Editing Cyprus (section)

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Cyprus|List of cities, towns and villages in Cyprus}}
[[File:Cyprus-demography.png|thumb|left|Population growth, 1961–2003 (numbers for the entire island, excluding Turkish settlers residing in Northern Cyprus)]]
[[File:Cypruspop-2010.svg|thumb|left|2010 population by age and gender]]

According to the Republic of Cyprus' website, the population in the government controlled areas was 918,100 at the 2021 Census, with the most populous district being Nicosia (38%), followed by Limassol (28%).<ref>{{Cite web |last=CYSTAT |title=2021 Census Results |url=https://www.census2021.cystat.gov.cy/Announements/18%20May%202022%20CENSUS%20OF%20POPULATION%20-%20PRELIMINARY%20RESULTS.pdf |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119132756/https://www.census2021.cystat.gov.cy/Announements/18%20May%202022%20CENSUS%20OF%20POPULATION%20-%20PRELIMINARY%20RESULTS.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The Nicosia Metropolitan area, consisting of seven municipalities, is the largest urban area on the island with a population of 255,309.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government Website (Aftodoiikisi) |title=2021 population statistics |url=https://www.aftodioikisi.com.cy/%ce%bf-%ce%bc%ce%b9%ce%ba%cf%81%cf%8c%cf%84%ce%b5%cf%81%ce%bf%cf%82-%ce%ba%ce%b1%ce%b9-%ce%bc%ce%b5%ce%b3%ce%b1%ce%bb%cf%8d%cf%84%ce%b5%cf%81%ce%bf%cf%82-%ce%b4%ce%ae%ce%bc%ce%bf%cf%82-%ce%ba%ce%bf/ |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-date=21 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021110912/https://www.aftodioikisi.com.cy/%CE%BF-%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%81%CF%8C%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%B3%CE%B1%CE%BB%CF%8D%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B4%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BA%CE%BF/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As per the first population census after independence, carried out in December 1960 and covering the entire island, Cyprus had a total population of 573,566, of whom 442,138 (77.1%) were Greeks, 104,320 (18.2%) Turks, and 27,108 (4.7%) others.<ref name="Solsten2" /><ref name="Hatay 2007">Hatay, Mete "Is the Turkish Cypriot Population Shrinking?", International Peace Research Institute, 2007. Pages 22–23.</ref> The CIA World Factbook calculated that in 2001, [[Greek Cypriots]] comprised 77%, [[Turkish Cypriots]] 18%, and others 5% of the total Cypriot population.<ref>{{cite web |title=The World Factbook – Ethnic Groups |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html#cy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625160623/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html#cy |archive-date=25 June 2014 |access-date=22 June 2013 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref><ref name="Hadjipavlou 2002">{{cite book |last=Hadjipavlou |first=Maria |title=Peace Education: The Concept, Principles, and Practices Around the World |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-8058-4193-0 |editor1-last=Salomon |editor1-first=Gavriel |page=195 |chapter=Cyprus: A Partnership Between Conflict Resolution and Peace Education |editor2-last=Nevo |editor2-first=Baruch}}</ref>

Due to the inter-communal ethnic tensions between 1963 and 1974, an island-wide census was regarded as impossible. Nevertheless, the Cypriot government conducted one in 1973, without the Turkish Cypriot populace.<ref>{{cite book |last=St John-Jones |first=L.W. |year=1983 |title=The Population of Cyprus: Demographic Trends and Socio-Economic Influences |place=London |publisher=Maurice Temple Smith Ltd |page=17 |isbn=978-0-85117-232-3}}</ref> According to this census, the Greek Cypriot population was 482,000. One year later, in 1974, the Cypriot government's Department of Statistics and Research estimated the total population of Cyprus at 641,000; of whom 506,000 (78.9%) were Greeks, and 118,000 (18.4%) Turkish.<ref>{{cite web |author=Cyprus Ministry of Interior |year=1992 |title=The Demographic Structure of Cyprus |url=http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/All/20C7614D06858E9FC2256DC200380113/$file/cuco%20report.pdf?OpenElement |publisher=Parliamentary Assembly |page=6 |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107111845/http://www.moi.gov.cy/MOI/pio/pio.nsf/All/20C7614D06858E9FC2256DC200380113/$file/cuco%20report.pdf?OpenElement |archive-date=7 January 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> After the military occupation of part of the island in 1974, the government of Cyprus conducted six more censuses: in 1976, 1982, 1992, 2001, 2011 and 2021; these excluded the Turkish population which was resident in non-government-controlled areas of the island.<ref name="Hatay 2007" />

