25% Of Maltese Under 10 Consider English 1st Language

Jan 19 2024

A significant demographic shift is evident in Maltese language preferences among children under 10, as around 25% consider English their first language, indicating a rise in English usage compared to previous generations.

Among those aged 10 to 19, approximately 15% view English as their primary language, a figure that decreases to about 9% for adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, declining further for seniors.

Despite Maltese remaining the predominant mother tongue across all age groups, the prevalence of English as the first language is more pronounced in areas like Swieqi, Sliema, and St Julian’s.

According to the 2021 Census of Population and Housing by Malta’s National Statistics Office (NSO), nearly 40% of Swieqi’s residents and around a quarter of those in Sliema and St Julian’s spoke English from early childhood. The census did not allow for a direct comparison with previous periods due to changes in questioning methods.

Additionally, the census highlighted a nearly 96% literacy rate in 2021, indicating improvement from the 2011 census. Swieqi boasted the highest literacy rate at almost 99%, while Luqa reported the lowest at just over 89%. Simultaneously, a survey revealed that while Maltese is perceived as easier to speak, English is considered easier to read and write.

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Maltese Twins With Debut Song In Tribute To Late Dad

Jan 19 2024

Adria Twins Celine and Shaian have released their debut song in tribute to their late father called ‘L-Isbaħ Stilla.’

Composed by Shaun Farrugia and a music video by Steven Levi Vella, the twins pay tribute to their late father throughout the video itself, with shots showing memories and photographs of their time with him.

Their debut song has made its mark on the local scene already, with those tuning in expressing how deeply the song touched them and how much more they want to hear from the girls.

Did you listen to ‘L-Isbaħ Stilla’ yet?

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5.1% Of Malta’s Population With No Religious Affiliation

Jan 19 2024

Residents aged 15 and above were surveyed on their religious affiliations, regardless of their religious practices or formal memberships.

Out of 451,501 respondents, 82.6% identified as Roman Catholic, 17,454 as Muslim, and 16,457 as Orthodox. Additionally, 5.1% or 23,243 declared no religious affiliation.

Analyzing gender distribution, Roman Catholic affiliations showed an even split, while over half (57.1%) of those with no religious affiliation were males. Males also constituted a significant portion among Muslims (78.3%) and Hindus (70.3%).

Over two-thirds of those not affiliated with Roman Catholicism or any religion lived in the Northern Harbour and Northern districts, with 42.9% and 24.1%, respectively. Notably, San Pawl Il-Baħar had the highest concentration.

Out of the non-affiliated population, 84% were non-Maltese citizens, with 7,685 British, 4,781 Indians, and 4,635 Serbians. Among those with no religious affiliation, 7,254 were Maltese citizens, illustrating diversity in the religious landscape and its connection to citizenship.

Find full census here.

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Malta’s Population Grew By Over 100,000 From 2011 To 2021

Jan 19 2024

Malta’s resident population on Census Day, November 21, 2021, reached 519,562, marking a substantial increase of over 100,000 residents compared to the 2011 Census.

This represents a remarkable 24.5% growth in just a decade, constituting the largest intercensal growth ever recorded. The annual growth of approximately 10,000 residents over the past 10 years contributed to this unprecedented surge.

Notably, this surpasses the earlier record of intercensal growth between 1931 and 1948, standing at 3,786 persons per year.

Geographically, both Malta and Gozo experienced an approximately 25% population increase since the 2011 Census. Among the six geographical districts, the Northern district witnessed the highest growth at 47%, followed by the Northern Harbour district with 30.6%.

In contrast, the Southern Harbour district had the smallest growth at 8.3%. San Pawl il-Baħar, Birkirkara, and Il-Mosta emerged as the three largest localities, constituting 15.7% of the total population.

San Pawl il-Baħar nearly doubled its population since 2011, exceeding 32,000 inhabitants.

Malta remains the most densely populated EU country, with 1,649 residents per square kilometer, far surpassing the EU average of 109 persons per square kilometer in 2019.

The sex distribution recorded 270,021 men (52%) and 249,541 women, yielding a sex ratio of 924 females per 1,000 males. This marks the first time the census recorded more males than females, attributed to a faster growth rate among males (30.1%) compared to females (18.9%) over the past decade.

The Western district displayed an almost even gender distribution, while the South Eastern district exhibited the widest gap.

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