National Statistics Office of Malta

Regional, Geospatial, Energy and Transport Statistics Unit

National Statistics Office

Lascaris

Valletta, VLT 2000

Malta

The data compiled and provided for Malta encompass various aspects of quality of life in the following domains:

• Demography
• Nationality
• Household Structure
• Housing
• Health
• Crime
• Labour Market
• Economic Activity
• Education and Training Provision
• Educational Qualifications
• Waste Management
• Travel and Transport
• Culture and Recreation

 For a comprehensive list of indicators and variables covered in the project, refer to the Urban Audit Reference Metadata.

For most variables, the definitions from the City Statistics Manual and existing international standards have been followed to the extent possible. When the data deviates from these definitions, a flag of 'D' is added to the data file.

Demography and Nationality

Population statistics are based on the definitions outlined in European Regulation (EU) No. 1260/2013 concerning European demographic statistics. Population figures are calculated based on the concept of "usual residence," representing the number of inhabitants on December 31st of the reference year. Usual residence refers to the place where an individual typically spends their daily rest time, regardless of temporary absences for of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage. Usual residents in a specific geographical area meet one of two criteria:

(i)              Those who have lived in their usual residence continuously for at least 12 months before the reference time.

(ii)             Those who arrived at their usual residence during the 12 months preceding the reference time with the intention of staying for at least one year.

The term "usually resident population" encompasses all persons with their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time.

European demographic statistics transmit data related to the population on December 31st of the reference year to Eurostat under Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013. These data are conventionally published by Eurostat as of January 1st of the following year (reference year +1). The European City Statistics adhere to this principle. Eurostat aims to collect data on the population on January 1st of the year in question, or in some cases, on December 31st of the previous year.

Population figures may be based on data from the most recent census adjusted by components of population change since the last census.

Household Structure and Housing

Most variables pertaining to household structure and housing in the above domains are derived from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) survey. This annual survey, conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), encompasses individuals residing in private households in Malta and Gozo. SILC operates under EU regulation (EU. No. 1177/2003) and primarily focuses on compiling statistics related to income distribution and monetary poverty indicators. SILC also serves to provide reliable quantitative information on social exclusion and material deprivation.

The survey has been conducted in Malta since 2005 and is an annual endeavour carried out by all European Union Member States under a European framework regulation that came into effect in 2004. Consequently, all aspects of the SILC survey are coordinated by Eurostat, which offers guidelines on the methodology implemented.

The income reference year for the SILC survey is the calendar year preceding the survey year. Therefore, income collected in SILC 2022 pertains to the calendar year 2021, while non-income components are based on data from 2022, which is the data collection year.

Concepts and Definitions

A dependent child is defined as someone who is:

• Under 18 years old, or;
• Aged 18-24 and is inactive and living with at least one parent.
• Otherwise, the person is referred to as an adult.

 Equivalent household size is calculated using the "modified OECD" equivalence scale, which assigns:

• A weight of 1.0 to the first adult;
• A weight of 0.5 to any other household member aged 14+;
• A weight of 0.3 to each child.

 The sum of these weights is attributed to each member of the household.

Actual rentals adhere to the definition provided in the Methodological Manual on City Statistics (2017 edition). Rentals exclude charges such as payment for the use of garages or parking spaces not connected to the dwelling. They also do not include fees for water supply, refuse collection, sewerage collection, co-proprietor charges for caretaking, gardening, stairwell cleaning, heating, lighting, maintenance of lifts, and refuse disposal chutes in multi-occupied buildings, charges for electricity, gas, charges for heating and hot water supplied by district heating plants.

Labour Market

Data concerning variables related to the Labour Market is obtained from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). This survey is ongoing and adheres to internationally agreed concepts, definitions, and methodologies. It employs a quarterly gross sample of 3,200 private households per quarter. The primary aim of the survey is to categorise the population aged 15 and over into three mutually exclusive groups: the employed, unemployed, and inactive, providing descriptive information on each of these groups. A quarter of the sample consists of households newly selected to participate in the LFS, while three-quarters of the quarterly sample are households that have previously participated in the survey, either one quarter prior, one year prior, or one year and a quarter prior (2-(2)-2).

Concepts and Definitions

All concepts and definitions within the LFS are defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 and the implementing Regulation (EC) No 377/2008. In 2021, the Integrated European Social Statistics (IESS) Framework Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 came into effect, impacting the LFS.

