Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Cyprus

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	There is no official statistical definition of homelessness in Cyprus.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	225 individuals, representing 0.02% of the total population (2024)
	Flow count, based on Social Welfare Services Report
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Not included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Cyprus.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	Cyprus does not have a national homelessness strategy.
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Social Welfare Services Report: information on the number of users of social services for people experiencing homelessness is collected (Table 6.1)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

	Statistical definition
Homelessness	There is no official statistical definition of homelessness in Cyprus.

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2017	129	0.02%	Not included	129	Included under ETHOS Light 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
2020	284	0.03%	Not included	284	Included under ETHOS Light 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
2021	325	0.035%	Not included	325	Included under ETHOS Light 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
2022	206	0.02%	Not included	206	Included under ETHOS Light 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
2023	383	0.04%	Not included	383	Included under ETHOS Light 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
2024	225	0.02%	Not included	225	Included under ETHOS Light 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Flow Data are comparable across years: Yes Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Social Welfare Services Report.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Data not available.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	Expenses of temporary accommodation (hotels or hostels) are paid based on the articles 10 and 11 of The Minimum Guaranteed Income and Social Benefits Law of 2014 (Law 109(I)/2014)
Legal obligations	None.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	None.
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	None.

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Social Welfare Services Report
Description Since 2021 the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, collects information on the number of users of social services for people experiencing homelessness.
Type of count generated Flow (period)	Methods Service‑based method
Lead authority(ies) Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare	Source(s) of information Social services for people experiencing homelessness
Scope National level	Depth of data Enumeration
Frequency Irregular
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. 

This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. 

Note by the Republic of Türkiye: The information in this document with reference to “Cyprus” relates to the southern part of the Island. There is no single authority representing both Turkish and Greek Cypriot people on the Island. Türkiye recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Until a lasting and equitable solution is found within the context of the United Nations, Türkiye shall preserve its position concerning the “Cyprus issue”.

Note by all the European Union Member States of the OECD and the European Union: The Republic of Cyprus is recognised by all members of the United Nations with the exception of Türkiye. The information in this document relates to the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

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