Population grows as migration outstrips local birth rate
Malta's population last year grew by 3,200 people, or 7.8 persons per every 1000 – registering the second largest increase out of the 27 EU member states.
According to new population statistics issued in Brussels this morning, the biggest contributor to Malta's population growth in 2010 was by far immigration, with the number of migrants, outnumbering the natural growth of the population.
While the Maltese population registered natural growth of 1000, (4000 newborns against 3000 deaths), 2200 migrants arrived, pushing up the total change in the Maltese population to 3,200 in just a year.
At the same time, the statistics also show that in 2010, Malta had one of the lowest birth rates in the EU among the 27 member states. It was 9.6 newborns per 1000 population. The EU's average in 2010 was 10.7.
Eurostat said that the population of the EU27 was estimated at 502.5 million, compared with 501.1 million on 1 January 2010. The population grew by 1.4 million in 2010, an annual rate of +2.7 per 1000 inhabitants, due to a natural increase of 0.5 million (+1.0‰) and net migration of 0.9 million (+1.7‰).
In 2010, 5.4 million children were born in the EU27. The crude birth rate was 10.7 per 1000 inhabitants, the same as in 2009. The highest birth rates were recorded in Ireland (16.5‰), the United Kingdom (13.0‰), France (12.8‰), Cyprus (12.4‰) and Sweden (12.3‰), and the lowest rates in Germany (8.3‰), Latvia (8.6‰), Hungary (9.0‰), Italy (9.3‰), Austria (9.4‰), Portugal (9.5‰) and Malta (9.6‰).
There were 4.8 million deaths registered in the EU27 in 2010. The crude death rate was 9.7 per 1000 inhabitants, unchanged compared with 2009.
The highest death rates were observed in Bulgaria (14.6‰), Latvia (13.4‰), Hungary (13.0‰), Lithuania (12.8‰) and Romania (12.1‰), and the lowest rates in Ireland (6.2‰), Cyprus (6.7‰), Malta (7.2‰) and Luxembourg (7.4‰).
Consequently, the highest natural growth of the population (the difference between live births and deaths per 1000 inhabitants) was registered in Ireland (+10.3‰), well ahead of Cyprus (+5.7‰), France (+4.4‰), Luxembourg (+4.2‰) and the United Kingdom (+3.9‰).
Eight Member States had a negative natural growth, with the largest declines in Latvia (-4.8‰), Bulgaria (-4.6‰), Hungary (-4.0‰), Germany and Romania (both -2.2‰).
The highest population growth in 2010 in Luxembourg, Sweden, Malta, Belgium and the United Kingdom
In 2010, over 60% of the increase in the EU27 population came from migration. In relative terms, Luxembourg (+15.1‰), Malta (+5.4‰), Sweden (+5.3‰), Italy (+5.2‰) and Belgium (+5.1‰) had the largest net inflows, while Lithuania (-23.7‰) and Ireland (-7.5‰) recorded the highest net outflows.
The population increased in 20 Member States and decreased in seven, with considerable variations between Member States. The largest relative increases were observed in Luxembourg (+19.3‰), Sweden (+8.0‰), Malta (+7.8‰), Belgium (+7.2‰) and the United Kingdom (+6.6‰), and the largest decreases in Lithuania (-25.7‰), Latvia (-8.4‰) and Bulgaria (-7.8‰).
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
14 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Alistor Aguis
Jul 29th 2011, 08:52
The average ferility rate of a woman is less than 2.Now what this means is that a couple has on average less than 2 children, which is not a sufficient number to sustain a species.So we are in danger of extinction
Ms Louise Vella
Jul 28th 2011, 20:49
At this rate it's only a matter of time before the illegal immigrants outnumber the Maltese population. The PN Gonzi government must put the national interest before all other interests and start repatriating the illegal immigrants to their native countries.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jul 28th 2011, 14:42
It is a well known fact that Malta has always been over populated. Because of this, many Maltese had to leave their home here and emigrate to other countries to hopefully find a better life. Now the Maltese finally got smart and are doing their part by reducing the number of births each year. But another problem arises. While the Maltese are doing their part to reduce the population on this already populated small island, here come the illegal immigrants filling up that much needed void. Can't seem to catch a break, can we?