Employed persons encompass all individuals aged 15 and over who, during the reference week, fall into one of the following categories:

• Paid employment: includes those who, during the reference week, worked for at least one hour for a wage or salary, whether in cash or in kind.
• Employed but absent from work: This category includes individuals who were absent from work due to various reasons such as sick leave, bad weather, training or education, labor disputes, maternity or parental leave, lack of work due to technical or economic reasons, absence from work for a period of fewer than 3 months, or not working due to layoff while receiving at least 50 percent of their salary/wage.
• Self-employed: This category covers individuals who run their trade or business rather than working as an employee for someone else. A person is considered self-employed if they are a sole proprietor or a partner working in a business.
• Unpaid family workers: This refers to people who work without pay in a family business or farm. Housewives are excluded from this definition.

Inactive persons include all individuals who are not classified as employed or unemployed.

Unemployed persons comprise all individuals above 15 years of age who, during the reference week, meet the following criteria:

Without work.

• Actively seeking work during the previous 4 weeks, which includes actions such as contacting Jobsplus, applying directly to an employer, contacting a private employment agency, or responding to a newspaper advertisement.
• Currently available for work, meaning they are ready to start work within 2 weeks of the reference week.

Reference week denotes the week to which the collected data relates.

Economic Activity

Data pertaining to economic activity aligns with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and the manual on Regional Accounts Methods. The European System of National and Regional Accounts is an internationally compatible accounting framework for a systematic and detailed description of a total economy, its components, and its relations with other total economies. Regional accounts are a regional specification of the corresponding accounts of the total economy.

Employment by place of work considers individuals who work in the Functional Urban Area (FUA), regardless of their locality or region of residence.

Employed persons encompass both full-time and part-time (primary only) employment.

The data provided, including industry classifications (NACE Rev. 2 at A*10), is derived from administrative records maintained by Jobsplus and employment statistics at NSO.

Education and Training provision

The International Standard Classification of Education, abbreviated as ISCED, serves as a tool for compiling international comparable education statistics. It provides a framework for collecting, compiling, and analysing cross-nationally comparable statistics on education. The fundamental unit of classification in ISCED is the educational program. Educational programs are defined based on their educational content, representing a series or sequence of organised educational activities designed to achieve specific objectives or a set of predetermined educational tasks. ISCED is a part of the United Nations International Family of Economic and Social Classifications and serves as the reference classification for organising education programs and related qualifications by levels and fields of education. ISCED is the result of international consensus and formal adoption by the General Conference of UNESCO Member States.

ISCED Levels

ISCED levels are based on the ISCED 2011 classification:

• ISCED 0 – Early childhood education
• ISCED 1 – Primary education
• ISCED 2 – Lower secondary education
• ISCED 3 – Upper secondary education
• ISCED 4 – Post-secondary non-tertiary education
• ISCED 5 - Short cycle tertiary education, e.g., Higher National Diploma
• ISCED 6 - Bachelor's or equivalent level: tertiary education
• ISCED 7 - Master's or equivalent level: tertiary education
• ISCED 8 - Doctoral or equivalent level, e.g., PhD: tertiary education

Environment

Definitions in relation to the Environment domain are as follows: 

• Waste: Any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard.
• Waste generation: Waste arising from economic activities and households.
• Municipal waste: Household and similar waste collected by or on behalf of municipal authorities. The bulk of this waste stream originates from households, and similar wastes from sources such as commerce, offices, and public institutions are also included. Municipal waste includes the following types of materials: paper, paperboard and paper products, plastics, glass, metals, food and garden waste, textiles, waste electrical and electronic products, bulky waste (e.g., mixed waste from home renovation works, old sofas, mattresses), wood (e.g., old furniture); and garden waste, leaves, grass clippings, street sweepings, the content of litter containers, and market cleansing waste, if managed as waste.

Municipal waste covers waste that is collected from door-to-door in both mixed and separated states. It also includes waste fractions collected separately for recovery operations through voluntary deposits, such as bring-in and civic amenity sites.

The definition also includes waste that is similar in nature and composition and from similar sources which is collected directly by the private sector (business or private non-profit institutions) not on behalf of municipalities (mainly separate collection for recovery purposes), and waste that originates from rural areas not served by a regular waste service, even if it is disposed by the generator.

The definition excludes waste from the municipal sewage network and treatment and municipal construction and demolition waste. The data provided is based on the methodology that is applied for the Municipal Waste Sustainable Development indicator.

