OVERSEAS CYPRIOTS
A definition: “The Cypriot Diaspora refers to people of Cypriot origin who live both in Cyprus and overseas. This includes people who are of Cypriot origin, but who have been born abroad and who do not live in Cyprus.”
A STARK COMPARISON
A recent and quite amazing statistic, released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, has revealed that there are more Cypriots living abroad than in the Republic of Cyprus itself. Estimates suggest that a substantial Cypriot overseas diaspora now exists globally. This indicates that the number of Cypriots living overseas far exceeds the Cypriot population currently residing in Cyprus.
A POPULATION OF JUST OVER ONE MILLION
It is suggested that Greek Cypriots, who collectively live overseas in particular, far exceed the population of their counterparts currently living in the Republic of Cyprus. Although both populations number just over one million, a closer look reveals that a quarter of the population of the Republic of Cyprus is made up of non-Cypriot citizens from several different countries from all over the world.
A WAVE OF MIGRATION
Waves of migration of all Cypriots, driven mainly by economic factors, followed the island’s 1960 independence. Political turmoil, particularly during the 1974 conflict with Turkey, is also thought to be a key factor for this. Whilst both Greek and Turkish Cypriots migrated, it is thought that the majority were of Greek Cypriot origin.
LARGE CYPRIOT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD
The largest Greek Cypriot communities by far can be found in the United Kingdom. Numbers of Cypriots there averages approximately 450,000, with most concentrated in north London. The United States has approximately 100,000, whilst Australia and New Zealand combined have a total of approximately 90,000. Greece has around 80,000, and Germany is thought to be home to another 70,000. France then follows with approximately 60,000, whilst South Africa is thought to be home to around 50,000 Cypriots.
GREEK CYPRIOT COMMUNITIES
Today, significant Greek Cypriot communities, from all over the world, maintain strong cultural ties to their homeland. With this in mind, Greek Cypriots abroad rarely lose touch with their homeland. They constantly maintain close ties with family and friends across the island. Over the last few decades, many second and third generation members of this Diaspora have even eventually moved back to Cyprus. This has fulfilled the dreams of many of their ancestors that wanted to but could not return home.
