Cyprus lags behind the EU in support for people with disabilities

Cyprus is among the EU countries with the lowest spending on social protection, allocating just 3.3% of GDP to these purposes compared with the EU average of 7.1%.

According to Eurostat data, people with disabilities in EU countries face a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion than the rest of the population.

In 2024, around 22.8% of people with disabilities in the EU reported having difficulty paying for basic expenses, compared with 15% among other adults. In addition, around 38% said they would be unable to cover unexpected expenses.

The situation in Cyprus appears even more difficult. Around 22% of residents aged 16 and over reported having a disability. Last year, 27.6% of them said they had difficulty meeting everyday financial expenses — more than twice the EU average of 12.8%.

Almost 44% of people with disabilities in Cyprus said they would be unable to cope with unexpected expenses. The EU average is around 38%.

Particularly vulnerable are the approximately 2,500 residents of Cyprus with paraplegia and quadriplegia, who require daily care, support and services to live independently.

At the same time, state assistance for this group of citizens has not changed for more than five years. Benefits for people with paraplegia and quadriplegia have remained at the same level since 2019: €400 per month for people with paraplegia, €500 in cases involving greater needs, and €900 or €1,100 for people with quadriplegia, depending on the level of care required.