Cyprus has long been known as a place where foreigners find tranquility, a warm climate and a unique way of life. However, recent data shows that the flow of emigration from the island is growing. According to Eurostat, 18,000 people left Cyprus in 2022, 95% of whom were foreigners. The reasons for this exodus are varied, but they are united by age, family circumstances, health and changes in the cost of living.
Cyprus has historically attracted Britons seeking an “eternal summer” and a relaxed lifestyle. However, recent years have seen an increase in the number of British expats returning to their homeland. Although there is no official data on the nationality of those leaving, many experts point to a significant proportion of Britons among the emigrants.
Andrea Etherington of Cyprus Container Shipping notes that more than 75% of customers leaving the island are British, with most of them being retirees. They return to the UK to be closer to family or to get more affordable healthcare.
The emigration of older Britons is primarily a question of age. Many of them arrived on the island in the early 2000s, when the exchange rate was favourable. Today, most of them have reached an age when returning home becomes necessary.
An example is a 91-year-old man who, after decades of living in Cyprus, decided to return to Gloucestershire to be near his family. A similar story is that of an 82-year-old woman who returned to Norfolk after the death of her husband.
It is not only older expats who are leaving Cyprus. Younger expats are also leaving, but for different reasons. The rising cost of living, low wages and lack of career opportunities are forcing many to seek a better life elsewhere.
For example, Chloe Morgan, a British woman who moved to Cyprus at 22, lived on the island for almost a decade. However, by the time she was 30, she realized she could no longer afford to stay on the island. Rising rent and other costs, as well as a lack of stability, forced her to return to Bristol.
InterNations survey , Cyprus ranked 47th out of 53 countries to work abroad in 2023. And in 2024, its position worsened to 51st place. Local expats complain about low wages, lack of career growth and unsatisfactory working conditions.
Harrison, 68, says the Cyprus she fell in love with decades ago no longer exists. Mass urbanisation, construction and tourism have changed the island beyond recognition. She recalls a time when Ayia Napa was a quiet fishing village and untouched nature could be found in the mountains. Today, she says, Cyprus has “sold its soul” in pursuit of the tourism boom.
Emigration from Cyprus is a phenomenon that reflects not only the personal circumstances of those leaving , but also global changes on the island. The rising cost of living, demographic changes and urbanization are creating a new image of Cyprus. Despite this, the island remains for many a symbol of warmth and hospitality, albeit in changed conditions.