Travel and Transport

Traffic accident data is compiled from administrative information provided by the Police Department, the Guard and Warden Services Limited, and the Malta Insurance Association.

The type of casualty (slight or grievous) is determined by the Health Department. Definitions of deaths caused by road accidents are in accordance with the European Conference for Ministers of Transport (ECMT) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). According to UNECE, a fatal injury is defined as: "Any person who was killed outright or who died within 30 days as a result of the accident."

Minor road traffic accidents that go unreported or those reported to Insurance Agencies through the Traffic Accident Form (i.e., no police or traffic wardens are called to the accident scene, and those involved in the accident decide to settle by filling in the form) are not included in the data.

Minor road traffic accidents involve at least one vehicle and result in no injuries. These accidents are assessed by the police or traffic wardens.

Insignificant injury, as determined by the police, refers to very minimal injuries (e.g., bruises, scratches, etc.) or shock due to an accident, typically requiring basic treatment for which no medical care is necessary.

Data on registered private cars are sourced from Transport Malta and presented in accordance with international standards (Eurostat/ITF/UNECE), as defined in the 4^th edition of the Illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics (http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/main/wp6/pdfdocs/glossen4.pdf).

Culture and Recreation

Cinema

Data for the year 2022 was obtained through a survey conducted among all active cinema establishments in Malta and Gozo. A cinema establishment is defined as a fixed commercial business primarily engaged in the commercial screening of cinematographic audio-visual works (in 35mm and/or digital format with a minimum of 1.3K resolution), offering regular film programming and ticketing.

Library

Data for the year 2022 on public libraries was sourced from the Malta Libraries website, including the Malta and Gozo National Libraries, the Central Public Library, Regional Libraries, Branch Libraries, and Gozo Public Libraries: https://maltalibraries.gov.mt/iguana/www.main.cls?p=788374c8-8d6d-44d6-bd24-eb7a87b79d2c&v=cfb971ca-7c2c-4bf1-be29-270ebf190834 

In the Urban Audit data collection, variables are compiled for different spatial units including cities and functional urban areas.  When data is not available at these levels, national data is reported instead.  In this regard, the definitions specified in Chapter 4 of the Methodological Manual on City Statistics (2017 edition), were followed. 

The statistical population is mainly the usual residents of the defined statistical unit.

MALTA (MT)

The data is reported as of the reference year 2022. For some variables concerning conventional dwellings, the most recent available data pertains to 2021. Notably, there have been revisions in certain population-related variables. In the initial submission, data for employment variables was provided using 2021 figures; however, upon obtaining the 2022 data, an updated dataset was promptly submitted.

Not applicable.

The unit of measurement varies from indicator to indicator; from variable to variable. In most cases the unit of measurement is included in the label.  Units were also indicated in an annex document provided by Eurostat. 

The data for the entire grant period encompasses the years 2021 and 2022. This report pertains to the reference year 2022.

Visit the Portal to European Union Law.

All data supply of urban statistics is based on a voluntary agreement, as there is no Community legislation yet on this topic http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm.

Not applicable.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March, dated 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), emphasises the importance of establishing uniform principles and guidelines to safeguard the confidentiality of data utilised in the creation of European statistics. This also encompasses access to such confidential data, taking into consideration technological advancements and the needs of users within a democratic society.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The Member State is in agreement to submit annual data for reference years 2021 and 2022.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The definitions provided in the Eurostat Methodological Manual on City Statistics have been strictly adhered to. Comprehensive documentation on the methodology employed for various variables is available in different sections of this report.

The quality assurance procedures outlined in the Eurostat Methodological Manual on City Statistics have been diligently implemented.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

Data availability varies across domains. While the NSO aims to provide comprehensive responses, particularly regarding variables and details marked as 'required' by the grant, it is equally committed to the careful management of the project to maintain data quality and consistency. The support and guidance of data providers have been paramount in achieving this objective.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

The NSI is fully committed to respect the timetables presented in the Grant Agreement.

Data was transmitted to Eurostat on the following dates:

• September 26, 2022: Transmission of annual Urban Audit statistics for the reference year 2021.
• September 13, 2023: Transmission of annual Urban Audit statistics for the reference year 2022.

Reporting of all variables at different statistical levels (at National, Functional Urban Area and City levels) was important in ensuring comparability between all variables.  In some cases, data was not reported at a specific level, such as the City level, due to concerns about its reliability and robustness.

