CYPRUS: Half of Cypriots do not exercise during their leisure time

Cyprus could be considered among the unfittest countries in Europe with official data showing that 49.6% of Cypriots aged over 16 do no exercise at all during their leisure time.

Around 28% of the European Union population aged 16 or over did not do any exercise outside working time in 2017, in contrast with the rest of the EU, who undertook some form of sports, fitness or recreational activities in their leisure time.

In a typical week, just over one quarter (27%) of the EU population exercised for up to 3 hours, 17% for between 3 and 5 hours and 28 % for 5 hours or more.

In Cyprus, 14.5% exercised for up to 3 hours, 18.8% were active for between 3 and 5 hours and 16.4% for longer.

In most EU Member States the majority of the population carried out some form of exercise in their leisure time, with the highest proportion in Romania (96%).

In contrast, there were two Member States where less than 50% of the population were physically active outside work: Croatia (36%), Portugal (45%) and Cyprus and Hungary were equal third both with nearly 50%.