C Debono
Jul 28th 2011, 16:27
Mr Calleja, you actually think its a good thing that the birth rate has reduced? Do you know that the children born today are the ones that will be in the working population when most of us are pensions? And therefore the government would need money from them to pay for pensions and other benefits?
Also, the increase in migration doesn't mean it is solely from illegal immigrants.. there are also many foreigners who come and live here from other EU countries.. ie legally..
I actually think that the government must do something to make the birth rate increase in Malta!
Maria Pisani
Jul 28th 2011, 17:32
a. so you are implying that it's ok for us to leave our home in search of a better life, but not for others?
b. if I recall correctly (and this also applies to comments below), the number of asylum seekers last year (to which this article refers) was less than 30. And of those, the majority were granted protection. Thus, once again, the use of the term 'illegal' is incorrrect.
c. Malta needs migration to sustain the economy. Migrants have, and will continue to contribute in taxes and NI payments.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jul 28th 2011, 17:33
Mr Debono we are always saying how overpopulated Malta is. Now that the growth is slightly down you are worried about your pension? Why not worry about the free loaders that are always there with an open hand to rip off the Tax Payer? People who make it a habit of receiving freebies from the government? People who are taking full advantage and abusing the system. Too many to name. Is that why the government found it so easy to to give themselves an Honoraria pay raise and now a 500 euro a week pay raise? Or maybe the squandering of an unnecessary referendum that cost the Tax payer over 4,000,000 million euros. Or maybe the squandering of millions of euros to restructure City Gate or maybe the squandering of millions to put up a Roofless Opera House? And the list goes on and on. If you really have worries about your pension, try becoming a politician, they have a guaranteed pension. By the way most of the foreigners that come to live here bring money with them, lots of money, it's the free loaders that I am talking about, those that do not contribute towards yours and my pension. Maybe you suggest that Maltese parents start having big families like they did in the old days? Families with eight, ten or more kids? And who is going to feed and afford to raise these kids? The Government?
Lara Tabone
Jul 28th 2011, 23:54
What makes you think that the immigrants where all illegal? As far as I know there are also many legal immigrants living and working legally on the island
Mr Neville A Cassar
Jul 28th 2011, 14:11
"in 2010, Malta had one of the lowest birth rates in the EU among the 27 member states. "
Now... that is worrying ! How is the government going to pay for the pensions in the future? No workers.... means no tax revenue... no workforce for the industry... no consumers for the industry...
Is it cause maltese people are so not confident of their financial situation... that they arent having children?
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 28th 2011, 15:03
Mr Neville A Cassar saying that there will not be enough Maltese to pay for the pensions is simply a ploy by the politicians and the eu to impose immigration and illegal immigration upon us. If the money collected from the Bolla Balla is used only for pensions there will be more than enough for the pensions.
While on this subject, if the politicians want us to believe them they should have their pensions paid from the pensions fund and not from the Consolidated Fund. Why should they be preferred over us? Either that or charge all pensions to the Consolidated Fund and there will never eb any problem with finding funds for pensions.
C Debono
Jul 28th 2011, 16:29
Maybe because there are close to zero benefits for working parents.. while costs are always on the increase...
but no the government prefers to pay more benefits for lazy bums who do their best not to work and live on social benefits!
J Cassar
Jul 28th 2011, 13:38
WHEN IS THEIR REPATRIATION GOING TO START OR ARE THEY HERE FOREVER?!
Mr Terry Gosden
Jul 28th 2011, 14:36
J.C. The answer to your questions are, repatriation is ongoing. And yes many of these people will stay, as is the case with the rest of the world. Get used to it.
Maria Pisani
Jul 28th 2011, 14:42
@ J Cassar: Whose repatriation???
ALFRED QUINTANO
Jul 28th 2011, 15:02
Does it cross your mind that this increase in popultaion is due to migrants from other EU countries such as the UK, Bulgaria and Romania who have every right to work and reside here and the likes of Serbia and Russia who are given easy residence ... And on all days today which is World Refugee Day ...