**Cyprus Trails EU Average for Paid Film and Sports Streaming Subscriptions**
According to recent data from Eurostat, Cyprus ranks among the lowest in the European Union for the percentage of internet users subscribing to film, series, or sports streaming services. In 2025, only 26.97% of internet users in Cyprus had paid for such subscriptions, significantly below the EU average of 32.68%. This statistic places Cyprus in 20th position among the 27 EU member states, with only a handful of countries reporting lower subscription rates.
The countries with lower rates than Cyprus include Estonia, Portugal, Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, and Bulgaria. Bulgaria recorded the lowest subscription rate in the EU, with just 9.26% of its internet users paying for streaming services. Slovenia and Latvia followed closely, with rates of 13.69% and 16.65%, respectively.
In stark contrast, Ireland leads the EU with the highest share of paid streaming subscriptions, boasting an impressive 63.94%. Denmark and the Netherlands also show strong engagement, with 61.11% and 59.23% of internet users, respectively, subscribing to streaming services.
Cyprus's streaming subscription rate is also notably lower than that of its regional neighbors. For instance, in Greece, 40.18% of internet users have paid for streaming services, while Malta has a subscription rate of 33.07%. These figures suggest that Cypriots are less inclined to invest in streaming services compared to users in nearby countries.
Eurostat's data reveals that streaming services for films, series, or sports are the most popular digital subscription type across the EU, with 32.7% of internet users participating. Music streaming follows as the second most common subscription, with 23.0% of users paying for these services. In contrast, subscriptions to online news sites, newspapers, or magazines are significantly less common, at only 7.2%. Gaming streaming services account for a mere 6.1% of subscriptions.
The disparity in streaming habits across Europe is pronounced, with some countries exhibiting much higher engagement levels than others. Outside the EU, Norway stands out with a high subscription rate of 58.41%, while Switzerland follows with 40.97%. Turkey, however, lags behind with only 13.98% of its internet users paying for streaming services.
The Eurostat data specifically measures individuals who had a paid subscription to a film, series, or sports streaming service within the previous three months, providing a snapshot of current consumer behavior in the digital entertainment landscape.
As streaming services continue to grow in popularity, the figures indicate a potential area for development in Cyprus's digital economy. The lower subscription rates may reflect a range of factors, including market saturation, consumer preferences, or economic considerations. As the landscape of digital entertainment evolves, it remains to be seen how Cyprus will adapt to these trends and whether subscription rates will increase in the coming years.