Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Total usually resident population at national level.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Population is based on the concept of usual resident population (as stipulated in European Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013) and it is number of inhabitants on 31 December of the year in question. The population figures are based on data from the most recent census adjusted by the components of population change produced since the last census.
Population[T] = Population[T-1] + Births[T] - Deaths[T] + Net Migration[T]
where:
Live birth means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a result of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached: each result of such a birth is considered live-born, regardless of gestational age.
Death means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (postnatal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation).
Net migration is the difference between the number of immigrants and the number emigrants during the year (net migration is therefore negative when the number of emigrants exceeds the number of immigrants).
3.5. Statistical unit
Person.
3.6. Statistical population
Not applicable.
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2006 - 2024
3.9. Base period
Census of Population and Housing 2021.
Person.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Not applicable.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Micro data is collected in terms of the Malta Statistics Authority, in which Part VIII - Use of Records of Public Authorities and protection of collected information stipulates that:
All information furnished by any person, undertaking or public authority under this Act shall be used only for the purpose of statistical compilation and analysis.
No information obtained in any way under this Act which can be related to an identifiable person or undertaking shall, except with the written consent of that person or undertaking or the personal representative or next-of-kin of that person, if he be deceased, be disseminated, shown or communicated to any person or body except -
for the purposes of a prosecution for an offence under this Act, or
to officers of statistics in the course of their duties under this Act.
Furthermore, all data that is requested and collected is done so in line with the provisions of the General Data Potection Regulations allowing for data to be shared for statistical purposes.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable as only the total aggregate figure is published therefore small count rules do not apply. Micro data is requested from Public Authorities in terms of the Malta Statistics Authority Act and in line with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulations allowing for data to be shared for statistical purposes.
8.1. Release calendar
NSO is a member of the Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) Committee, which sets dissemination standards set by the International Monetary Fund with a view of enhancing the availability of timely and comprehensive statistics in order to support macroeconomic policies. As a member of the SDDS Committee, NSO satisfies a number of criteria, which also entails the provision of an advanced news release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
NSO is a member of the Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) Committee, which sets dissemination standards set by the International Monetary Fund with a view of enhancing the availability of timely and comprehensive statistics in order to support macroeconomic policies. As a member of the SDDS Committee, NSO satisfies a number of criteria, which also entails the provision of an advanced news release calendar.
NSO follows the methodological recommendations stipulated by Eurostat and the Regulation in order to ensure harmonisation of results.
The methodology to estimate the usual resident population is based on the computation of demographic events under the usual residence definition and adding this information to the usual residence population of the previous reference date.
NSO also documents all work processes involved in the compilation of these statistics, which are currently available for internal purposes.
Many efforts are made by NSO in order to ensure the production of demographic statistics at high quality standards. Measures that are implemented during the analysis stage include:
thorough checks on the administrative registers used for the compilation of vital events
thorough checks on the administrative data used for the compilation of migration flows
checks for double counting
validation and cross-checking of results with auxiliary sources and past year's data, including census results
11.2. Quality management - assessment
1. Nationals
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with national citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
2. EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with EEA citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
3. NON-EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with non-EEA foreign citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data requested in compliance with Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
Data transmitted as requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Possible sources of errors:
under-reporting in administrative registers mainly due to late registrations
over-coverage due to possible inconsistencies with the usual residence definition
inaccuracies in the mathematical models used in order to estimate migration components not available in the registers
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Figures required are provided in accordance with deadlines stipulated within Regulation 1260/2013.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data is fully comparable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Minor changes have been made over time in the methodology used for the compilation of population estimates. These changes were implemented in order to improve the accuracy of the estimates and cross-domain coherence. All improvements were implemented in line with the usual residence definiton and therefore it can be assumed that comparability over time is achieved.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The total usually resident population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usually Resident Population data collection may differ from those available in National Accounts, Labour Force Survey or in the survey on Income and Living Conditions. The difference is given by the population coverage (see metadata specific to each domain).
15.4. Coherence - internal
The total usually resident population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usually Resident Population data collection may differ from those available in the rest of the Demographic domain. The difference is given by the population definition (see metadata specific to each domain).
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Population: Compilation of demographic statistics is carried out mainly using administrative data, although mathematical models and survey based estimates are used for the compilation of some migration flows.
Births and Deaths: Compilation of these vital statistics are carried out mainly using administrative data.
