Cyprus net migration drops by more than half in 2008

Cyprus was less of a magnet for foreigners in 2008 than in previous years, according to the annual “Demographic Report” published on Monday.
The report gives, inter alia, an account of population developments and provides data on a time series basis on fertility, mortality, marriages, divorces and migration.
According to the report, net migration flows in Cyprus reached 3,595 in 2008, a fall of 51.4% compared with 2007.
The last time net migration was anywhere near this low was 2000, when net migration reached 3,960.
Indeed, after a sharp rise to 15,724 when Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, net migration flows have been falling ever since.
As a new EU member, Cyprus did not impose any visa restrictions on the 25 EU members. Nor does it impose any restrictions on citizens of Romania and Bulgaria, which joined the EU in 2007.

Population in the south at 796,000

Other demographic developments in the report are as follows.
The population in the Government controlled area is estimated at 796,900 at the end of 2008 compared to 789,300 in the previous year, recording an increase of 1.0%.
The Statistical Service said that the population increase in 2008 was mainly explained by an increased natural increase (4,011 persons) and to a lesser extent by the net migration balance (3,595 persons).
In 2008 the number of births totalled 9.205 compared to 8.575 in 2007.
The total fertility rate, which gives the mean number of children per woman, was estimated at 1.46 in 2008. Since 1995 it has remained below the replacement rate of 2.10.
The number of deaths reached 5,194 in 2008 compared to 5,380 in 2007.
The expectation of life at birth is estimated at 78.3 years for males and 81.9 for females for the period 2006/07.
In 2008 the number of marriages decreased to 13,395 from 13,422 in 2007. Ecclesiastical marriages decreased from 4,444 in 2007, to 3,293 in 2008, and civil marriages increased from 8,978 in 2007 to 10,102 in 2008.
In 2008 the number of divorces reached 1,639 from 1,648 in 2007.