Description The aim of the Household Budget Survey (HBS) is to collect data that reflect the households' purchasing trends and habits throughout the year. The data obtained from the survey is utilised for the following purposes:
i) to revise the goods and services included in the "shopping basket", as well as the weighting factors that determine the importance of each good and service within the Consumer Price Index,
ii) to update statistical data used to estimate private consumption for national accounts purposes,
iii) to analyze the level and distribution of household expenditure and income by source of income, socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics,
iv) to study the standard of living of the population through the compilation of various socioeconomic indicators.
Method HBS is a sample survey. For the sample selection, stratified sampling is used based on district and urban / rural area, resulting in a total of 9 strata. Simple random sampling is used for selecting the sample in the urban areas. In rural areas, two-stage stratified sampling is applied. Initially, a sample of villages/clusters is selected and then a simple random sample of households is selected from each village/cluster included in the sample. The final sample size is approximately 4.800 households.
Data is collected through:
(a) Personal computer-assisted interviews at the household’s premises (CAPI) for the completion of the main questionnaire.
(b) The completion by the respondents of a daily expenditure diary (with the assistance of the enumerator where necessary).
Data Coverage The HBS covers a sample of households from all districts of Cyprus, in the urban and rural areas, in the Government controlled area.
The statistical unit for the survey is the household.
Frequency The HBS is usually conducted every 5 years (the last HBS was conducted in 2023).
Data Availability The results of the HBS are announced with a relevant Press Release. There are data available in the form of predefined tables on the web portal of the Statistical Service for the years 2003, 2009, 2015 / 2016, and in customisable tables on CYSTAT's online database, CYSTAT-DB for 2023. Reports (publications) are available for the years 2003, 2009 και 2015/2016.
Data are also available on the Eurostat website for the years 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020
Comparability Over Time The data are comparable over time.
Principal Variables With the completion of the questionnaire data are collected regarding:
i) The composition of the household, basic characteristics and amenities of the household's main residence, as well as, data on the household's income from work, pensions, social benefits and other sources of income.
ii) Expenses for primary and secondary residence in Cyprus, means of transport, vacations, various types of household equipment, clothing and footwear, education and childcare, medical care, recreation, weddings/christenings/funerals, personal services and pets.
With the completion of the diary data are collected regarding:
All household's daily expenses, which are the main source of recording expenses related to food, drinks and tobacco.
Classification Systems (a) Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP 2018)
(b) Economic activity: Industrial classification of economic activities within the European Communities (NACE Rev. 2) - Results disseminated at the 2 digit level.
(c) Occupation: International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) - Results disseminated at the 2 digit level.
d) Educational Level: International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011)
e) Country of Birth: Eurostat Standard Code list (SCL) GEO
f) Country of Citizenship: Eurostat Standard Code list (SCL) GEO
Legal Framework The survey is conducted in accordance with the Official Statistics Law of 2021 (Law No. 25(I)/2021).
Last Update 21/03/2025