# Demographics of Northern Cyprus

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See also: [Turkish Cypriots](/source/Turkish_Cypriots), [Mainland Turks in Northern Cyprus](/source/Mainland_Turks_in_Northern_Cyprus), [List of populated places in Northern Cyprus](/source/List_of_populated_places_in_Northern_Cyprus), and [Demographics of Cyprus](/source/Demographics_of_Cyprus)

Ethnic groups of Northern Cyprus (2006 census)[1]

1. [Turks](/source/Turkish_people) (99.2%)

1. [Greeks](/source/Greeks) (0.20%)

1. [English](/source/English_people) (0.20%)

1. [Maronites](/source/Maronites) (0.10%)

1. Other (0.30%)

[Northern Cyprus](/source/Northern_Cyprus)'s first official census was performed in 1996. The population recorded was 200,587.[2] The second census, carried out in 2006, revealed the population of Northern Cyprus to be 265,100,[3] of which majority is composed of indigenous [Turkish Cypriots](/source/Turkish_Cypriots) (including [refugees from Southern Cyprus](/source/Cypriot_refugees)) and [settlers from Turkey](/source/Mainland_Turks_in_Northern_Cyprus). Of the 178,000 Turkish Cypriot citizens, 82% are native Cypriots (145,000). Of the 45,000 people born to non-Cypriot parentage, nearly 40% (17,000) were born in Cyprus. The figure for non-citizens, including students, guest workers and temporary residents stood at 78,000 people.[3][4]

The third official census of Northern Cyprus was carried out in 2011, made under the auspices of UN observers. It returned a total population of 294,906.[5] These results were disputed by some political parties, labour unions and local newspapers. The government was accused of deliberately under-counting the population, after apparently giving an estimate of 700,000 before the census, in order to demand financial help from Turkey.[6][7][8] One source claims that the population in the north has reached 500,000,[9] split between 50% Turkish Cypriots and 50% Turkish settlers or Cypriot-born children of such settlers.[10] Researcher Mete Hatay has written that such reports are "wildly speculative" and are picked up by opposition parties for political benefit, which resulted in reports in the south. Such reports have never been scientifically or statistically scrutinised, despite opportunities of opposition parties to do so using the electoral rolls in their possession, thereby continuing a "war of numbers".[11]

The Government of Northern Cyprus estimates that the 1983 population of Northern Cyprus was 155,521.[12] An island-wide census in 1960 indicated the number of Turkish Cypriots as 102,000 and Greek Cypriots as 450,000.[13] As of 2005[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Demographics_of_Northern_Cyprus&action=edit), the settlers constituted no more than 25% of the electorate in Northern Cyprus.

Northern Cyprus is almost entirely Turkish-speaking. English, however, is widely spoken as a second language.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Population exchange agreement

On 2 August 1975, in the negotiations in Vienna, a population exchange agreement was signed between [Turkish Cypriots](/source/Turkish_Cypriots) and [Greek Cypriots](/source/Greek_Cypriots) under the auspices of the United Nations.[14][15] On the basis of the agreement, 196,000 Greek Cypriots living in the north were exchanged for 42,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the south[16] (the numbers was disputed).[17] The Orthodox Greek Cypriots in [Rizokarpaso](/source/Rizokarpaso), [Agios Andronikos](/source/Ayios_Andronikos%2C_Cyprus) and [Agia Triada](/source/Agia_Trias%2C_Cyprus) chose to stay in their villages,[18] as did also Catholic [Maronites](/source/Maronites) in [Asomatos](/source/Asomatos%2C_Kyrenia), [Karpasia](/source/Karpasia_(town)) and [Kormakitis](/source/Kormakitis).

## Minorities

### Greek Cypriots

There are Orthodox Greek Cypriots in [Rizokarpaso](/source/Rizokarpaso), [Agios Andronikos](/source/Ayios_Andronikos%2C_Cyprus) and [Agia Triada](/source/Agia_Trias%2C_Cyprus) in [Northern Cyprus](/source/Northern_Cyprus).[18] There are 644 [Greek Cypriots](/source/Greek_Cypriot) living in [Rizokarpaso](/source/Rizokarpaso) (Dipkarpaz).[19] [Rizokarpaso](/source/Rizokarpaso) is the home of the biggest Greek-speaking population in [Northern Cyprus](/source/Northern_Cyprus).

