Census 2021

The Statistical Service is planning to conduct the 15th Census of Population and Housing on the 1st of October 2021. The Population Census is a key source of information and statistical data and it is usually carried out at regular intervals of 10 years. The last Population Census was held in 2011.

The Census of Population 2021 is being carried out in all EU Member States, following common concepts and definitions, under Regulation (EC) no. 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on population and housing censuses.

The purpose of the Census is the complete and accurate geographical coverage as well as the enumeration of all housing units, institutions, households and individuals, Cypriot and foreign nationals who have their usual residence in the Government controlled areas.

Specifically, it aims at collecting data on the composition of the population as regards its demographic and socio-economic characteristics (gender, age, nationality, place of birth, level of education, occupation, marital status, etc.) and the composition of households. During the Census, data on the size and amenities of the housing units will also be recorded (such as the number of rooms, the area, the type of housing unit, the year of construction, the type of heating, whether the house is privately owned, rented, etc.). The Census will also cover the population living in institutions (nursing homes, monasteries, prisons, etc.).

The data collection for the Census will take place during the period October - December 2021 using the traditional method, which entails door-to-door visits by enumerators. All enumerators will bear a special identity card issued by the Statistical Service certifying that they are authorized according to the Law, to collect the relevant information. The data collection will be carried out through electronic questionnaires with the use of tablets.

It is worth noting that this is the last Census which will be conducted in the traditional way (door to door). The Statistical Service will use the data collected in the Census of Population 2021 as the basis for the creation of a dynamic Statistical Population Register, which will be updated annually through administrative sources. The creation of the Population Register will eliminate the high cost of conducting population censuses, citizens will no longer be burdened with the response obligation and the continuously updated data can be used for policy-making purposes on an annual basis.

The first results are expected to be announced in January 2022 and will contain aggregated data. Tables with detailed results will be disseminated in electronic form during the second semester of 2022, while some more detailed tables will be compiled in 2023. It is noted that under the European Regulation, Member States are obliged to transmit the results to EUROSTAT by April 2024.

Census History:
The first Population Census in Cyprus was conducted in 1881 and until 1931, censuses were conducted every 10 years. After 1931 and due to World War II, the next Census was conducted in 1946 and then in 1960 with the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus. This was followed by the Census of 1973 and then the Census of 1976 due to the rapid changes brought about by the Turkish invasion. The next Census was conducted in 1982, followed by the Censuses of 1992, 2001 and 2011, where the latter recorded a population of 856.960 persons in the Government controlled areas. The population growth at census years is depicted in the following graph.