In addition to this, the Republic of Cyprus is home to 110,200 foreign permanent residents<ref>{{citation |author=Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service|year=2006 |title= Demographic Report 2005 |location=Nicosia |publisher=Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service|page=12}}</ref> and an estimated 10,000–30,000 undocumented illegal immigrants.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nicos |first1=Trimikliniotis |last2=Demetriou |first2=Corina |year=2007 |title=Active Civic Participation of Immigrants in Cyprus |url=http://www.politis-europe.uni-oldenburg.de/download/Cyprus.pdf |publisher=POLITIS |page=8 |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511082254/http://www.politis-europe.uni-oldenburg.de/download/Cyprus.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hadjipavlou 2002" /> As of 2011, there were 10,520 people of [[Russians in Cyprus|Russian]] origin living in Cyprus.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Boyle |first1=Kevin |url=https://archive.org/details/freedomofreligio00kevi |title=Freedom of Religion and Belief: A World Report |last2=Sheen |first2=Juliet |publisher=Routledge |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-415-15978-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/freedomofreligio00kevi/page/288 288] |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Salih |first=Halil Ibrahim |title=Cyprus: Ethnic Political Counterpoints |publisher=University Press of America |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-415-15978-4 |page=121}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+Largest groups of foreign residents
|-
! scope="column | Nationality 
! scope="column" | Population (2011)
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagu|Greece}}
| 29,321
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|United Kingdom}}
| 24,046
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Romania}}
| 23,706
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Bulgaria}}
| 18,536
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Philippines}}
| 9,413
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Russia}}
| 8,164
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Sri Lanka}}
| 7,269
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Vietnam}}
| 7,028
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Syria}}
| 3,054
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|India}}
| 2,933
|}

According to the 2006 census carried out by Northern Cyprus, there were 256,644 ([[de jure]]) people living in Northern Cyprus. 178,031 were citizens of Northern Cyprus, of whom 147,405 were born in Cyprus (112,534 from the north; 32,538 from the south; 371 did not indicate what region of Cyprus they were from); 27,333 born in Turkey; 2,482 born in the UK and 913 born in Bulgaria. Of the 147,405 citizens born in Cyprus, 120,031 say both parents were born in Cyprus; 16,824 say both parents born in Turkey; 10,361 have one parent born in Turkey and one parent born in Cyprus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/Census%202006.pdf |title=Census.XLS |access-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116120824/http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/Census%202006.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, the [[International Crisis Group]] estimated that the total population of the island was 1.1 million,<ref>{{cite web |author=International Crisis Group |year=2010 |title=Cyprus: Bridging the Property Divide |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/turkey-cyprus/cyprus/210%20Cyprus%20-%20Bridging%20the%20Property%20Divide.ashx |publisher=International Crisis Group |page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103083632/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/turkey-cyprus/cyprus/210%20Cyprus%20-%20Bridging%20the%20Property%20Divide.ashx |archive-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> of which there were an estimated 300,000 residents in the north, perhaps half of whom were [[Turkish settlers in Northern Cyprus|either born in Turkey]] or are children of such settlers.<ref>{{cite web |author=International Crisis Group |year=2010 |title=Cyprus: Bridging the Property Divide |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/turkey-cyprus/cyprus/210%20Cyprus%20-%20Bridging%20the%20Property%20Divide.ashx |publisher=International Crisis Group |page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103083632/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/turkey-cyprus/cyprus/210%20Cyprus%20-%20Bridging%20the%20Property%20Divide.ashx |archive-date=3 November 2011}}</ref>

