In 1960, the last year for which there was an official census for the entire population of Cyprus, the island was home to 573,566 people. Official estimates held that there were 441,568 Greek Cypriots, 3,627 Armenians, 2,706 Maronites, 103,822 Turkish Cypriots, and 24,408 others. According to government statistics, 81.14 % of Cypriots in 1960, were Greek Cypriot-including Armenians and Maronites and 18.86 % were Turkish Cypriot. Republic of Cyprus statistics around the 1988 population of the whole island at 687,500, and that of the government-controlled area at 562,700. It was around that the island's population consisted of 550,400 (80.1 %) Greek Cypriots including 6,300 Armenians and Maronites, 128,200 (18.5 %) Turkish Cypriots, and 8,900 (1.4 %) who belonged to other groups. Cypriot population estimates were often controversial, because they could have remarkable bearing on political settlements. Thus, population figures from the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" differed markedly from those of the Republic of Cyprus.

Greek Cypriot education is administered by the Ministry of Education. Six years of elementary education and six years of secondary school are provided; attendance is required between the ages of 5 and 15. In 1996 Greek Cypriot elementary schools had 64,761 pupils listed, and Greek Cypriot secondary schools had 61,300. Higher education is provided by the University of Cyprus (1988) and by teacher-training, technical, and vocational schools. Turkish Cypriot education is administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The illiteracy rate for both communities is low.