To guarantee uniformity across all Member States, strict adherence was given to the definitions of City and Functional Urban Area as specified in the Methodological Manual on City Statistics. The focus remained on reporting variables in strict accordance with established criteria, specifications, and regulations. For instance, data sourced from the SILC and LFS maintained comparability with other Member States, as variables and specifications remained consistent. 

It is important to note that the source for certain requested variables may vary among Member States. This choice depends on factors like data robustness, availability, and the required spatial level of reporting.

To maintain comparability with previously reported data, the NSO recognised the importance of extracting data from well-established data sources and surveys that had been utilised in previous data reporting exercises.

Data collected at sub-national level is coherent with the data collected at national level.

Internal coherence (e.g. between spatial levels, between indicators like total, male, female population) is ensured through the application of validation controls.

Not available.

Provisional data is reported for variables TE1001V, TE1026V, TE1027V and TE1028V.

Revision of data compliant with the ESS Code of Practice principles. At the NSO, there is currently an internal policy governing revision that occur for all produced statistics. This revision policy aims to safeguard a coordinated revision system across statistical domains. The policy considers the need for and causes of revisions, the timing and frequency of revisions, data, and other statistical products affected by such revisions, and the length of revised periods.

A revised data transmission table for the year 2021 was provided to Eurostat on 11th September 2023, serving as an updated version of the file sent on 20th October 2023. This updated table incorporates new data variables (DE4001V, DE4002V, DE4003V, SA1001V, SA1025V) and features more current data for variables TE1001V, SA2016V - SA2021V, and SA1049V.

Subsequently, a transmission table for the reference year 2022 was submitted on the 13th September 2023. Additionally, a revised transmission table, containing more up-to-date data for the Economic Activity variables, was submitted recently on the 18^th October 2023 as soon as this data for the reference year 2022 became available after the deadline for data submission via eDAMIS.

In the event that errors are identified within a transmission table, they will be rectified following consultation with the national coordinator, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the data

Demography, Nationality 

• Births, Marriages, Adoptions, Separations, Annulments, and Divorces: Public Registry
• Maternities: Public Registry, Directorate of Health Information and Research (DHIR)
• Deaths: Directorate of Health Information and Research (DHIR)
• Employment engagement and termination forms: Jobsplus
• Registrations, Naturalisation, and Residence Permits: Citizenship and Expatriates Affairs Department
• Asylum: Office of the Refugee Commissioner
• Open Centre Population: The Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS)
• Resettlements and Repatriations: Third country nationals Unit, Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security
• Statistics on Forced and Assisted Returns involving Third Country Nationals (TCNs): Immigration Section, Police General H.Q.

Health 

• The source for health data: Directorate of Health Information and Research

Crime 

• Homicides data source: Police Department

Household structure and Housing 

• Main data source: Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC)
• Variable SA1049V: Compiled from the National Accounts Unit, sourced from the Census of Population and Housing (2011) and the Planning Authority for the number of permits issued.
• Variables SA1050V and SA1051V: Compiled from the Price Statistics Unit and should be treated as confidential.
• Data for variables related to conventional dwellings (DE40001V, DE4002V, DE4003V, SA1001V, SA1025V): Provided from the Census of Population and Housing (2021), available as of the census date, November 21st, 2021.
• Data for variables SA1050V and SA1051V were compiled from the Price Statistics Unit and should be treated as confidential.
• Data with respect to variables relating to conventional dwellings (including DE40001V, DE4002V, DE4003V, SA1001V, SA1025V) was provided to us from the Census  available only as of census date 21sth November 2021.

Labour Market 

• Source of data: Labour Force Survey (LFS). Notwithstanding the data limitations related to data robustness at NUTS 3 and LAU 1 levels, in the circumstances the LFS was considered as the most suitable source in classifying employment spatially. 

Economic Activity 

• Data source for economic activity: Administrative records from Jobsplus and employment statistics at NSO.

Education and Training provision, Educational qualifications 

• Variable TE1001V: Data collected from Ministry for Education and Employment and from state, independent, and church schools. Excludes childcare, reception classes, and special schools. Other data on Education and Training provision and Educational qualifications obtained through questionnaires sent to institutions providing formal education, except for institutions providing distance learning.

 Waste Management 

• Data sources for waste statistics: WasteServ Malta Ltd., the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), and NSO.

Travel and Transport 

• Source for travel pattern statistics: Transport Malta.
• Statistics related to traffic accidents and the number of deaths: Collected from the Police Department and the Malta Insurance Association (Guard and Warden Service House Limited) and the Malta Insurance Association.

