CMIRS poll shows: majority of residents consider the economy Northern Cyprus’s main problem

According to a study by the Centre for Migration, Identity and Legal Studies (CMIRS), 91.6% of survey participants believe that the situation in the country is developing in the wrong direction.

The study was conducted in June 2026 through face-to-face interviews with 500 people. The results showed that negative assessments of the country’s future persist and economic concerns have intensified, while at the same time personal feelings of happiness and social security have improved.

According to the poll, only 8.4% of respondents believe that things are moving in the right direction.

Residents named the economic situation as the main problem. The following issues ranked among the most important:

• the Cyprus problem;
• the healthcare system;
• corruption;
• infrastructure, including electricity problems;
• shortcomings in political leadership.

Economic concerns remain the main issue: 56% of participants believe that their personal financial situation will worsen over the next two years. Only 12.4% expect it to improve.

Residents are even more pessimistic about the future of the economy as a whole: 67.6% believe that the country’s economic situation will be worse in two years.

The poll also showed high levels of concern related to everyday expenses:

• 80% fear that they will be unable to maintain their current standard of living;
• 67.2% are worried about being unable to pay medical expenses;
• 61.8% fear problems with repaying debts and loans;
• 57.4% are anxious about food expenses.

At the same time, the happiness index increased. In June, it reached 6.72 points out of 10, compared with 5.95 points in March 2026 — one of the highest levels in recent years.

The social security index also increased, reaching 4.38 points out of 10, but it remains below the average level.

The country’s livability rating declined: in June, the indicator stood at 5.59 points, compared with 6.02 in March.

CMIRS Director Mine Atli noted that society continues to have serious concerns about the economic and political future, but the rise in happiness indicators shows that people are trying to adapt to the difficulties they face.