Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.1 per cent in May 2026, according to figures released by Eurostat on Thursday. The rate was down from 3.2 per cent in April 2026 and 4.5 per cent in May 2025, remaining below the averages for both the euro area and the European Union.
Cyprus unemployment declines further
Eurostat data showed that Cyprus’ unemployment rate eased from 3.2 per cent in April 2026 and 3.3 per cent in March 2026. The figure stood well below the 4.5 per cent recorded in May 2025.
The number of unemployed people in Cyprus was estimated at approximately 16,000 in May 2026. This was down from around 17,000 in both April and March 2026 and lower than the 24,000 recorded in May 2025.
Comparison with other EU countries
The figures showed that Cyprus continued to outperform both the euro area and the European Union average in May 2026. Only Bulgaria and the Czech Republic recorded lower unemployment rates, at 2.9 per cent, while Poland matched Cyprus with a rate of 3.1 per cent.
Euro area and EU figures
Across the euro area, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 6.2 per cent in May 2026, unchanged from April 2026 and slightly lower than the 6.3 per cent recorded in May 2025.
Across the European Union, the unemployment rate was 5.9 per cent in May 2026, also unchanged from the previous month and down from 6.0 per cent a year earlier.
Eurostat estimated that 13,163,000 people were unemployed across the European Union in May 2026, including 10,986,000 in the euro area.
Compared with April 2026, the number of unemployed people fell by 40,000 across the European Union and by 55,000 in the euro area. Compared with May 2025, unemployment declined by 82,000 across the European Union and by 158,000 in the euro area.
