Cyprus ranks among the European Union countries with the highest poverty risk among older citizens, according to data released by Eurostat and analysed by the trade union SEK.

In 2025, 17.1 percent of people in Cyprus were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. In absolute terms, this represents about 167,000 individuals. Compared with 2024, the percentage remained unchanged, although the number of people affected increased by around 3,000.

Rising poverty among pensioners

According to the figures published by the European statistical authority and analysed in the latest issue of SEK’s publication Ergatiki Foni, Cyprus recorded one of the largest increases between 2014 and 2025 in the proportion of people aged 65 and over facing the risk of poverty.

In 2014, 22.4 percent of people aged 65 and above were at risk of poverty. By the end of 2025, the figure had risen to 33.2 percent.

The increase is even more pronounced among those aged 75 and above. In 2014 the rate stood at 31.9 percent, while in 2025 it reached 43.6 percent.

SEK noted that this rise represents the largest increase among five EU countries that also implemented bailout programmes and austerity measures, namely Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Based on these figures, Cyprus ranks second in the EU, after Latvia, for the highest proportion of people aged 75 and over living in poverty.

Situation across the European Union

Across the European Union, 92.7 million people were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, representing 20.9 percent of the population.

The figure shows a slight decrease compared with 2024, when the rate stood at 21.0 percent, corresponding to 93.3 million people. Of the 92.7 million individuals affected in 2025, approximately 43 million were men and 49.7 million were women.

Eurostat explains that individuals counted in this category live in households experiencing at least one of three conditions: risk of poverty, severe material and social deprivation, or very low work intensity.

The highest rates within the EU were recorded in Bulgaria at 29.0 percent, Greece at 27.5 percent and Romania at 27.4 percent.

The lowest levels were observed in Czech Republic at 11.5 percent, Poland at 15.0 percent and Slovenia at 15.5 percent.

Social Exclusion #

Cyprus Ranks Near Top in EU Pensioner Poverty