4.1 General context
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Main challenges to social inclusion
There are different challenges when it comes to social inclusion for young people in Cyprus. According to the Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey conducted by the Statistical Service in 2023, in Cyprus the risk-of-poverty risk of poverty is 16,7% compared to 17,3% in 2021, approximately 4,000 fewer individuals are in danger of poverty or social exclusion in 2022 (150,000) compared to 2021 (154,000). The risk-of-poverty rate for children 0-17 years old is 18,1. Also, it has to be underlined the fact that women are more likely (18%) to be in a situation of poverty and social exclusion compared to men (16,7%). Furthermore, the monetary threshold of the poverty risk in 2022 is 7% higher than in 2021.
Moreover, according to the Database of the Statistical Service for Migration movements, there has been a stable increase in the number of immigrants arriving in Cyprus during the last years. Specifically, in 2021 there were 25 473 long term immigrants in Cyprus, 37 558 in 2022 and 40 761 in 2023. Also, it is important to state that according to the 2021 Population Census, the population in the Republic of Cyprus is 923.272, following an increase of 9,9 % compared to the one in 2011.
The report 'Statistical Practice' published by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles indicated that in 2023 Cyprus received 26 599 applications for asylum, according to updated data from July 2024. According to Eurostat data, the highest number of registered first-time asylum applicants in 2024 was recorded in Cyprus (7.2 first-time applicants per 1 000 people).
Lastly, according to the UNHCR report of 2019 entitled 'The Integration of Refugees in Cyprus: Social Inclusion and Discrimination', “discrimination is inextricably linked to lack of acceptance of diversity, which was acknowledged as a major obstacle to social inclusion…in incidents occurred at work and school”.
Main concepts
There is no national definition of social inclusion. However, the main concepts associated with social inclusion, as stated in the Strategy of Social Policy 2022-2027 (Στρατηγική για την Κοινωνική Πολιτική 2022-2027) can be summarized to the following areas: poverty indicators or social exclusion indicators, inclusion for persons with disabilities, support programmes for children, women and families, creation of new jobs, social cohesion and social welfare.