The villages of [[Rizokarpaso]] (in Northern Cyprus), Potamia (in Nicosia district) and [[Pyla]] (in [[Larnaca District]]) are the only settlements remaining with a mixed Greek and Turkish Cypriot population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/cyprus-population/ |website=WorldPopulationReview.com |access-date=25 January 2019 |title=Cyprus Population 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223171935/http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/cyprus-population/ |archive-date=23 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup|Y-Dna haplogroups]] are found at the following frequencies in Cyprus: [[Haplogroup J (Y-DNA)|J]] (43.07% including 6.20% J1), [[Haplogroup E1b1b (Y-DNA)|E1b1b]] (20.00%), [[Haplogroup R1 (Y-DNA)|R1]] (12.30% including 9.2% R1b), [[Haplogroup F (Y-DNA)|F]] (9.20%), [[Haplogroup I (Y-DNA)|I]] (7.70%), [[Haplogroup K (Y-DNA)|K]] (4.60%), [[Haplogroup A (Y-DNA)|A]] (3.10%).<ref>(n=65), {{Cite journal
|last1= Capelli |first1= C.
|last2= Redhead |first2= N.
|last3= Romano |first3= V.
|last4= Cali |first4= F.
|last5= Lefranc |first5= G.
|last6= Delague |first6= V.
|last7= Megarbane |first7= A.
|last8= Felice |first8= A. E.
|last9= Pascali |first9= V. L.
|last10= Neophytou |first10= P. I.
|last11= Poulli |first11= Z.
|last12= Novelletto |first12= A.
|last13= Malaspina |first13= P.
|last14= Terrenato |first14= L.
|last15= Berebbi |first15= A.
|last16= Fellous |first16= M.
|last17= Thomas |first17= M. G.
|last18= Goldstein |first18= D. B.
|title = Population Structure in the Mediterranean Basin: A Y Chromosome Perspective
|doi = 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2005.00224.x
|journal= Annals of Human Genetics
|volume= 70
|issue= 2
|pages= 207–225
|year= 2006
|pmid= 16626331
| hdl = 2108/37090
| s2cid = 25536759
| hdl-access = free
}}</ref> J, K, F and E1b1b haplogroups consist of lineages with differential distribution within Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

Outside Cyprus there are significant and thriving diasporas – both a [[Greek Cypriot diaspora]] and a [[Turkish Cypriot diaspora]] – in the United Kingdom, [[Australia]], [[Canada]], the [[United States]], Greece and Turkey.

According to [[Council of Europe]], approximately 1,250 [[Romani people]] live in Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/roma-eu/roma-equality-inclusion-and-participation-eu-country/cyprus_en#:~:text=Contacts-,Facts+and+figures,0.16%25+of+the+population).|title=Cyprus - European Commission|website=commission.europa.eu}}</ref>

{{Largest cities of Cyprus}}

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Cyprus}}
{{bar box
|title=[[Religion in Cyprus]] ([[Pew Research Center|Pew Research]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/cyprus/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 |title=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project: Cyprus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717053131/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/cyprus/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 |archive-date=17 July 2014 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |date=2010}}</ref><ref name="CIA">{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Cyprus|access-date=9 February 2010}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Eastern Orthodoxy]]|purple|78}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|20}}
{{bar percent|Other|grey|1}}
{{bar percent|None|black|1}}
}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| image1            = Kloster Kykkos BW 2023-09-20 10-56-59.jpg
| width1            = 180
| alt1              =
| caption1          =
| image2            = Larnaca 01-2017 img30 Salt Lake.jpg
| width2            = 180
| alt2              =
| caption2          =
| footer            = [[Kykkos Monastery]] in [[Pedoulas]] (left) and [[Hala Sultan Tekke]] near [[Larnaca Salt Lake]] (right)
}}

