Population

by admin on December 3, 2019

The area of North Cyprus is 3300 km2. After creating of the independent state, the population of Turkish Republic of North Cyprus consisted of about 200 thousand people, 164 thousand of which were Turkish Cypriots, 31 thousand were Turkish citizens, 5 thousand were citizens of other countries. Greek Cypriots accounted for only 0.5 percent of the total population of North Cyprus. There are 3 main languages on the island: Greek, Turkish and English. In North Cyprus Turkish and English predominate.

The religious structure of the island is divided in the same way as the population. Adherents of the Greek Orthodox Church make up 78 percent of the general population of the island and they mainly live in the Republic of Cyprus. Turkish population of the island is mostly Muslim. The remaining religious groups as a whole make up about 5 percent of the total population.

The census data show that there is a strong increase in the number of permanent residents: in Kyrenia 60%, Nicosia 37%, Famagusta 21%, Iskele 14% and Guzelyurt 13%. The resident population of North Cyprus has increased by 36% overall.

For many years the authorities of North Cyprus encouraged the immigration of the Turkish population from the mainland, seeking to fill the territory of North Cyprus. Mainly agricultural workers immigrated from Turkey. This factor changed the demographic, social and intellectual composition of North Cyprus. But politics remains controversial for many reasons.