What languages are spoken in Cyprus?

Cyprus exhibits a rich linguistic landscape shaped by its history and diverse population. The official languages are Greek and Turkish, with Greek predominantly spoken in the southern part of the island and Turkish in the northern region. Additionally, several minority and foreign languages contribute to the island’s multilingualism.

Official and Vernacular Languages:

•      Greek:  Approximately 80.9% of the population speaks Greek.
•      Turkish:  Spoken by about 2.02% of the population, mainly in the northern part of the island.

Foreign Languages:

•      English:  Widely spoken by around 80.4% of the population, English is prevalent due to historical British influence and is commonly used in business, tourism, and education.
•      French:  Approximately 3.95% of the population speaks French.
•      German:  Spoken by about 1.83% of the population.

Minority and Immigrant Languages:

•      Russian:  Due to a significant expatriate community, Russian is spoken by approximately 3.22% of the population.
•      Romanian:  Spoken by about 2.2% of the population.
•      Bulgarian:  Approximately 0.59% of the population speaks Bulgarian.

This linguistic diversity reflects Cyprus’s complex cultural heritage and its role as a crossroads between different civilizations.