Culture and Recreation 

• Source for cinema-related statistics: Obtained through a survey carried out among all active cinema establishments in Malta and Gozo.
• The source for the number of public libraries: Obtained from the Malta Library website: https://maltalibraries.gov.mt/iguana/www.main.cls?p=788374c8-8d6d-44d6-bd24-eb7a87b79d2c&v=cfb971ca-7c2c-4bf1-be29-270ebf190834

The Urban Audit is a multiannual data collection. The reference period of the current data collection is 2021 and 2022.

The National Statistics Office conducted the Urban Audit project in co-operation with government ministries and agencies in facilitating the collection of data that was not available at the NSO.

Table 1. Time-table of the project

Demography, Nationality

These variables pertain to data as of 31 December 2021. In European Demographic Statistics, data referring to the population on 31st December of the reference year are transmitted by the Member States to Eurostat under Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council of 20 November 2013. Eurostat conventionally publishes this data on 1 January of the following year, in this case, 1 January 2022.

Health

The reference year for the Health variables is 2022.

Crime

The data for the variable SA3005V is for the reference year 2022. 

Household structure and Housing

The reported data for sections 2.3 and 3.1 refers to the year 2022, which is the most recent data available from the SILC survey. The income reference year for the SILC survey is one calendar year prior to the survey year. Consequently, the income collected in SILC 2022 refers to the calendar year 2021. However, the non-income components refer to 2022, which is the data collection year.

 For variables related to Conventional Dwellings (DE40001V, DE4002V, DE4003V, SA1001V, SA1025V), the data originates from the census data dated November 21st, 2021. These variables were included for the first time as soon as they became available. In this context, since the data was related to the reference year 2021, the transmission table for that reference year was updated and submitted accordingly, maintaining consistency with the records in the transmission table for the following year, 2022.

Labour Market

The reference year for the Labour Market variables is 2022.

Economic Activity

In the initial transmitted data set, the reference year for the Economic Activity variables (EC2020V, EC2008V, EC2009V, EC2022V, EC2032V - EC2038V) was 2021. Later, data for 2022 became available in October, and the transmission table was resubmitted to include more up-to-date data for these variables. The latest data available pertains to the reference year 2022.

Education and Training provision, Educational qualifications

Data for all Education and Training related variables is collected as at 31st March 2022, which refers to academic year 2021-2022. Data provided for TE1001V includes students in special schools, since the word document "Education and Training Provision" specifies that special schools should be included. Students attending childcare and receptions classes are excluded.

Data provided (for all variables) includes students enrolled in formal education with a minimum duration of one semester of full-time study (or the equivalent in part-time) and that are delivered in Malta - irrespective of the residence of the student.

Waste

The reference year for variable EN4008V is 2022.

Travel and Transport

Data is available for variables TT1057V and TT1060V referring to reference year 2022.

Culture and Recreation

Data for variables CR1003V, CR1005V and CR1010V refer to reference year 2022. 

The transmission table was submitted using the data transmission channel URBANREG_AN_A, which is designated for the City statistics annual data collection. Within this channel, the data undergoes pre-validation through the EDIT tool, which carries out both intra-dataset checks and inter-dataset checks to ensure data accuracy and consistency.

Demography, Nationality

Population is based on the concept of the usual resident population, as stipulated in European Regulation (EC) No. 1260/2013. It represents the number of inhabitants on 31 December of the respective year. The population figures can be derived from the most recent census, adjusted by the components of population change that have occurred since the last census.

A "normally resident population" refers to all persons having their usual residence in a country at the reference time. Usual residence is where a person typically spends their daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes such as recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment, or religious pilgrimage. A person is considered a usual resident of a geographical area if they have lived there continuously for at least 12 months before the reference time, or if they have arrived within the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying for at least one year.

Total Population: includes all persons residing in Malta. The total population at the end of year t, is computed using the following equation:

P_t = P_t-1 + B_t - D_t + I_t – E_t , where:

• P_t is the total resident population at the end of year t,
• P_t-1 is the total resident population at the end of year t-1, 
• B_t is the total number of births born to parents who gave birth to child that are resident in Malta registered during year t,
• D_t is the total number of deaths of persons resident in Malta registered during year t,
• I_t is the total immigration of both Maltese and foreign nationals registered during year t who immigrated with the intention to live in Malta for a period of at least 12 months.
• E_t is the total emigration of both Maltese and foreign nationals resident in Malta registered during year t who leave the country for a period of at least 12 months.

