The authorities of Cyprus have approved a new upper limit for the reproductive age of women

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus has endorsed an updated plan to address the issue of declining birth rates. Measures include increasing allowances and setting the upper limit of reproductive age for women at 53 years, up from the previous 50.

Following the Cabinet meeting, Health Minister Michalis Damianos stated that the right to have a child through surrogacy has been expanded to include single women unable to conceive for medical reasons. Additionally, single women no longer require approval from the council for assisted reproductive technologies, except for surrogacy.

Financial support for the first cycle of ovulation treatment, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer has been increased from €3,500 to €4,500. The plan also includes raising the allowance for the second cycle of these treatments from €2,500 to €3,500.

The Minister noted that the plan also provides allowances for women undergoing egg freezing treatments, amounting to €2,000 to cover the costs of artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Previously, the allowance was €500 and covered only embryo transfers.

Applications for these allowances are now open for four months instead of three. These changes, which still need approval from the House of Representatives, are part of a series of new measures aimed at addressing the declining birth rate issue.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, also emphasized the importance of the plan to combat declining birth rates.

"We will have other proposals. As many ministries are involved, I expect to announce measures in September to address the declining birth rate. We need the fertility rate to be at least 2.1% to ensure population renewal every 25 years," said the head of state.

Previously, it was reported that since the beginning of 2024, 2,998 children have been born in the Republic of Cyprus belonging to the Greek Cypriot community. Among them are 1,565 boys and 1,433 girls.

These figures were presented in the context of discussions on low birth rates in Cyprus. The meeting also discussed ways to reduce this phenomenon while simultaneously increasing birth rates.

President of the Demographic Committee, Linos Papayannis, urged the government to take measures against declining birth rates in the country and to strengthen Greek Cypriot families.