Study: Only 30% of Cypriot Men Have Greek Ancestry

A recent DNA study on Cypriots has revealed that, at most, only 30% of Cypriot men have Greek ancestry.

The findings suggest that the island’s population shares greater genetic similarities with mixed-origin groups that have settled in Cyprus over centuries.

Historical and archaeological records indicate that the first inhabitants of Cyprus arrived from neighboring regions approximately 12,000 years ago—long before the arrival of Greeks and Turks. According to the research company Deltas, the study will yield valuable insights, which will be officially announced soon. So far, the genomes of 1,400 Cypriots have been analyzed, with another 1,500 samples currently in queue. The next phase will involve examining 5,000 samples.

Professor Constantinos Deltas from the University of Cyprus stated that this is the first time a genetic reference for Cypriots has been created, offering new insights into the island’s genetic heritage and assessing hereditary disease risks at a population level.

He also noted that it is difficult to determine the exact extent of Greek genetic influence in Cyprus. However, recent research has confirmed historical and archaeological findings regarding the origins of the island’s earliest inhabitants.

The Y-chromosome analysis, which focuses on male lineage, found that genetic markers associated with Greek ancestry range from just 10% to 30% at most. One of the study’s most significant achievements so far has been the creation of a database of nearly 11,000 Cypriot volunteers, including detailed personal, demographic, and clinical information.