**Cyprus Sport Sector Employs Over 4,000 People in 2025**
According to recent data from Eurostat, Cyprus had approximately 4,400 individuals employed in the sport sector in 2025. This figure includes 1,400 employees aged between 15 and 29, and 3,000 workers aged between 30 and 64. Notably, there were no reliable estimates available for sports workers aged 65 or older, leading to their exclusion from the published data.
The statistics from Cyprus form part of a larger Eurostat overview that indicates nearly 1.8 million people were employed in the sport sector across the European Union in the same year. Specifically, the EU figures show that 651,100 of these employees were aged 15 to 29, while 1,071,900 were in the 30 to 64 age bracket, and 74,800 were aged 65 and above.
Cyprus' contribution of 4,400 sports workers represents a relatively small proportion of the overall EU employment in this sector. The demographic breakdown reveals that younger workers (aged 15 to 29) account for a significant segment of the workforce, although they are outnumbered by those in the 30 to 64 age group.
In comparison to other EU nations, France leads the sports workforce with 340,300 employees, followed by Germany with 289,900, Spain with 267,300, and Italy with 209,300. Other countries such as Denmark, Belgium, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Ireland reported mid-range employment figures, ranging from 40,300 to 25,600 sports workers. Conversely, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Estonia reported smaller workforces, with 13,400, 9,200, and 5,200 sports employees, respectively.
The age distribution among sports workers varies significantly across different countries. For instance, in France, there are 105,900 sports employees aged 15 to 29, while 226,400 fall within the 30 to 64 age range, and 8,000 are aged 65 or older. Germany's figures show 105,500 employees aged 15 to 29, 157,100 aged between 30 and 64, and 27,300 aged 65 or over. Spain has 118,900 in the younger age group, 145,800 in the middle age group, and 2,600 aged 65 and above. Italy's workforce includes 57,600 employees aged 15 to 29, 146,000 aged between 30 and 64, and 5,700 aged 65 or older.
Interestingly, Denmark has a relatively high number of younger sports workers, with 20,400 in the 15 to 29 age group compared to 17,900 in the 30 to 64 range and 2,100 aged 65 or over. In contrast, countries such as Greece, Ireland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria have a higher number of older sports workers, with individuals aged 30 to 64 making up the largest share of their respective sports workforces. Croatia and Estonia reflect a similar trend, with 30 to 64-year-olds comprising a significant portion of their sports employment figures.
The Eurostat data also sheds light on the gender imbalance in sport-related tertiary education across the EU. In 2024, there were only two female students for every five male students enrolled in sport programs at the tertiary level. Furthermore, the data highlights the scale of the EU's sporting goods manufacturing industry, which included 5,380 manufacturers generating a combined turnover of €8 billion.
Overall, the employment figures for Cyprus indicate a robust sports workforce, primarily concentrated in the 30 to 64 age group. While the sector plays a vital role in the local economy, the absence of reliable data for older workers suggests a need for further research and analysis in this area. As the sport sector continues to evolve, understanding its demographic composition will be essential for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to support and enhance its growth.