 Maltese Population: includes Maltese residents only. The Maltese population at the end of year t is computed using the following equation:

P’_t = P’_t-1 + B’_t – D’_t + I’_t – E’_t , where:

• P’_t is the Maltese resident population at the end of year t,
• P’_t-1 is the Maltese resident population at the end of year t-1,
• B’_t is the number of Maltese births born to mothers resident in Malta registered during year t,
• D’_t is the number of deaths occurring to Maltese citizens resident in Malta during year t,
• I’_t is the total immigration of Maltese nationals registered during year t who immigrated with the intention to live in Malta for a period of at least 12 months.
• E’_t is the total emigration of Maltese nationals during year t who leave the country for a period of at least 12 months.

Migration flows are calculated using the following components:

Maltese Nationals:

• Immigration of Maltese Nationals is calculated based on figures extracted from the most recent Census of Population and Housing using the information collected regarding residence one year prior to the Census. Using figures resulting from the Tourstat border survey, the change observed between the year when the census has been undertaken and the reference year is applied on the Census figures.
• Emigration of Maltese Nationals is calculated based on the figures resulting from the Tourstat border survey for Maltese Nationals travelling from Malta. The duration of trip is analysed and an average number of persons who intend to stay away from Malta for 12 months and over of the past 3 years is calculated.

 EU Nationals:

• Immigration of EU Nationals is calculated based on the figures of engagement forms presented by the Jobsplus for the reference year in question. These are then linked to the termination of employment data in order to remove persons who have not been in employment for at least 1 year. The data is then checked with the ID card database (CDB) in order to remove persons who were registered in Malta prior to the reference year.
• Emigration of EU Nationals is calculated based on the termination of employment data. Therefore persons who terminated their job and have not been re-employed are considered as emigrants.
• Both immigration and emigration of the dependents of EU Nationals are calculated based on a factor extracted from the EU Nationals registrations notifying their residence in Malta from the Residence Permits database.

 Third Country Nationals (TCN):

• Asylum Statistics:
  • Immigration: The database held at the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees is used to extract persons covered by first instance decisions who have been granted refugee status, subsidiary protection status or temporary protection.
  • Emigration includes resettled persons, i.e. third-country nationals who, on a resettlement request from UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) based on their need for international protection, are transferred to another country where they are permitted to reside.

• Residence Permits:
  • Immigration of TCN is calculated based on the permits which hold a duration of at least 1 year. These are then linked to the ID card database (CDB) and the Jobsplus Database in order to remove persons who were registered in Malta prior to the reference year. Calculations are based on the database managed by the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs.
  • Emigration of TCN includes persons whose permit has not been extended and who have had a viable permit for more than a year. The database is managed by the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs. 

Household structure and Housing

The European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) project was launched for the first time in Malta in 2005 and has been carried out on annual basis ever since. This survey is today regarded as the main source of national statistics on income distribution, poverty and social exclusion.

The EU-SILC is carried out under European Framework Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003, which stipulates rulings by which this survey is carried out in a harmonised way across the EU. Data collection is also coordinated by Eurostat which provides methodological guidelines by which this survey can be carried out at highest quality standards in all EU member countries. Information collected from this survey includes information related to the distribution of household income, health and disability, employment, and material deprivation. In this context, indicators derived from SILC aim to identify the population categories that are most prone to poverty and material deprivation.

The method used for EU-SILC involves personal interviews among a representative sample of households and persons living in these households at the time of data collection. Every year, more than 4,000 households are contacted for this survey. The sampling methodology used for EU-SILC incorporates a rotational panel, which requires that three quarters of the responding households in a particular year are forwarded for the next year's survey. This way, every responding household is contacted over four consecutive years. This methodology enhances consistency and thus allows for high quality cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis.

The methodological manual provided by Eurostat is constantly being consulted to ensure the full conformity to Eurostat definitions. 

The EU-SILC sample follows a rotational design whereby every household is surveyed for four consecutive years. This sampling methodology enhances consistency and thus allows for high quality cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis.

In 2022 the gross sample size was 4,891 households. Of these, 79 households were ineligible for the survey (i.e. addresses that did not actually exist, could not be located, non-residential addresses, permanently vacant dwellings or institutional households). Consequently, 4,812 households were approached for the interview. Of these, 4,163 completed the survey, resulting in a household response rate of 87 per cent. These households comprised 10,265 residents, of whom 8,921 were aged 16 and over.

