social spending is rising, but help does not always reach those in need.

Despite an increase in government spending on social support, the situation of elderly residents of Cyprus continues to worsen. According to the Fiscal Council’s interim report for 2026, over three years the share of people over 65 at risk of poverty rose from 21.7% to 33.2%.

💶 At the same time, state spending continues to grow: • €2.02 billion — social payments from the state budget in 2025. • €2.34 billion — planned spending for 2027. • €98.9 million — housing support provided for 2027, which is 2.2% less than the previous year.

🏠 The problem also affects young people: rising property prices make buying and renting housing increasingly inaccessible for young families and people with modest incomes.

The Fiscal Council’s main conclusion: the problem lies not so much in the volume of social spending as in the effectiveness of its distribution.

Against the backdrop of multi-billion budgets, Cyprus faces a serious social contradiction: the state allocates more and more funds, yet a significant share of elderly citizens remains at risk of poverty.

@cyprus_kipr