Migration: Compilation of migration flows is carried out mainly using administrative data, although mathematical models and survey based estimates are used for the compilation of some migration flows. Data sources are as follows:
Immigration of Maltese citizens - Tourstat (Tourism Border Survey) and the most recent Census
Emigration of Maltese citizens - Tourstat (Tourism Border Survey) and the most recent Census
Asylum Seekers - Data from the International Protection Agency, International Protection Appeals Board and Migration Directorate, Ministry of Home Affairs, Security and Employment .
EU and UK citizens - Jobsplus - Engagement and Termination Forms for immigration and emigration respectively; Residence Permits Database for immigration and emigration estimates of dependents.
Non-EU citizens excluding UK - Identita', Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs - Residence Permit Database
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Refer to 18.1 (Source Data).
18.4. Data validation
Refer to 11 (Quality management).
18.5. Data compilation
All demographic indicators are calculated at national level and all aggregates use a common methodology.
DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
Demographic balance - is the equation that describes the change in the size of the population due to the flows of live births, deaths, immigration and emigration that occur in the reference year T.
Vital events are compiled from administrative sources.
Net migration - the difference between the number of immigrants and the number emigrants during the year (net migration is therefore negative when the number of emigrants exceeds the number of immigrants).
Population[T] = Population[T-1] + Births[T] - Deaths[T] + Net Migration[T]
where:
Population[T] = total population on 31st December of the year T;
Population[T-1] = total population on 31st December of the previous year T-1;
Births[T] = total number of live births occurring during the year T;
Deaths[T] = total number of deaths occurring during the year T;
Net Migration[T] = net migration during the year T.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
28 August 2025
Population is based on the concept of usual resident population (as stipulated in European Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013) and it is number of inhabitants on 31 December of the year in question. The population figures are based on data from the most recent census adjusted by the components of population change produced since the last census.
Population[T] = Population[T-1] + Births[T] - Deaths[T] + Net Migration[T]
where:
Live birth means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a result of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached: each result of such a birth is considered live-born, regardless of gestational age.
Death means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (postnatal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation).
Net migration is the difference between the number of immigrants and the number emigrants during the year (net migration is therefore negative when the number of emigrants exceeds the number of immigrants).
Person.
Not applicable.
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
Possible sources of errors:
under-reporting in administrative registers mainly due to late registrations
over-coverage due to possible inconsistencies with the usual residence definition
inaccuracies in the mathematical models used in order to estimate migration components not available in the registers
Person.
All demographic indicators are calculated at national level and all aggregates use a common methodology.
DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
Demographic balance - is the equation that describes the change in the size of the population due to the flows of live births, deaths, immigration and emigration that occur in the reference year T.
Vital events are compiled from administrative sources.
Net migration - the difference between the number of immigrants and the number emigrants during the year (net migration is therefore negative when the number of emigrants exceeds the number of immigrants).
Population[T] = Population[T-1] + Births[T] - Deaths[T] + Net Migration[T]
where:
Population[T] = total population on 31st December of the year T;
Population[T-1] = total population on 31st December of the previous year T-1;
Births[T] = total number of live births occurring during the year T;
Deaths[T] = total number of deaths occurring during the year T;
Net Migration[T] = net migration during the year T.
More details available in the Annex.
Population: Compilation of demographic statistics is carried out mainly using administrative data, although mathematical models and survey based estimates are used for the compilation of some migration flows.
Births and Deaths: Compilation of these vital statistics are carried out mainly using administrative data.
Migration: Compilation of migration flows is carried out mainly using administrative data, although mathematical models and survey based estimates are used for the compilation of some migration flows. Data sources are as follows:
Immigration of Maltese citizens - Tourstat (Tourism Border Survey) and the most recent Census
Emigration of Maltese citizens - Tourstat (Tourism Border Survey) and the most recent Census
Asylum Seekers - Data from the International Protection Agency, International Protection Appeals Board and Migration Directorate, Ministry of Home Affairs, Security and Employment .
EU and UK citizens - Jobsplus - Engagement and Termination Forms for immigration and emigration respectively; Residence Permits Database for immigration and emigration estimates of dependents.
Non-EU citizens excluding UK - Identita', Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs - Residence Permit Database
Annual.
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
Data is fully comparable.
Minor changes have been made over time in the methodology used for the compilation of population estimates. These changes were implemented in order to improve the accuracy of the estimates and cross-domain coherence. All improvements were implemented in line with the usual residence definiton and therefore it can be assumed that comparability over time is achieved.
