City statistics (urb)

The Urban Audit project, also known as Data Collection for Sub-national Statistics, is a comprehensive initiative focused on gathering data related to European cities. This project is designed to provide valuable insights and standardised measurements related to various aspects of urban quality of life within cities.

The primary objective of the Urban Audit project is to actively contribute to enhancing the quality of urban life across European cities. It accomplishes this by supporting the exchange of experiences among European cities, identifying best practices, facilitating benchmarking at the European level, and providing information on the dynamics within the cities and their surroundings.

This project is overseen by the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy in collaboration with Eurostat. It is developed through the collaborative efforts of the National Statistics Institutes of the Member States. The central mission of the project is to collect, estimate, and disseminate socio-economic statistical data. These efforts aim to comprehensively understand and measure the quality of life within specific territorial regions.

At the city level, the Urban Audit project encompasses more than 130 variables and over 50 indicators. These indicators are derived from the data collected by the European Statistical System and are organised into 20 tables, further grouped into two main categories. Additionally, there is a dedicated table that captures perceptions through surveys.

The data collected by the Urban Audit project is stratified into two spatial levels:

The City (C): This level is defined based on administrative boundaries and serves as the fundamental unit of analysis within the project.
The Functional Urban Area (FUA): The Functional Urban Area represents an approximation of the functional urban zone surrounding the city. It helps provide a broader perspective on urban dynamics and interconnections.

As from this year, there was a change in the City boundaries in accordance with the DEGURBA classification. The City is now made of the following 37 localities:

MT_MT01101 Valletta

MT_MT01103 Il-Birgu

MT_MT01104 L-Isla

MT_MT01105 Bormla

MT_MT01108 Ħaż-Żabbar

MT_MT01117 Il-Fgura

MT_MT01118 Floriana

MT_MT01129 Il-Kalkara

MT_MT01133 Ħal Luqa

MT_MT01134 Il-Marsa

MT_MT01145 Raħal Ġdid

MT_MT01157 Santa Luċija

MT_MT01162 Ħal Tarxien

MT_MT01165 Ix-Xgħajra

MT_MT01206 Ħal Qormi

MT_MT01214 Birkirkara

MT_MT01221 Il-Gżira

MT_MT01227 Il-Ħamrun

MT_MT01241 L-Imsida

MT_MT01246 Pembroke

MT_MT01247 Tal-Pieta'

MT_MT01252 San Ġiljan

MT_MT01253 San Ġwann

MT_MT01258 Santa Venera

MT_MT01259 Tas-Sliema

MT_MT01260 Is-Swieqi

MT_MT01261 Ta' Xbiex

MT_MT01310 Iż-Żejtun

MT_MT01320 Il-Gudja

MT_MT01326 Ħal Għaxaq

MT_MT01407 Ħaż-Żebbuġ

MT_MT01412 Ħ'Attard

MT_MT01413 Ħal Balzan

MT_MT01428 L-Iklin

MT_MT01432 Ħal Lija

MT_MT01524 Ħal Għargħur

MT_MT01539 Il-Mosta

24 October 2024

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:

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

Household Structure and Housing

Most variables pertaining to household structure and housing in the above domains are derived from the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey. This annual survey, conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), encompasses individuals residing in private households in Malta and Gozo. The main scope of this survey is to enable the compilation of statistics on income distribution, relative poverty, material deprivation and social exclusion. This survey has been carried out in Malta since 2005, under EU regulation (EU. No. 1177/2003). This regulation establishes criteria which ensure the production of high quality and harmonised results at European level. As from 2022, EU-SILC started to be carried out under a new regulation: Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 October 2019 establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples.

Provided that this survey is an annual endeavour carried out by all European Union Member States under a European framework regulation, all aspects of the EU-SILC survey are coordinated by Eurostat, which offers guidelines on the methodology implemented.

