While the number of newborns decreased by 2.5 per cent last year, Malta’s population increased by one per cent, according to national data.

The total population at the end of 2013 stood at 425,384, up by one per cent when compared to 2012, the National Statistics Office said. Of these, 94.1 per cent were Maltese.

Nearly 18 per cent of the population was under 18, while another 18 per cent were aged 65 and older. Of these, 2,114 people (1,500 women and 614 men) were over 89.

The population increase was mainly due to net migration (immigration less emigration).

Data shows that the number of live births registered during 2013 decreased by 2.5 per cent over the previous year.

Nearly 130 babies  or some three per cent  were born to teenage mothers.

Almost two-thirds of babies were born to mothers aged between 25 and 34.

There were 1,039 births outside marriage, of which 11 per cent were born to teenagers, while a third were born to mothers between 20 and 24.

Of the 3,236 deaths registered during 2013, 66.5 per cent were over 74 years old.

According to NSO, there were 245 fewer marriages last year, while civil marriages accounted for 46.5 per cent of the total, an increase of 2.5 per cent over the previous year.