Cyprus - People
The word “Cypriots” is often used together with the prefix “Greek” or “Turkish” - the two major ethnic groups that inhabit the island: the Greek-speaking Greek Orthodox community and the Turkish-speaking Muslims. At independence from Britain in 1960, the new Republic’s constitution defined the Greek and Turkish Cypriots as two separate ethnic groups. The members of both groups still co-habited in mixed villages and cities and purely Greek or Turkish villages were few. In the majority of cases, neighbors lived in peace and celebrated their festivals together.
Present on the island since it had been seized in 1571 from Venice, Turkish Cypriots were adamantly opposed to living as a minority under Greek rule. The gradually widening division of the two communities during the twentieth century was new to the island. For centuries the two groups had lived together in mixed villages or in separate villages close to villages of the other group. Intercommunal relations were harmonious if reserved; intermarriage was rare, but interethnic violence was even rarer. The two groups had even joined together at times to protest despotic rule from Constantinople. During the twentieth century, however, the number of mixed villages declined, and the first instances of intercommunal violence occurred. The events of 1974 split the island, and the two communities have not lived with each other for over 30 years. The two communities still have a lot of things in common: in the way they conduct their lives, their gestures, their food and drink. The Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots on both sides of the Green Line are all Cypriots.
The official languages of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. Visitors have no trouble communicating in English due to the fact that Cyprus was a British colony from 1878 until 1960, and even today the British maintain military bases on the island. It is important to note that the Greek spoken in Cyprus is a strong dialect, with about 15% of the words peculiar to Cyprus. This means that people from Greece often find it hard to understand a conversation among Greek Cypriots. Greek is not an easy language. The grammar is complicated with nouns divided into three genders, all with different ending cases in the singular and plural, and adjectives that have to agree with these in gender, number and case. Then comes the verbs which are even more complex; they come in passive and active voices, in two conjugations, and so on.
Most Greek Cypriots belong to the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Cyprus (78%), while most Turkish Cypriots are Muslim (18%). Other religions represented on the island include the Maronites and the Armenian Apostolics (4%). While the power and wealth of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus is evident from the many lavishing churches that have been built in the last few years, religious observance is varied.
In traditional rural villages, women attend religious services more regularly than men, and elderly family members are usually responsible for fulfilling the religious obligations on behalf of the entire family. Church attendance is less frequent in urban areas and among educated Cypriots. For most Greek Cypriots, religion revolves around rituals at home, adoration of icons, and strict observance of certain festivities marked by the Orthodox calendar.
Cyprus enjoys 97.6% literacy, with a school life expectancy of 14 years. Some even argue that Cyprus suffers from an “over-qualified population”, with an overwhelming number of Cypriots holding post-graduate degrees.
Cypriots are little more reserved initially in friendship than Americans and most Europeans, but tend to become closer friends once friendships do develop. Cypriots are typically more formal with their elders than other nationalities. People older than you are typically referred to as Kyrie (Mr) or Kyria (Mr), followed by their first name. Being on time may be a virtue, but it is not one well-practiced in Cyprus. Being 30-45 minutes late to a social engagement is not considered unacceptable. It is actually expected.
Overall, Cypriots are extremely hospitable. It is considered polite to accept at least a little of what is being offered to you even if you do not want it. This applies most often to food and drink. Cypriots speak more loudly and with more hand and facial gestures than western Europeans. A friendly discussion may look like an argument to an outsider.
Cyprus is essentially a male society. Patriarchy, the social system in which a male is the family head and primary authority, is still very much alive in Cyprus. Among friends (male-female, female-female), a kiss on each cheek is a common greeting; otherwise a handshake will do. Men do not typically kiss, unless they are old friends. Young female friends will sometimes hold hands. `Cypriot women have seen a gradual change in their role as players in the economic revival of the country since the events of 1974. This has been achieved through their increased participation in the island’s economic activity, the updating of family and labour law, the public awareness of women’s issues and the government’s policy for the promotion of gender equality.
Cypriots are well-known for their desire to always spend moments of joy and entertainment, by giving great emphasis to the good quality of life. They like to work for living and not to live for working. People in Cyprus love to get together and spend productive time in nice leisure places. Both social and business meetings are held over a rather friendly atmosphere in different cafes or restaurants in every city or town.
People in Cyprus value quality food, as they themselves are raised in an island wherein delicious Mediterranean food is offered. The famous “Meze”, a wide selection of small, delicious dishes is best enjoyed “halara” (with a slow pace) with a pleasant company and a nice glass of a well-known traditional Cyprus wine.
For years, construction companies in Cyprus lured Russians to invest in the Mediterranean island. Over the last decade, 40,000 Russians moved to Cyprus. They now make up five percent of the population. The lure, however, was more than just trading Moscow's cold winters for fun in the sun. Cyprus offered low taxes, low regulation, and the security of the euro zone.
The population of Cyprus is likely to become much older, experiencing declines in their youth and working-age shares and significant increases in their elderly shares. Those trends will raise the old-age dependency ratio from about 20 percent today — that is, about five people of working age to each old person — to more than 40 percent by 2050 — that is, about 3 to 1. The age composition of the population portrays a somewhat younger age-structure than the European average. The proportion of persons aged 65 and over is among the lowest, while at the same time the proportion of children below 15 is among the highest.
The abrupt decrease of fertility in Cyprus recorded during the nineties and the increase of the fertility indicator in some European countries in the last few years, resulted in placing the total fertility rate of Cyprus below the average of the European Union countries (1,6 for the year 2017). Life expectancy at birth in Cyprus is above the average of the European Union (78,3 years for males and 83,5 years for females for the year 2017).
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