Forty per cent of the Maltese attend Sunday Mass regularly, but around three fourths go to church at least once a month, according to a study commissioned by the Curia.

A fifth of those who miss Mass quoted disagreement with the teachings of the Church as a reason for their absence, while another 12 per cent said they did not find time for Mass.

These preliminary figures, which emerged from a study commissioned by the Archdiocese of Malta, were confirmed by a census held between December 2 and 3, which showed that Mass attendance was at 38 per cent (122,000 people). The census was carried out in 987 masses held in 329 places of worship.

Meanwhile, the scientific random sample study, carried out among 1,000 people, also showed that 92 per cent of the Maltese identify as being Catholic.

The research will allow the Church a wider picture of society so that it can be more pastorally effective in the coming years, Administrative Secretary Michael Pace Ross told Times of Malta.

He added that Archbishop Charles Scicluna will be appointing a committee to analyse the research findings with the help of experts. Together with 70 parish priests, the committee will recommend the necessary changes in light of a pastoral plan.

Back in 2015, newly appointed Archbishop Scicluna had told Times Talk that the number of Maltese going to church on Sunday has gone down to about 40 per cent.

This marks a 10 percentage point drop in attendance recorded in 2005, however, it still compares well with other Catholic communities in Europe, such as Italy and France, where turnout is less than 10 per cent, Mr Pace Ross said.

The last census, carried out in 2005, found that Sunday Mass attendance in Malta stood at 51 per cent of the total population