As of 2024, the top 1% in Cyprus earned 7.99% of total national income, while the bottom 50% received just 21.24%. Cyprus’s income inequality has decreased since 1980, when the top 1% share was 11.66%.
Key Income Distribution Metrics for Cyprus in 2024
In 2024, income in Cyprus was distributed as follows: the wealthiest 1% of the population captured 7.99% of total national income, which is significantly lower than the global average of 16.17%. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners received 21.24% of income, notably higher than the global average of 14.97%.
| Metric | Cyprus | Global Average |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% Income Share | 7.99% | 16.17% |
| Top 10% Income Share | 32.61% | 45.21% |
| Bottom 50% Income Share | 21.24% | 14.97% |
How Has Income Inequality Changed in Cyprus?
Top 1% Income Share Trend (1980-2024)
The share of income going to Cyprus’s top 1% has decreased over the past 44 years. In 1980, the top 1% captured 11.66% of national income. By 2024, this figure had fallen by 3.67 percentage points to 7.99%.
Top 10% vs Bottom 50% Income Gap Over Time
The income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% in Cyprus has narrowed over this period. In 1980, the top 10% earned 37.31% while the bottom 50% received 18.14%. By 2024, these figures shifted to 32.61% and 21.24% respectively.
| Year | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% | Gap (Top 10 – Bottom 50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11.66% | 37.31% | 18.14% | 19.17 pp |
| 1986 | 11.62% | 37.25% | 18.16% | 19.09 pp |
| 1992 | 11.18% | 36.54% | 18.49% | 18.05 pp |
| 1998 | 14.12% | 39.97% | 17.53% | 22.44 pp |
| 2004 | 7.39% | 30.58% | 20.98% | 9.60 pp |
| 2010 | 9.10% | 33.53% | 19.92% | 13.61 pp |
| 2016 | 11.09% | 36.08% | 18.65% | 17.43 pp |
| 2022 | 8.53% | 33.24% | 20.83% | 12.41 pp |
How Cyprus Compares Globally
Cyprus vs Europe Average
Compared to other countries in Europe, Cyprus’s top 1% income share of 7.99% is notably lower than the regional average of 10.86%. The bottom 50% in Cyprus receives 21.24% of income, compared to the Europe average of 20.10%.
Where Cyprus Ranks Among All Countries
- Top 1% income concentration: Cyprus ranks 180th out of 184 countries (higher rank = more concentrated wealth at the top)
- Bottom 50% income share: Cyprus ranks 15th out of 184 countries (higher rank = larger share for the bottom half)
Countries with similar income inequality levels to Cyprus include Iceland's wealth gap, Slovenia's income inequality, North Macedonia's income inequality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income share of the top 1% in Cyprus?
As of 2024, the top 1% in Cyprus earned 7.99% of total national income. This level of concentration is considered relatively low by international standards.
Is income inequality increasing or decreasing in Cyprus?
Income inequality in Cyprus has decreased since 1980. The top 1% income share moved from 11.66% in 1980 to 7.99% in 2024.
What percentage of income goes to the bottom 50% in Cyprus?
In 2024, the bottom 50% of earners in Cyprus received 21.24% of total national income. This compares with the top 10% who captured 32.61%.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.