The district with the highest population rise in 2011 compared to 2001 was Paphos with a growth rate of 33%, followed by Larnaca with 24.4%, Famagusta with 23.1%, Limassol with 19.6%, and Nicosia with 19%.
Georgiou noted that the increase in the population was also due to the number of foreign nationals, which reached 21.4% of the total population, compared to 9.4% in 2001. A total of 179,547 foreigners were recorded, of which 62.6% from EU countries and 37.4% from third countries.
The largest number foreign nationals recorded was from the EU, with 31,044 from Greece, 26,659 from the UK, 24,376 from Romania and 19,197 from Bulgaria, while foreigners from third countries were mainly from the Philippines with 9,744, Russia with 8,663, Sri Lanka with 7,350 and Vietnam with 7,102.
The district with the most foreigners is Paphos with 34.9%, followed by Limassol with 20.6%, Larnaca with 20.4%, Famagusta with 20.3%, and Nicosia with 18.9%.
A total of 432,736 housing units were recorded compared to 293,985 in the 2001 census, recording an increase of 47.2% over the past ten years. Of these units, 69% are inhabited and used as residences, while the remaining 31% are empty or second residences. The district with the highest increase in housing units is Paphos with 88%, followed by Famagusta with 79.5%.
The number of households recorded was 302,619, compared to 223,790 in 2001, recording an increase of 35.2% over the past ten years. The average size of households in 2011 was 2.76 persons. During the previous census in 2001, the average size of a household was 3.06 persons. This did not indicate a drop in the birth rate, rather an increase in the number of persons living alone.
The district with the highest average was Famagusta with 2.94 persons, followed by Larnaca with 2.85, Limassol with 2.75, Nicosia with 2.73 and Paphos with 2.67 persons per household.