The majority of Greek Cypriots identify as [[Christians]], specifically [[Church of Cyprus|Greek Orthodox]],<ref name="CIA" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/All/817E9279C04E4480C2257023002B858C?OpenDocument |title=About Cyprus – Towns and Population |work=Government Web Portal – Areas of Interest |publisher=[[Government of Cyprus]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225142919/http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/All/817E9279C04E4480C2257023002B858C?OpenDocument |archive-date=25 February 2012 |access-date=9 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cytoc.html |title=A Country Study: Cyprus |last=Solsten |first=Eric |date=January 1991 |work=[[Federal Research Division]] |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |access-date=9 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905040619/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cytoc.html |archive-date=5 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> whereas most Turkish Cypriots are adherents of [[Sunni Islam]]. The first [[President of Cyprus]], [[Makarios&nbsp;III]], was an [[archbishop]].

[[Hala Sultan Tekke]], situated near the [[Larnaca Salt Lake]] is an object of [[pilgrimage]] for Muslims.

According to the 2001 census carried out in the government-controlled areas,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/cystat/statistics.nsf/populationcondition_en/populationcondition_en?OpenDocument&sub=2&e= |publisher=Statistical Service of Cyprus: Population and Social Statistics |title=Main Results of the 2001 Census |access-date=28 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821110627/http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/cystat/statistics.nsf/populationcondition_en/populationcondition_en?OpenDocument&sub=2&e= |archive-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> 94.8% of the population was [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], 0.9% [[Armenian religion in Cyprus|Armenian]] and [[Maronite Church|Maronite]], 1.5% Roman Catholic, 1.0% [[Church of England]], and 0.6% Muslim. There is also a [[History of the Jews in Cyprus|Jewish community on Cyprus]]. The remaining 1.3% adhered to other religious denominations or did not state their religion.  The Greek Orthodox, [[Armenian Apostolic Church]], and both the Maronite and [[Latin Church|Latin]] Catholics are constitutionally recognised denominations and exempt from taxes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Cyprus.pdf |title=Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021: Cyprus |publisher=ACN International |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=22 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222201819/https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Cyprus.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of Cyprus}}
[[File:Armenian Alphabet.jpg|thumb|right|The Armenian Alphabet at the [[Melkonian Educational Institute]]. [[Armenian language|Armenian]] is recognised as a minority language in Cyprus.]]

