EU and non-EU children make up around 25% of Cyprus student population

Source: in-cyprus.com

Cyprus has seen an increase in the number of students from non-EU countries attending its schools over the past decade, while the number of pupils from EU nations has remained relatively stable.

At the same time, the number of Cypriot students has decreased in some educational levels, with the most significant drop recorded in lyceums (upper secondary schools).

According to a study titled “Distribution of Student Origin 2014-2024” conducted by the Cyprus Institute of Demographic and Migration Policy, based on data from the Ministry of Education, in public education, students from EU and non-EU countries constitute 26.4% of the total population in kindergartens, 22.4% in primary schools, 20.6% in public gymnasiums (lower secondary schools), 16% in technical schools, and 15.1% in lyceums. Overall, foreign (EU and non-EU) students make up 23% of the total public education student body.

Meanwhile, in private education, students with a migration background form the majority in primary schools. Limassol accounts for the largest proportion of foreign students in private education, the study found.

Secondary school numbers more than triple

Public gymnasiums have seen a consistent increase in students from EU and non-EU countries across all districts. Their total number rose from 2,841 in 2014 to 4,968 in 2024. While Nicosia’s numbers of EU students have fluctuated but remained stable, other districts have shown a slight increase, with the total number of EU students rising from 2,028 in 2014 to 2,351 in 2024. The more significant difference in the overall number of foreign students is primarily due to the more than tripling of students from non-EU countries, from 813 in 2014 to 2,617 in 2024.

At the same time, data indicates a rapid increase in lyceum students from non-EU countries as well, from 575 in 2014 to 1,166 in 2024. The total number of foreign students (from EU and non-EU countries) in lyceums also rose from 1,711 to 2,736.

In technical education, the total number of students from EU and non-EU countries increased from 493 in 2014 to 731 in 2024, mainly due to a rise in students from EU countries (from 340 in 2014 to 534 in 2024).

Primary and pre-primary education have also seen an upward trend in the number of students with a migration background over the past decade. Specifically, foreign students in primary schools increased from 8,061 to 11,649, and in kindergartens from 1,739 to 3,472.

Majority in private primary schools

The increase in students from EU and non-EU countries in private schools over the decade has been substantial. In primary schools, their numbers rose from 1,905 in 2014 to 4,550 in 2024, while in secondary schools (gymnasiums and lyceums combined) they increased from 1,105 to 4,237.

This increase has resulted in students from EU and non-EU countries now constituting 57.3% of the total student population in private primary education. In private secondary education, this percentage stands at 37.1%.

Limassol accounts for the largest share, with 2,505 foreign students in private primary schools and 2,199 in private secondary schools.

Paphos leads in proportions

The Paphos district has the highest proportion of foreign students compared to Cypriot students. In public primary and pre-primary schools in Paphos, students from non-EU countries and the EU make up over 40% of the student body, in public gymnasiums almost 40%, and in lyceums close to 35%. In contrast, in other districts, foreign students in all levels of public education range between 16% and 22% of the total student population.

Decrease in Greek Cypriot lyceum students

Of concern is the significant decrease in Greek Cypriot students in lyceums, from 17,506 to 14,809, indicating lower birth rates in the periods of 1997-2000 and 2007-2010.

A slight decrease in Cypriot students has also been recorded in other levels of public education over the past decade, including gymnasiums (from 19,901 to 19,170), primary schools (from 41,095 to 40,403), and kindergartens (from 10,327 to 9,677).

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