The population figure used to gross up and to calibrate EU-SILC data refers to one calendar year prior to the survey year. Consequently, the population in EU-SILC 2022 refers to the number of persons living in private households as at end of 2021 which was estimated at 512,838.

The data collection process for year N starts at the end of year N-1 where the new questionnaire (including all yearly changes and updates) and the new version of the CAPI/CATI program is designed. At the beginning of year N, the program is tested thoroughly and interviewers are selected and briefed accordingly. Also the sample of the new households is extracted at that time. Upon finishing the testing procedures, the interviewers are briefed on both paper and computer questionnaires. The data collection period takes approximately 4 months (including one month for follow up) of the same year N. A distinction between household types that are assigned to CATI is made, where the absolute majority of these are pensioner households (namely households whose main source of income is derived from retirement pension). Interviewers are monitored on a monthly basis through household audits and response rate monitoring.  The method of data collection in Malta is through face-to-face interviews, by means of CAPI method, with an element of CATI and proxy interviews when this was unavoidable.

The variable DE3005V is given as households with children (0-17) living with 1 adult. The data is only representative at functional urban area. Variable DE3008V is given as one person households, 65 years and over.

Actual rents paid on residential dwellings and garages are obtained from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing.  Rentals paid on residential dwellings are extrapolated using the estimated change in the number of dwellings put on the rental market each year to capture the volume change. The price component is obtained from developments in The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for rentals paid for residential dwelling services.  The number of rented dwellings includes all types of residential dwellings, apartments, houses, etc. Data for 2011 is forthcoming from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing, compiled by the National Statistics Office. For subsequent years, the number of units added to and discarded from the dwelling stock is estimated on the basis of the units for which a permit was issued by the Planning Authority (PA).  An adjustment is made to account for those permits that are never taken up.   This adjustment is based on the ratio of the total number of permits granted between 2005 Census of Population and Housing and 2011 Census of Population and Housing to the actual net additions to the dwelling stock recorded between Census of Population and Housing benchmark years.  Data for variable SA1049V is being provided only at national level.

Labour Market

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is an ongoing survey conducted among private households for the purpose of gathering information about the labour force using internationally agreed concepts and definitions. Its main objective is that of dividing the 15+ year old population into three mutually exclusive groups, the employed, unemployed and inactive and, hence provides descriptive information on each of these groups.

The LFS is a household based survey where a household is defined as one or more persons who live together and share expenses. A person who is abroad during the reference week and who visits Malta on a regular basis, that is, at least twice a year, is considered to be part of the household. Children or any other members who are living in another dwelling or institution are excluded.

The used sampling design is systematic random sampling by localities for all the individuals residing in eligible households. The yearly gross sample size consists of 12,800 households. One fourth of the sample is contacted again after 3 months, one fourth after a year and another fourth is contacted a year and 3 months following the first contact. The overall theoretical yearly sampling rate (including non-response) is of 2%.

Each household is contacted via ordinary mail so that it is informed that the family has been chosen to participate in the LFS. An interviewer who is assigned to a group of households carries the interview in either of two ways, namely through personal or telephone interviews. For the first panel, face to face interviews are preferred; however, some households may opt for a telephone survey. Households are then selected for the second to fourth panel and are contacted by phone. For the latter panels, an interviewer is only sent when households do not provide a telephone number, do not have a telephone line, or do not want to be interviewed over the phone.

The key variables of the survey are quarterly collected, while ad-hoc variables are collected annually. All eligible households that responded in the first wave are chosen for the second wave which is carried out in the following quarter. The household will be absent for two quarters and then reintroduced, followed by another contact the following quarter. The pattern can be described as follows: 2-(2)-2. In addition, households who fail to be contacted at any point in time are approached when it is their turn just like all other households.

Prior to the compilation of weights, adjustment for non-response is done based on panel information. Then, the sampling weights are based on the following variables: sex, geographic region and age group. The age groups used in weighting are 5 year age groups.

Economic Activity

Data for all variables related to Economic Activity was based on employment databases obtained from Jobsplus and employment statistics available at NSO.  The data, which is only worked out at FUA level, refers to employment by place of work for reference year 2022.

Education and Training provision, Educational qualifications

Data for variable TE1001V was in part provided by the Ministry for Education and Employment. Data for this variable excludes childcare, reception classes and special schools. Other data was collected from state, independent and church schools, referring to scholastic year 2021-2022.  Data is not worked as a monthly average but as March 2022.

