Cypriot Australians


Cypriot Australians are Australian citizens of Cypriot descent or Cyprus-born people who reside in Australia. Cypriots in Australia are the second-largest community outside Cyprus. They are found throughout the country, with a presence in all state capitals. According to the 2011 Census, there were 22,680 people of Cypriot descent in Australia and 18,070 Cyprus-born people residing in the country at the moment of the census. As of 2014, in accordance with the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in Canberra, there are over 80,000 people of Cypriot origin in Australia.
Most Cypriot Australians are of Greek background. Many intermarry with other Australian Greeks.

Immigration history

Greek Cypriots

have been migrating to Australia since the early 19th century. Like the Greeks, Cypriot Greeks had a large migration increase in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Greek Cypriots have had a large presence in the Greek community, with a large presence in Melbourne and Sydney.

Turkish Cypriots

A notable scale of Turkish Cypriot migration to Australia began in the late 1940s; they were the only Muslims acceptable under the White Australia Policy. Prior to 1940, the Australian Census recorded only three settlers from Cyprus that spoke Turkish as their primary language. A further 66 Turkish Cypriots arrived in Australia in the late 1940s, marking the beginning of a Turkish Cypriot immigration trend to Australia. By 1947-1956 there were 350 Turkish Cypriot settlers who were living in Australia.

Notable Cypriot Australians

Sportspeople