Cyprus has two official languages, Greek and [[Turkish language|Turkish]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.presidency.gov.cy/presidency/presidency.nsf/all/1003AEDD83EED9C7C225756F0023C6AD/$file/CY_Constitution.pdf |title=The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus |publisher=President of the Republic of Cyprus |section=Article 3 |page=2 |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001544/http://www.presidency.gov.cy/presidency/presidency.nsf/all/1003AEDD83EED9C7C225756F0023C6AD/$file/CY_Constitution.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Armenian language|Armenian]] and [[Cypriot Maronite Arabic]] are recognised as minority languages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://languagecharter.eokik.hu/sites/StatesParties/Cyprus.htm |title=Implementation of the Charter in Cyprus |work=Database for the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages |publisher=Public Foundation for European Comparative Minority Research |access-date=20 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207055025/http://languagecharter.eokik.hu/sites/StatesParties/Cyprus.htm |archive-date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/archive/languages/langmin/euromosaic/cy1_en.html |title=EUROPA – Education and Training – Regional and minority languages – Euromosaïc study |work=Europa (web portal) |date=27 October 2006 |access-date=3 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704194723/http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/archive/languages/langmin/euromosaic/cy1_en.html |archive-date=4 July 2010}}</ref> Although without official status, [[English language|English]] is widely spoken and features widely on road signs and in public notices and advertisements.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Ammon |editor1-first=Ulrich |editor2-last=Dittmar |editor2-first=Norbert |editor3-last=Mattheier |editor3-first=Klaus J. |editor4-last=Trudgill |editor4-first=Peter |chapter=Greece and Cyprus |pages=1881–1889 |title=Sociolinguistics: an international handbook of the science of language and society / Soziolinguistik: ein internationales Handbuch zur Wissenschaft von Sprache und Gesellschaft |year=2006 |edition=2nd |series=Handbooks of linguistics and communication science / Handbücher zur Sprach- und Kommunikationswissenschaft |volume=3 |location=Berlin |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=9783110184181 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LMZm0w0k1c4C |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517130217/https://books.google.com/books?id=LMZm0w0k1c4C |url-status=live }}</ref> English was the sole official language during British colonial rule and the [[lingua franca]] until 1960, and continued to be used (de facto) in courts of law until 1989 and in legislation until 1996.<ref name=Euromosaic>{{cite book |editor1-last=European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture |title=Euromosaic III: Presence of regional and minority language groups in the new member states |date=2006 |publisher=Office for official publications of the European communities |location=Brussels |isbn=978-92-79-01291-4 |pages=19–23 |url=http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/euromosaic-iii-pbNC7406031/ |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517130232/https://op.europa.eu/en/web/general-publications/publications |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, 80.4% of Cypriots were proficient in English as a [[second language]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mejer |first1=Lene |last2=Boateng |first2=Sadi q Kwesi |last3=Turchetti |first3=Paolo |title=Population and social conditions |series=Statistics in Focus |issue=49/2010 |year=2010 |publisher=[[eurostat]] |url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3433488/5565660/KS-SF-10-049-EN.PDF |access-date=13 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217061503/http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3433488/5565660/KS-SF-10-049-EN.PDF |archive-date=17 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Russian is widely spoken among the country's minorities, residents and citizens of post-Soviet countries, and [[Pontic Greeks]]. [[Russian language|Russian]], after English and Greek, is the third language used on many signs of shops and restaurants, particularly in Limassol and Paphos. In addition, in 2006, 12% of the population spoke [[French language|French]] and 5% spoke [[German language|German]].<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf Europeans and their Languages] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414102658/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf |date=14 April 2016}}, [[Eurobarometer]], European Commission, 2006.</ref>

The everyday spoken language of Greek Cypriots is [[Cypriot Greek]], and that of Turkish Cypriots is [[Cypriot Turkish]].<ref name=Euromosaic /> These [[vernacular]]s both differ from their [[standard language|standard registers]] significantly.<ref name=Euromosaic />

===Education===
{{Main|Education in Cyprus}}
[[File:Izgled-Faneromeni shool and the Mausoleum of the Martyrs of 9 July 1821, Nicosia-2.jpg|thumb|[[Faneromeni School]] is the oldest all-girl primary school in Cyprus.]]

Cyprus has a highly developed system of primary and secondary education offering both public and private education. The high quality of instruction can be attributed in part to the fact that nearly 7% of the GDP is spent on education which makes Cyprus one of the top three spenders of education in the EU along with Denmark and Sweden.<ref>[http://www.childinfo.org/files/IND_Cyprus.pdf UNICEF, Division of Policy and Practice, Statistics and Monitoring Section] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510004016/http://www.childinfo.org/files/IND_Cyprus.pdf |date=10 May 2011}} childinfo.org, May 2008.</ref> Cyprus was ranked 27th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.wipo.int |page=18 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2}}</ref>

State schools are generally seen as equivalent in quality of education to private-sector institutions. However, the value of a state high-school diploma is limited by the fact that the grades obtained account for only around 25% of the final grade for each topic, with the remaining 75% assigned by the teacher during the semester, in a minimally transparent way. Cypriot universities (like universities in Greece) ignore high school grades almost entirely for admissions purposes. While a high-school diploma is mandatory for university attendance, admissions are decided almost exclusively on the basis of scores at centrally administered university entrance examinations that all university candidates are required to take.

The majority of Cypriots receive their higher education at Greek, British, Turkish, other European and North American universities. Cyprus currently{{when|date=May 2019}} has the highest percentage of citizens of [[Legal working age|working age]] who have higher-level education in the EU at 30% which is ahead of Finland's 29.5%. In addition, 47% of its population aged 25–34 have tertiary education, which is the highest in the EU. The body of Cypriot students is highly mobile, with 78.7% studying in a university outside Cyprus.