CMIRS Survey: Economic Anxiety Deepens Among Turkish Cypriots

Conducted face-to-face with 500 participants by the Migration, Identity and Rights Studies Center (CMIRS), the quarterly survey shows that 57% of respondents expect their personal financial situation to worsen within the next two years, while 58% foresee a further decline in the national economy.

CMIRS Director Mine Yücel noted that while individuals display some optimism at a personal level, rising economic pressures and cost-of-living concerns signal that “long-term social well-being and trust are unsustainable without economic and administrative reforms.”

According to the data, 54.4% of respondents worry about affording kitchen expenses, 65.8% fear they will not be able to meet installment payments, and 63.6% are concerned about covering healthcare costs. Additionally, 66.4% fear being unable to maintain their current standard of living.

The findings indicate that despite slight increases in individual happiness levels, the community remains in a fragile state due to economic strain, democratic distrust, and structural governance issues — pointing to the need for systemic solutions to restore stability and confidence.