A study released by the EU’s statistical service Eurostat on Monday revealed that social protection expenditures related to illness and healthcare in Cyprus accounted for 6 per cent of the GDP in 2022. At EU level, the figure stood at 8.1 per cent.

The percentage in Cyprus is the same as the one calculated in 2021, while at EU level, there was a 0.4 percentage point decrease compared to the previous year.

Among the 24 EU member states with available data for 2022, France, Germany, Slovenia, Austria and Belgium reported higher social protection expenditures for illness and healthcare.

In contrast, Bulgaria, Ireland, Hungary, Lithuania and Estonia recorded lower percentages.

Nearly all EU countries experienced a reduction in these expenditures compared to 2021.