Cyprus recorded 33,640 beehives in agricultural holdings in 2023, down from 38,130 in 2020, according to data published by Eurostat on Wednesday.
The figures highlight a decline in beekeeping in Cyprus over the three-year period, as part of broader EU-level statistics on managed bee colonies in agricultural farms.
EU-wide increase in bee colonies
Across the European Union, 9.4 million beehives were recorded in agricultural holdings in 2023. This represents an increase of 1.3 million compared with 2020, when the total stood at 8.1 million, marking a 16% rise.
Eurostat notes that the data covers only hives located in agricultural holdings and does not reflect the total number of bee colonies across all environments.
Country comparisons in the EU
Italy recorded the highest number of beehives in agricultural holdings in 2023, with nearly 1.9 million colonies. Romania followed with 1.7 million, Greece with 1.2 million, and Bulgaria with 1.0 million.
In contrast to beekeeping trends in Cyprus, hive numbers increased in 12 EU member states, while 10 countries recorded declines.
Italy saw the largest increase, with an additional 822,490 hives, representing a 79% rise compared with 2020. The sharpest declines were recorded in Hungary, with a drop of 152,110 hives (-34%), and Spain, with a decrease of 131,440 hives (-14%).
Role of bees in agriculture
Bees play a crucial role in pollinating a wide range of crops across different climates and are capable of surviving low temperatures through winter clustering and honey consumption.
Eurostat published the data in connection with World Bee Day, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators for agriculture and the environment.
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