### Maronites

There are Catholic [Maronites](/source/Maronites) in [Asomatos](/source/Asomatos%2C_Kyrenia), [Karpasia](/source/Karpasia_(town)) and [Kormakitis](/source/Kormakitis) in [Northern Cyprus](/source/Northern_Cyprus). There are 364 [Maronites](/source/Maronites) in [Kormakitis](/source/Kormakitis).[19]

## Censuses and projections

The Statistical Institute of Turkish Republic of [Northern Cyprus](/source/Northern_Cyprus) occasionally perform censuses and periodically declare the projections of the [Northern Cyprus](/source/Northern_Cyprus) census. In 1960 - before the establishment of Northern Cyprus in 1983-, [Turkish Cypriots](/source/Turkish_Cypriots) were non-accumulated in the north.

Year Type Famagusta Güzelyurt Iskele Kyrenia Lefka N.Nicosia Total Ref/Date 1960 census 104,350 11.12.1960 1983 projection 155,521 15.11.1983[12] 1996 census 200,587 15.12.1996 2006 census 64,269 20,045 21,978 62,158 11,071 85,579 265,100 30.04.2006 2011 census 69,741 18,946 22,492 69,163 11,091 94,824 286,257 04.12.2011 2020 projection 419,810 31.12.2020 2021 projection 448,268 31.12.2021 2022 projection 462,747 31.12.2022 2023 projection 476,214 31.12.2023 2024 projection 489,308 31.12.2024[20] 2025 projection 590,000 08.07.2025[21]

Largest cities or towns in Northern Cyprus TRNC 2011 Population and Housing Census Rank City Pop. 1 North Nicosia Lefkoşa 61,378 2 Famagusta Gazimağusa 40,920 3 Kyrenia Girne 33,207 4 Morphou Güzelyurt 18,946 5 Gönyeli Lefkoşa 17,277 6 Kythrea Lefkoşa 11,895 7 Lefka Lefke 11,091 8 Dikomo Girne 9,120 9 Trikomo İskele 7,906 10 Lapithos Girne 7,839

