Approximately one in seven drivers in Cyprus is now aged over 70, following a sustained increase in elderly motorists and a simultaneous decline in younger licence holders, government figures reveal.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades disclosed that drivers aged over 70 reached 73,305 in 2023, up from 60,443 in 2019, representing a 21% increase over the five-year period. The data was provided in response to a parliamentary question from MP Alexandra Attalides.
Elderly driver numbers surge 21% in five years
The number of drivers over 70 has risen consistently year-on-year. In 2020, elderly drivers numbered 63,509, increasing to 66,992 in 2021, 70,343 in 2022, before reaching 73,305 in 2023, according to the ministry’s figures.
During the same period, motorists under 70 years of age experienced a continuous decline. Drivers in this age group fell from 627,087 in 2019 to 618,591 in 2020, dropping further to 609,795 in 2021, 600,814 in 2022, and 593,943 in 2023, before reaching 582,287 last year.
Younger driver licences drop by 45,000 since 2019
The data indicates that the number of drivers under 70 decreased by approximately 45,000 over the six-year period from 2019 to 2024, whilst elderly drivers increased by nearly 13,000 during the same timeframe.
