Cyprus` population reached 838,897 persons on October 1, 2011, compared to 689,565 during the previous census in 2001, recording an increase of 21.7% over the past ten years, according to the preliminary results of the 2011 census, presented by the Statistical Service at a press conference on Thursday.

The results of the census, which began on October 1 and was concluded on December 23, were announced by Director of the Statistical Service George Georgiou.

The distribution of the population by gender was 51.3% women and 48.7% men, with Nicosia holding 38.8% of the total population, Limassol 28%, Larnaca 17.1%, Paphos 10.5%, and Famagusta 5.5%.

The district with the highest population rise in 2011 compared to 2001 was Paphos with a growth rate of 33%, followed by Larnaca with 24.4%, Famagusta with 23.1%, Limassol with 19.6%, and Nicosia with 19%.

Georgiou noted that the increase in the population was also due to the number of foreign nationals, which reached 21.4% of the total population, compared to 9.4% in 2001. A total of 179,547 foreigners were recorded, of which 62.6% from EU countries and 37.4% from third countries.