The income reference year of the EU-SILC survey is the calendar year preceding the survey year. Therefore, income collected in EU-SILC 2023 pertains to the calendar year 2022. On the other hand, non-income components are based on data from 2023, 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 resulting figure, which is 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 adheres to internationally agreed concepts, definitions, and methodologies. This allows the comparability of results with other EU Member States and countries following ILO definitions of employment and unemployment. Occupations are classified according to the ISCO - 08 classification (International Standard Classification of Occupations), whereas the economic activity is classified according to NACE Rev. 2 (Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne). Educational attainment is classified according to ISCED 2011 (International Standard Classification of Education). The LFS is carried out on an ongoing basis with a quarterly gross sample of 3,200 private households per quarter. The primary aim of the survey is to have a continuous assessment of labour market trends given that the reference weeks are evenly spread throughout the 13 weeks of the quarter. 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 the Integrated European Social Statistics (IESS) Framework Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/257 of 16th December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying the number and the title of the variables for the labour force domain. This legislation came into force in January 2021. Prior to this regulation, the LFS followed Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 and the implementing Regulation (EC) No 377/2008.

The 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.

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.
Employees: are defined as persons who work for a public or private employer and who receive compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, payment by results or payment in kind.
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.

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 i.e. either carried out activities in the four-week period ending with the reference week to seek paid employment or self-employment or found a job to start within a period of at most 3 months from the end of the reference week. Examples of active job search include 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 before the end of the 2 weeks following the reference week.

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

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

Economic Activity

The data provided is derived from the Statistical Business Register of the active businesses at local unit level. The statistical business register provides one of the most detailed local business profiles in Malta.

The data is classified by economic activity according to the NACE (Nomenclature Statistique des Activités Économiques dans la Communauté Européenne) classification of economic activities in the European Union.

Active business units are defined as businesses that had either turnover or employment at any time during the reference period.

Active business population includes public corporations and non-profit enterprises.

Public corporations are all the government-controlled units that are often established by government as market producers principally engaged in the production of goods, non-financial and financial services, and as such they are classified in non-financial and financial sectors.

Non-profit organisations are legal or social entities acting for the purpose of producing goods and services whose status does not permit them to be a source of income, profit or other financial gains for the units that establish, control, or finance them.

The reported data only refers to employed persons in active business units during reference year 2022. Employed persons (head count) is defined as the total number of both self-employed and employees. Employment is in terms of jobs, that is, comprising full-time and part-time (primary and secondary) workers. Thus, if a person is engaged with two different business units s/he is counted twice.

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 data reporting which is submitted annually to Eurostat. This methodology follows the provisions as laid down in the document: 'Guidance for the compilation and reporting of data on municipal waste according to Commission Implementing Decisions 2019/1004/EC and 2019/1885/EC, and the Joint Questionnaire of Eurostat and OECD' version of 06/10/2023.

Travel and Transport

Traffic accident data is compiled from administrative information provided by the Malta Police Force and the Malta Insurance Association (LESA).

Total road traffic accidents consist of the road traffic accidents involving casualties (Police reports) and the minor road traffic accidents without casualties (Police and Warden reports).

Non-injury (minor) road traffic accidents refer to accidents assessed by Wardens and/or the Police involving at least one vehicle and in which no persons are injured.

Non-injury road traffic accidents which are either not reported or directly reported to Insurance Agencies by means of the Traffic Accident Form (i.e. where no Police or Wardens are called on the accident scene and are settled by the completion of the relevant form) are not accounted for.

Insignificant injury is determined by the Police as the sustaining of a very minimal injury (e.g. bruise, scratch, etc.) or shock due to accident which, in most cases, requires very basic treatment or no treatment at all.

The definition of slight injury is as listed in Art. 221 et sequitur of the Criminal Code, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta.

The definition of grievous injury is as listed in Art. 216 et sequitur of the Criminal Code, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta.

UNECE defines road fatal injury as: “Any person who was killed outright or who died within 30 days as a result of the accident”.

Data on registered private cars are sourced from Transport Malta and presented in accordance with international standards (Eurostat/ITF/UNECE), as defined in the 5^th edition of the Glossary for Transport Statistics.

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Culture and Recreation

Cinema.

Data for the year 2023 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 2023 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. More information is available at this website (Regional and Branch Libraries).

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 for the entire grant period encompasses the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. This report pertains to the reference year 2023.

Refer to sections 3.4, 18.1 and 18.3.

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.

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 citizens:

Immigration of Maltese citizens 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 citizens is calculated based on the figures resulting from the Tourstat border survey for Maltese citizens 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 and UK citizens 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 and UK citizens 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 and UK citizens are calculated based on a factor extracted from the EU and UK citizen registrations notifying their residence in Malta from the Residence Permits database.

