Cyprus

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Cyprus

International Conventions

CDE (1970), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2006), ECRML (2002), FCPNM (1996), ICCPR (1969), UNCRPD (2011), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

1,189,000

Principal Languages

Greek

Literacy Rate

99% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Borg 1985

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Cyprus is 7. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 1 is developing, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 8 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, Cypriot Spoken acy: Kyrenia district: north shore; Limassol district: south shore; Lefkosia district: Kormakiti, Nicosia city, and Peristonem; several Maronite mountain villages. Mainly urban communities. Users: 9,760 (2013 UNSD). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Cypriot Maronite Arabic, Kormakiti, Maronite Autonym: Sanna Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Major cities. Users: 1,410 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Bulgarian bul: Users: 18,400 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Chinese zho: Users: 1,220 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished.
English eng: Users: 902,800 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 34,800 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 868,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Ingilizce Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Scattered. Users: 79,140 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 1,140 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 78,000 (Beck et al 2018). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 23,090 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 1,290 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 21,800 (2018 Eurostat). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Larnaka, Lefkosia, Limassol, and Pafos districts (southern Cyprus). Users: 1,168,500 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 1,110,000 in Cyprus (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 58,500 (European Commission 2012). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1960, Constitution, Article 3(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Polish pol: Users: 2,810 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romanian ron: Users: 24,300 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Users: 50,000 in Cyprus (2019 IMB). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Sinhala sin: Users: 7,160 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern, Sinhalese-Maldivian
Spanish spa: Users: 17,120 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 520 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 16,600 (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Tagalog tgl: Users: 9,110 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Turkish tur: Widespread in Northern Cyprus. Users: 300,000 in Cyprus (2016). 300,000 speakers in Northern Cyprus. 1,410 Turkish speakers in the Republic of Cyprus (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in Northern Cyprus. Alternate Names: Osmanli, Türkçe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Greek

[ell] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1960, Constitution, Article 3(1)). 1,168,500 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 1,110,000 in Cyprus (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 58,500 (European Commission 2012).

2 (Provincial)

Turkish

[tur] 2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in Northern Cyprus. 300,000 in Cyprus (2016). 300,000 speakers in Northern Cyprus. 1,410 Turkish speakers in the Republic of Cyprus (2013 UNSD).

4 (Educational)

French

[fra] 4 (Educational). 79,140 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 1,140 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 78,000 (Beck et al 2018).

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 902,800 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 34,800 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 868,000 (European Commission 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 23,090 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 1,290 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 21,800 (2018 Eurostat).

7 (Shifting)

Arabic, Cypriot Spoken

[acy] 7 (Shifting). 9,760 (2013 UNSD).

Armenian, Western