Information regarding stated owned pre-primary to secondary schools is received from the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE), while questionnaires are sent to church and independent schools covering pre-primary to post-secondary levels.  Prior to data analysis, data from different sources are checked for completeness and merged into a single data file.

The NSO has full coverage of all education institutions. Microdata are collected in sufficient detail to cater for a variety of users' requests. Furthermore the collection covers all mandatory information requested by Eurostat for UOE data transmission.

Data according to the ISCED11 classification is available for academic year 2012/2013 onwards.  The ISCED level is allocated based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level and the Field of study for each course is derived depending on the core subjects of each course.  In all cases, missing data is imputed with the use of other auxiliary sources, the main one being CDB.

Recently, the NSO has carried out an exercise to review the existing mapping of national education levels as transposed to ISCED 11. In the past, a person with the equivalent of 5 O level passes was considered as having attained ISCED 3.  With the current national entry requirements to post-secondary institutions, a person having attained the equivalent of 2 O level passes has access to a level which was previously restricted to persons with 5 or more O level passes.  Consequently, a person with 2 or more O level passes is now being classified as having attained ISCED level 3 rather than ISCED 2. The figures for variables TE2025V, TE2028V and TE2031 for reference years 2021 and 2022 reflect the revised educational grouping, accordingly.

Data checking and validation takes place at different stages of production. In the first instance, data is checked for completeness and a broad comparison with data from the previous academic year is carried out. Subsequently data is appropriately coded and first aggregated results are extracted.

Waste

Waste Statistics

Municipal waste generation

Waste statistics provide annual data for waste generation and treatment. Data is collected by ERA from all legally operating waste brokers and waste management facilities in the private sector and by WasteServ Malta Ltd., which is the largest operator having various waste collection and treatment facilities. All data is provided in a harmonised format according to the European Waste Catalogue (EWC).

 Municipal waste generation data refers to all waste which is classified under sub-chapter 15 01 [Packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste)] and Chapter 20 of the European Waste Catalogue [Municipal wastes - Household waste and similar commercial, industrial and commercial wastes - including separately collected fractions] (except for the 20 03 04 and 20 03 06 codes).

 The bulk of Municipal waste data is provided by WasteServ which also provides data about the locality from where the waste originates. Data for municipal waste is thus extracted by locality and aggregated by district. The locality for 21.0% of waste amounts was not known, so these amounts were allocated according to the proportion of hotels in each district and the proportion of population which resides in each district.

The indicator was worked out with provisional data for 2022. 91.5% of the total municipal waste amount is made up of data that was sourced from the major facilities that treated this kind of waste in 2022. On the other hand, the remaining 8.5% were sourced from the 2021 records of smaller-scale facilities.

Travel Patterns

Data on the number of private cars registered is compiled as at end of year administrative data, provided by Transport Malta.  Passenger car refers to road motor vehicle, other than a moped or a motorcycle, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than 9 persons (including the driver). Included are: passenger cars, vans designed and used primarily for transport of passengers, taxis, hire cars, ambulances, motor homes (not caravans), hearses, microcars (needing no permit to be driven).  Data for variable TT1057V includes passenger cars owned by companies and public entities since data on private cars only is not available.

Road traffic accidents’ data are compiled from administrative information provided by the Police Department, the Malta Insurance Association and the Guard and Warden Services Ltd on a monthly basis. The type of injury (slight or grievous) is determined by the Health Department. The definitions of deaths caused by road traffic accidents refer to the European Conference for Ministers of Transport and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Data is checked for consistency and compared with the data from the previous quarter and month. In cases where anomalies emerge, queries are sent directly to the respective source for clarification. 

Culture and Recreation

Cinema statistics

A survey was launched in 2011 and is now being carried out on an annual basis. The target population for this survey consists of all operating cinema establishments. This survey collects data on number of screenings, admissions and gross box office for each film showed by these cinema establishments during the survey reference period. Information collected also includes statistics on voluntary and paid staff, as well as on the financial performance on the surveyed organisations.

Library statistics

Since 2010, the NSO has also started publishing Statistics on Libraries on an annual basis. These statistics are compiled basing on data supplied by the Central Public Library. Latest available statistics relate to 2021/2022 and focus on public libraries as well as membership. This survey also collects information on the number of book loans within different localities and the number of books and periodicals received under legal deposit.  The survey includes the branch, regional, and Central Public Library of Malta Libraries and the National Libraries in Valletta and Victoria Gozo.

Not applicable.

None.