Market Research Companies in Nicosia

Key figures for researchers

Nicosia district

350,035 residents, up 7.1% since 2011 (2021 census, government-controlled areas)¹

Share of Cyprus

37.9% of the population of the government-controlled areas, the largest share of the five districts (2021 census)¹

Municipality of Nicosia

56,848 residents, 22.2% of urban Nicosia (2021 census, preliminary results)²

Strovolos

71,123 residents, 27.8% of urban Nicosia (2021 census, preliminary results)²

Foreign citizens

17.3% of district residents, the lowest share of the five districts (2021 census)¹

Households

137,805, up 15.6% since 2011; 2.51 people on average, the smallest of any district (2021 census)¹

Housing units

163,350 in the district, up 13.0% since 2011 (2021 census)¹

Summer heat

mean daily maximum of 39.8°C at Athalassa (Nicosia) in June 2024, with a peak of 44.6°C⁴

School holidays 2026/27

Christmas 23 December–6 January; Easter 26 April–7 May; summer from 17 June 2027 (public primary schools)⁵

Research guide

Research landscape

Nicosia (Lefkosia in Greek) is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus and its largest district: 350,035 residents in 2021, or 37.9% of the population of the government-controlled areas. Many Cypriot agencies, polling companies, field and CATI suppliers are based in the city, and it is the usual location for B2B interviews, public-sector studies and focus groups.

Who you will interview

In research, “Nicosia” can mean the district, the urban area or the municipality. The 2021 census counted 350,035 residents in the district. Preliminary results give 56,848 residents in the Municipality of Nicosia and 71,123 in Strovolos, respectively 22.2% and 27.8% of urban Nicosia. Define the area precisely in the brief.

Households are the smallest in the country: 2.51 people on average in 2021. Nicosia district also has the lowest share of foreign citizens of the five districts (17.3%), but this is still a large group: an English or other language version may be needed when foreign residents matter. Greek is the usual fieldwork language, and English is widely used in education (see the Cyprus guide).

Fieldwork in practice

Nicosia is a divided city. A UN-controlled buffer zone runs across the island and the city, and part of Nicosia is outside the areas under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Official statistics, including the 2021 census, cover only the government-controlled areas, so samples built on CYSTAT figures cover only that part of the city.

Greek and Turkish are the official languages of the Republic of Cyprus. If a study covers both parts of the city, treat them as separate fieldwork areas, with their own sampling frames, interviewers and language versions. GOV.UK notes that you will not be allowed through a crossing by car without the correct insurance documents, and that hire cars from the Republic often have no insurance cover in the north.

The district is growing: housing units rose 13.0% and households 15.6% between 2011 and 2021, and preliminary results show growth of 13.8% in Engomi. New neighbourhoods and recent movers make address lists age quickly, so sampling by municipality and extra contact attempts help face-to-face studies.

Focus groups and qualitative research

In-person focus groups are usually held in dedicated facilities or agency offices with video streaming. Nicosia is inland and very hot in summer, so evening sessions in air-conditioned venues work best from June to September.

Ask the agency for its incentive levels and recruitment lead times, and how it checks that respondents have not taken part in recent groups in a small market. Online groups and video interviews are widely used for B2B and senior respondents.

Timing

Public primary schools in 2026/27 close for Christmas from 23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, for Easter from 26 April to 7 May 2027, and for the summer from 17 June to 10 September 2027. Other school days off include 1 and 28 October 2026, 15 and 25 March, 1 April, 10 and 11 June 2027, plus one local feast day per school. Families are harder to reach during these periods.

Summer heat also affects street intercepts and door-to-door work: in June 2024, the mean daily maximum at Athalassa (Nicosia) was 39.8°C, 5.7°C above normal, with a peak of 44.6°C. Schedule face-to-face fieldwork in the morning or evening in summer. National public holidays and Orthodox Easter dates are in the Cyprus guide.

Working with a Nicosia agency

• Share a clear brief: objectives, target, sample size, municipalities or areas, method, languages and deadline.
• Say whether the study covers the government-controlled areas only, and ask how the agency defines and samples the Nicosia area.
• For face-to-face or recruitment, ask how the agency reaches foreign residents, new neighbourhoods and recent movers.
• Check fieldwork dates against the school holidays, Orthodox Easter and the summer heat.
• Compare several proposals: you can send one request to up to 5 Nicosia companies from this page.

National rules (data protection, holidays, sampling across regions) are covered in our guide to market research in Cyprus.