A staggering 4,025 properties in Valletta are owned by the government, being used for a mixture of residential, commercial and retail purposes.

Some of the properties are leased but an unspecified number are on encroachment.

The capital city had a population of 5,730 in 2016, the latest year for which figures were available, down from over 7,000 in 2003.

Responding to a parliamentary question by MP Karol Aquilina, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg presented information gathered by the Lands Authority which gave a breakdown by street.

The top five streets in terms of government units are:

• Strait Street – 197
• Republic Street – 194
• Merchants Street – 173
• St Nicholas Street – 164
• St Ursula Street – 146

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