The most common grounds given for appealing a denial of refugee status was that the immigrants' home country only offered them a life of poverty.

None of the 486 cases decided by the Refugee Appeals Board last year was deemed to qualify for refugee status, which is granted if there is fear of persecution in their home country.

Figures issued by the appeals board showed that almost 25 per cent of immigrants who appealed the refusal of the Refugee Commission did so for economic reasons. Some 18 per cent claimed country instability, 16 per cent mentioned family problems and 14 per cent religious and tribal tensions.

Although none of the appellants was granted refugee status on appeal, two cases involving Eritreans were sent back to the commission and the men were granted subsidiary protection. This meant they were allowed to stay in Malta for fear they may be harmed if repatriated.

Recent figures issued by the commission showed that just 232 out of 10,629 applicants were eligible for refugee status between 2002 and 2009. Another 5,677 were granted subsidiary and 17 temporary humanitarian protection while 251 withdrew their application, bringing the number of rejections to 4,452.

According to the statistics released by the appeals board, 825 people filed a notice of appeal last year and most were in the process of being legally assisted.

The vast majority, 717, were men and 97 were women and 13 children. Over 85 per cent of the immigrants were aged between 18 and 35.

Almost 30 per cent of applicants were Nigerian followed by Malians and Somalis. Despite the 21 nationalities listed in the figures, almost 99 per cent of them came to Malta via Libya, although most would have first transited or stayed in countries other than their own before getting there.

As for religion, 60 per cent were Muslims and 36 per cent Catholic. Educationally, 39 per cent never attended school, 31 per cent frequented primary school and 27 per cent had secondary school or high school qualifications.

Figures issued by the commission earlier this month showed that 1,475 migrants landed on Malta's shores, in 17 boats, last year. The number of women was on the increase with 219 making it to Malta, even though they were still heavily outnumbered by men. There were also 101 children who made the treacherous journey across the sea. Another 19 children were born in Malta.