## References

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Kıbrıslı Türkler Kaç Kişi – Kıbrıs Postası Gazetesi – Haber Merkezi"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130927025318/http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/1/col/97/art/9407/PageName/KIBRIS_POSTASI). Kibrispostasi.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/1/col/97/art/9407/PageName/KIBRIS_POSTASI) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-census2006_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-census2006_3-1) ["Census.XLS"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130116120824/http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/Census%202006.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/Census%202006.pdf) (PDF) on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Bahceli, Simon (15 February 2007). ["Indigenous Turkish Cypriots just over half north's population"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015114/http://cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=30725&cat_id=1). [Cyprus Mail](/source/Cyprus_Mail). Archived from [the original](http://cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=30725&cat_id=1) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Basin Bildirisi"](http://www.devplan.org/Nufus-2011/nufus%20son_.pdf) (PDF). Devplan.org. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130927104440/http://www.devplan.org/Nufus-2011/nufus%20son_.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-censusDoubts_6-0)** ["Census in north marred by delays and doubts"](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Census+in+north+marred+by+delays+and+doubts.-a0274211364). *CyprusMail*. 6 December 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131022220149/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Census+in+north+marred+by+delays+and+doubts.-a0274211364) from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013. Top selling daily Kibris described the headcount as "controversial", while out-spoken left-wing daily Afrika dubbed it a "fiasco"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-censusOverestimates_7-0)** ["TC'den para isterken 700 bin diyorlardı"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120109192117/http://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/index.php/cat/2/news/129918/PageName/Ic_Haberler) [When they were asking for money from Turkey, they were saying 700 thousand]. *Kibris* (in Turkish). 13 December 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/index.php/cat/2/news/129918/PageName/Ic_Haberler) on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-census2011_8-0)** ["Nifus sayımı gerçekçi değil"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120108033749/http://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/index.php/cat/2/news/129803/PageName/Ic_Haberler) [The population census is not realistic]. *Kibris* (in Turkish). 11 December 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/index.php/cat/2/news/129803/PageName/Ic_Haberler) on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Cole, Jeffrey](/source/Jeffrey_Cole) (2011). *Ethnic Groups of Europe: An Encyclopedia*. ABC-CLIO. p. 95. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-59884-302-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-59884-302-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Cole, Jeffrey](/source/Jeffrey_Cole) (2011). *Ethnic Groups of Europe: An Encyclopedia*. ABC-CLIO. p. 97. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-59884-302-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-59884-302-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Hatay, Mete. ["Is the Turkish Cypriot Population Shrinking?"](http://file.prio.no/publication_files/Cyprus/Report%202007-2%20Is%20the%20Turkish%20Cypriot%20Population%20Shrinking.pdf) (PDF). PRIO Cyprus Center. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150220054745/http://file.prio.no/publication_files/Cyprus/Report%202007-2%20Is%20the%20Turkish%20Cypriot%20Population%20Shrinking.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto2_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto2_12-1) ["Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Economic and Social Indicators 2010"](http://www.devplan.org/Ecosos/EXCEL-ENG/sesco-eng.zip). Devplan.org. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131105022542/http://www.devplan.org/Ecosos/EXCEL-ENG/sesco-eng.zip) from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Cyprus – Society"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110514185548/http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3458.html). Country-data.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3458.html) on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-un.org_14-0)** ["Links to documents"](https://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/11789). [United Nations](/source/United_Nations). 9 September 2002. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121102174825/http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s%2F11789) from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hakki2007_15-0)** Murat Metin Hakki (2007). *The Cyprus Issue: A Documentary History, 1878–2006*. I.B.Tauris. pp. 194–195. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84511-392-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84511-392-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [*Euromosaic III: Presence of Regional and Minority Language Groups in the New Member States*](http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/euromosaic-iii-pbNC7406031/downloads/NC-74-06-031-EN-C/NC7406031ENC_002.pdf) (PDF). Research Centre on Multilingualism, [Catholic University of Brussels](/source/Catholic_University_of_Brussels). 2004. p. 18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BahcheliBartmann2004_17-0)** Bahcheli, Tozun; Bartmann, Barry; Srebrnik, Henry Felix (2004). [*De Facto States: The Quest for Sovereignty*](https://books.google.com/books?id=uIbah-giC0EC&pg=PA168). Psychology Press. p. 168. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7146-5476-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7146-5476-8). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150905234240/https://books.google.com/books?id=uIbah-giC0EC&pg=PA168) from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015. ...the number of settlers was disputed between Turkish and ...

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_18-1) ["Weekly UNFICYP trip to enclaved Cypriots a respite from daily hardships"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140318104959/http://famagusta-gazette.com/weekly-unficyp-trip-to-enclaved-cypriots-a-respite-from-daily-hardships-p22148-69.htm). *Famagusta Gazette*. 30 January 2014. Archived from [the original](http://famagusta-gazette.com/weekly-unficyp-trip-to-enclaved-cypriots-a-respite-from-daily-hardships-p22148-69.htm) on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_19-1) ["Please, add title"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725232040/http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/N%C3%BCfus%20Tablolar%C4%B1/Nitelikler/Tablo8.NITELIK.zip). Archived from [the original](http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/Nüfus%20Tabloları/Nitelikler/Tablo8.NITELIK.zip) on 25 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Statistical Yearbook 2024"](https://istatistik.gov.ct.tr/Portals/39/ISTATIISTIK_YILLIK_2024.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 21 Feb 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Projection population"](https://www.kibrispostasi.com/c35-KIBRIS_HABERLERI/n567775-unal-ustel-ankara-ile-bakan-degisecegiz-diye-konusmayiz). Retrieved 21 Feb 2026.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Demographics of Northern Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Northern_Cyprus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Northern_Cyprus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.