Non-EU citizens excluding UK:

Asylum Statistics:
- Immigration: The database held at the International Protection Agency is used to extract who submit a first application for asylum in the reference year. As of reference year 2022, first applicants for asylum are being included in the inflows. Fore reference years 2022, persons granted temporary protection in the reference year that were still in the valid stock by the end of the year were also included in the inflows. Persons granted protection on appeal are included as immigrants in the year the decision on appeal is taken.
- Emigration: Includes non-EU citizens who have previously been granted protection status who have been resettled, repatriated, or relocated during the reference year. As of reference year 2022 all first applicants for asylum who had their application rejected, withdrawn, or deemed inadmissible are also being included as out flows of the population. Persons who were included in the stock in 2023 after being granted temporary protection are counted as emigrants if this protection was withdrawn in the reference year.

Residence Permits:
- Immigration of non-EU citizens is calculated based on the permits which hold a duration of at least 1 year based on the database managed by the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs.
- Emigration of non-EU citizens 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 has been carried out in Malta since 2005 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. As from 2020, EU-SILC started to be carried out under a new regulation: Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1700. Data collection is 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 EU-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.

In 2023 the gross sample size was 5,077 households. Of these, 96 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, 4,981 households were approached for the interview. Of these, 4,515 completed the survey, resulting in a household response rate of 91 per cent. These households comprised 10,993 residents, of whom 9,565 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 2023 refers to the number of persons living in private households as at end of 2022 which was estimated at 532,186.

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 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, training is provided to the interviewers. Training is carried out through an intensive session. The questionnaire and corresponding definitions are explained at a high level of detail. Furthermore, assistance related to the data entry program is also provided. In particular, a number of ‘test’ scenarios are simulated to help interviewers understand how the data collection program works. The data collection period takes approximately 4 months (including one month for follow up) of the same year N. Interviewers are monitored throughout the data collection process, and household audits are also carried out to ensure accuracy of the data. EU-SILC data collection is conducted primarily using a CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) method; however, data can also be collected using a CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) method upon household request.

For variable DE4001V, information for reference year 2023 was available only for old households in the EU-SILC. While an old household may have changed its address since the last survey, we lack data on whether a new household changed its address prior to its participation in the survey.

For the compilation of the variable SA1004V, the definition of houses consisted of: Detached house, Semi-detached or terraced house and some other kind of accommodation (e.g. cellar/basement flat, boathouse, windmill, dwellings forming part of bastions, cave, hut, accommodation situated in buildings that are for use other than housing).

In EU-SILC, a housing unit may contain more than one household, e.g. two families in the same dwelling, though these cases are minimal. Each family is treated as a distinct household during weighting, resulting in similar values for SA1004V and SA1007V.

For the compilation of the variable SA1005V, the definition of Apartments consisted of: Maisonette/ground floor tenement, Apartment/flat/cluster house in a building with less than 10 dwellings and apartment/flat/cluster house in a building with 10 dwellings or more.

For the compilation of the variable SA1011V, the definition of Owner includes: Outright owner and Owner paying mortgage.

Information on variables DE4004V Population with the place of residence in another EU country, in the year before, and DE4005V Population with the place of residence outside the EU, in the year before, were only available at National level.

Actual rents paid on residential dwellings and garages are obtained from the 2021 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 2021 is forthcoming from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing, compiled by the National Statistics Office. Data for variable SA1049V is being provided only at national level.

Labour Market

The Labour Force Survey (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 sampling design is stratified 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 5.62%.

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, personal or via telephone. The mode of collection for the first panel is CAPI, where, 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 interviews are conducted via CATI. 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 collected on a quarterly basis, while ad-hoc variables are collected annually. All eligible households that respond 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 were not reached at any point in time will be recontacted in the subsequent panel.

The target population comprises all persons usually residing in private households. From 2023, the sampling frame for the LFS was based on the 2021 Census. The sampling weighting factor is based on the probability of selection and demographics (of the target population) by sex, geographic region (NUTS 2 level) and five-year age groups.

Economic Activity

Data for all variables related to Economic Activity was based on the Statistical Business Register of active businesses at local unit level, available at NSO. The data, which is worked out at both FUA and city levels, refers to employment by place of work for reference year 2022, except for employment under government entities as this is only provided according to the locality of the head office.

Education and Training provision, Educational qualifications

Data for variable TE1001V was in part provided by the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR). 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 2022-2023. Data is not worked as a monthly average but as March 2023.

