More Eastern Europeans have been granted residential status than African boat migrants, according to figures tabled in Parliament last night.
Over 3,000 Russians, Romanians, Ukrainians and Bulgarians have become Maltese residents, some 900 more than the most common nationalities to make the harrowing boat voyage across the Mediterranean from Africa.
Somalis, Eritreans and Ethiopians make up 2,357, according to the figures presented by Homes Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia.
The figures do not account for the migrants who have not yet been granted permits
The residential figures, however, do not account for the substantially larger number of migrants who have not yet been granted permits.
The ministry told Times of Malta the African migrant numbers only included those who enjoyed refugee status, subsidiary protection or temporary humanitarian protection. Migrants currently applying for special protection, or living in detention centres, were not considered residents.
The figures were given in reply to a question by Nationalist MP Ċensu Galea.
Several migrants choose to leave the island but those who do stay seem to feel more comfortable living in the south of the island, with Birżebbuġa and Marsa being home to the majority of Somali and Eritrean migrants.
Eastern Europeans, on the other hand, live mostly in St Paul’s Bay, a locality that has more than 100 different nationalities.
Malta’s ex-colonial heritage still has a strong bearing on those choosing to relocate to the island. More than 20 per cent of foreign residents come from the UK, the majority of whom (900) also chose to live in St Paul’s Bay.
One in every five foreigners lives in the once sleepy fishing village. One in every six on the other hand lives in St Julian’s and Swieqi.
More than 20 per cent of foreign residents come from the UK
There were also some 800 Filipinos who had successfully applied for residential status. These, however, accounted for less than half of the Filipino community living and working on the island.
Figures published by the EU’s data collection arm had also revealed that Filipinos were the most likely foreigners to have a work permit on the island.
Libyans also made up a significant chunk (2,000) of the foreign residents, the majority of who live in Gżira and Swieqi.
Gozo also enjoys an eclectic mix of nationalities, with residents coming from China, South Africa and even Mongolia.
The majority (626) come from the UK. And, although a stroll through the sister isle would reveal a hefty number of Mount Rushmore and God Bless America house plaques, US residents accounted for less than five per cent of those living on the island.