Households in the north are the wealthiest

Affluence abounds in the north of the island and statistics published yesterday confirm that this is not just a perception.

According to the National Statistics Office, the average disposable income for households was highest in the western district, which includes among others the localities of Attard, Lija, Balzan, Siġġiewi and Rabat.

The Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2007, published by the NSO, showed that in the period under review the disposable income for households in the west was €20,648, which represented an increase of over two per cent when compared to a year before.

Next in line was the northern district with an average disposable income of €19,871 per household. Households in this area, which comprises localities such as Mellieħa, Mosta, Naxxar and St Paul's Bay, saw their disposable income jump by almost eight per cent in 2007 when compared to the previous year. They experienced the biggest increase in disposable income.

The northern harbour area, which covers a span of localities from Qormi to Birkirkara and from Sliema to Pembroke, was the third most affluent district with an average disposable income of €18,659 per household.

Contrary to popular belief, Gozo registered the lowest disposable income per household in 2007 at €16,070. However, households there experienced the second largest increase, almost seven per cent, in disposable income when compared to 2006.

In complete contrast, the southern harbour district, which comprises Valletta, Cottonera, Paola and Żabbar among others, was the only area to register a drop in household disposable income. In 2007, households in the area recorded an average of €16,348, a drop of almost six per cent over the previous year. The south eastern district did not fare much better. Even if disposable income did increase it only nudged up by just over one per cent, the smallest increase.

In 2007, households in this district, which comprises Marsascala, Żejtun, Żurrieq and Birżebbuġa among others, registered an average of €17,923 in disposable income.