Information regarding stated owned pre-primary to secondary schools is received from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR), 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.

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 and is provided in aggregated format. WasteServ Malta Ltd., which is the largest operator having various waste collection and treatment facilities, provides data for all the facilities which it operates. All data is classified 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 02 02, and 20 03 04 and 20 03 06 codes).

Municipal waste generation data is sub-divided into three sectors: households, businesses, and hotels and restaurants. For each locality coefficients are worked out on the basis of the resident population, number of employees and tourist nights spent. Municipal waste generation amounts are then assigned to each locality by multiplying with the coefficients for each sector by locality. Finally, the municipal waste generation at the ‘City’ level is worked out by aggregating the values for those localities that make up the ‘City’.

The indicator was worked out with data for 2022. Estimates were then produced for 2023 by applying the rate of increase that was registered for the total resident population in 2023 to the waste data in the households’ sector. Data in the other two sectors was kept in the same levels of 2022 because preliminary data for municipal waste treatment in 2023 point towards a low rate of increase in municipal waste generation.

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, 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 Malta Police Force and the Malta Insurance Association (LESA) on a monthly basis. UNECE defines road fatal injury as: “Any person who was killed outright or who died within 30 days as a result of the accident”. In cases where anomalies in the data provided 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 2023 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.

Demography, Nationality

Births data: Births Registry, Public Registry, Identita`; and the National Obstetrics Information System (NOIS), Directorate for Health Information and Research
Deaths data: National Mortality Register, Directorate for Health Information and Research
Migration:
1. Databases covering engagements and terminations of employment: JobsPlus (register information).
2. Residence permits: Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs, Identita` Malta.
3. Foreign Adoptions: Public Registry, Identita`.
4. Applications for international protection: International Protection Agency.
5. Appeals on decisions for international protection: Internal Protection Appeals Tribunal.
6. Resettled, relocated and repatriated third-country nationals covered by international protection: Migration Directorate, Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment.
7. Migration of Maltese citizens: National Statistics Office (Sample surveys; Population and Housing Census).

Health

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

Crime

Homicides data source: The Malta Police Force.

Household structure and Housing

Main data source: European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC)
Variable SA1049V: Data compiled from the National Accounts and Production Unit and the Methodology and Quality Unit, sourced from the Census of Population and Housing (2021) and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) for the number of permits issued.

Labour Market

Labour Force Survey (LFS). Despite its data limitations relating to data robustness at NUTS 3 and LAU 1 levels, the LFS was still considered as the most suitable source in classifying employment spatially.

Economic Activity

Data source for economic activity: Statistical Business Register of the active businesses at local unit level.

Education and Training provision, Educational qualifications

Variable TE1001V: Data collected from Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR) and from state, independent, and church schools. Excludes childcare, reception classes, and special schools. Other data on Education and Training provision and Educational qualifications are 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: Malta Police Force and the Malta Insurance Association (LESA).

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 (Regional and Branch Libraries).

The Member State is in agreement to submit annual data for reference years 2023, 2024 and 2025.

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

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.

1.1. Contact organisation

1.2. Contact organisation unit

1.3. Contact name

1.4. Contact person function

1.5. Contact mail address

1.6. Contact email address

1.7. Contact phone number

1.8. Contact fax number

2.1. Metadata last certified

2.2. Metadata last posted

2.3. Metadata last update

3.1. Data description

3.2. Classification system

3.3. Coverage - sector

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

3.5. Statistical unit

3.6. Statistical population

3.7. Reference area

3.8. Coverage - Time

3.9. Base period

6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

7.1. Confidentiality - policy

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

8.1. Release calendar

8.2. Release calendar access

8.3. Release policy - user access

10.1. Dissemination format - News release

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

10.5. Dissemination format - other

10.6. Documentation on methodology

10.7. Quality management - documentation

11.1. Quality assurance

11.2. Quality management - assessment

12.1. Relevance - User Needs

12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

12.3. Completeness

13.1. Accuracy - overall

13.2. Sampling error

13.3. Non-sampling error

14.1. Timeliness

14.2. Punctuality

15.1. Comparability - geographical

15.2. Comparability - over time

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

15.4. Coherence - internal

17.1. Data revision - policy

17.2. Data revision - practice

18.1. Source data

18.2. Frequency of data collection

18.3. Data collection

18.4. Data validation

18.5. Data compilation

18.6. Adjustment