The Republic of Cyprus recorded a fiscal surplus of €702.5 million for the period of January to July 2024, according to preliminary general government fiscal results released by CySTAT.
This figure represents 2.2% of the country’s GDP and marks a substantial increase from the €345.9 million surplus (1.2% of GDP) reported during the same period in 2023.
The fiscal improvement is largely attributed to a surge in government revenue, which increased by €953.1 million, or 14.2%, year-on-year, reaching €7.662 billion.
Key contributors to this growth include revenue from the sale of goods and services, which increased by €163.3 million (43.5%) to €538.7 million, current transfers, which rose by €43.6 million (25.8%) to €212.3 million, and social contributions, which saw a significant rise of €327.9 million (16.2%), totaling €2.348 billion.
Property income also increased by €21.0 million (34.5%) to €81.9 million, as well as taxes on production and imports, which increased by €175.7 million (7.3%) to €2.584 billion, and net VAT revenue, which rose by €148.4 million (9.5%) to €1.718 billion.
Taxes on income and wealth increased by €238.5 million (14.6%) to €1.869 billion. However, there was a decline in capital transfers, which fell by €16.9 million (-37.2%) to €28.5 million.
Τotal government expenditure during the period of January to July 2024 rose by €596.6 million, or 9.4%, reaching €6.960 billion. Among the most significant areas of expenditure growth, compensation of employees increased by €232.8 million, or 12.2%, to €2.138 billion.
Social benefits also saw a substantial rise, growing by €208.1 million, or 8.1%, to €2.772 billion.Unmute
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On the capital expenditure front, the government managed to reduce spending, with the capital account declining €61.8 million, or 12.4%, to €434.9 million. Subsidies were reduced 19.2% to €80.6 million.
