Cyprus: crime and justice

What is the crime rate in Cyprus?

5,942 serious offences were reported to the Cyprus Police in 2024, of which 5,900 were found to be true cases, according to CYSTAT's Criminal Statistics 2024 published in December 2025. This gives 605 serious offences per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 588 in 2023 and 568 in 2022.

Offences against property made up 31.8% of serious offences and offences against the person 26.8%. From 2024 some domestic violence offences were reclassified from minor to serious, so the person category is not comparable with earlier years. Recorded crime depends on what is reported to the police.

Official sources: CYSTAT: Criminal Statistics 2024 (PDF)

What is the homicide rate in Cyprus?

Police in Cyprus recorded 9 intentional homicides in 2024, a rate of 0.93 per 100,000 people, according to Eurostat. The rate was 1.05 in 2023.

With a population of about one million, a small change in the number of cases moves the rate noticeably from year to year, so several years should be read together. Eurostat's figures come from police data supplied by national authorities.

Official sources: Eurostat: Recorded offences by offence category

How many people are convicted in Cyprus courts?

32,683 people were convicted by the courts in Cyprus in 2024, down from 38,168 in 2023, according to CYSTAT's Criminal Statistics 2024. 62,066 people had cases disposed of before the courts, 12.5% fewer than in 2023.

Most convictions are for motoring offences: 61.9% of convictions of men and 69.9% of women in 2024. Fines were the sentence in 90.4% of convictions. The ratio of convictions to prosecutions was 0.53.

Official sources: CYSTAT: Criminal Statistics 2024 (PDF)

How many prisoners are there in Cyprus?

The prison population in Cyprus was 995 on 1 September 2024, 934 men and 61 women, according to CYSTAT's Criminal Statistics 2024. 74.1% were convicted prisoners and 25.9% were awaiting trial. Eurostat gives 965 prisoners in 2024, or 99.86 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The two figures differ because they use different reference dates and definitions. Prison counts are snapshots on a single day and move with court backlogs and remand decisions.

Official sources: CYSTAT: Criminal Statistics 2024 (PDF) · Eurostat: Prison capacity and number of persons held

How many murders are there in Cyprus?

In 2023, the intentional homicide rate in Cyprus was 0.8 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The peak was 1.9 per 100,000 in 2005 and the low 0.6 per 100,000 in 2017. Europe & Central Asia median: 1.0 per 100,000; Cyprus is 23rd highest of 35. Of 79 countries with 2023 data, 61st highest.

What is the female homicide rate in Cyprus?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the homicide rate for women in Cyprus at 0.1 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 0.7 per 100,000; Cyprus is 36th highest of 36. World rank, highest first: 76th of 78.

How many men are killed in Cyprus?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the homicide rate for men in Cyprus at 1.5 per 100,000 in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 3.4 per 100,000; its low point was 2011, at 0.5 per 100,000. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.3 per 100,000, and Cyprus placed 17th highest of 36. Worldwide: 52nd of 78.