During 2014, 569 irregular immigrants were brought to Maltese shores, a decrease of 71.7 per cent over the preceding year, the NSO said.

Of the 569 persons brought ashore during 2014, 67.5 per cent were of African origin while a further 32.3 per cent were of Asian origin. Almost a third of all African visitors were Somali nationals (30.7 per cent) while 20.8 per cent were Sudanese nationals. The majority of Asian nationals arriving by boat during 2014 were Syrian, with 72.8 per cent.

In 2014, the Office of the Refugee Commissioner filed 1,352 applications for international protection, a decline of 39.8 per cent over the previous year.

More than half of these applicants were males aged between 18 and 34. The majority, 69.7 per cent, were Africans, of whom 44.6 per cent were Libyans and 13.6 per cent Somalis. Another 26.9 per cent originated from Asia, predominantly from Syria (84.3 per cent).

The Office of the Refugee Commissioner processed 1,735 applications in 2014; 72.6 per cent were granted a positive decision, while the remaining applications were rejected. Two-thirds of the applicants who were granted asylum were of African origin.

A decrease of 49.0 per cent was registered in the resident population of open centres and other institutional households. The majority of the persons residing in open centres and other institutional households were residing in Ħal Far (60.2 per cent) while more than a quarter were residing in Marsa (26.6 per cent). The majority of the residents were males and 22.1 per cent were Somalis.

During 2014, 991 persons were found to be present illegally in Malta, a decrease of 59.3 per cent over the previous year. The largest share, or 61.3 per cent, were Africans, while a further 26.7 per cent were Asians (mainly of Syrian nationality). Moreover, 61.2 per cent of these migrants were aged between 18 and 34. Of those who were found to be illegally present in Malta, 173 persons were returned to a third country, of whom 69.9 per cent returned to African countries, predominantly Nigeria.

Last year, the number of third-country nationals resettled in another country was recorded at 579, an increase of 151 persons over 2013. Another 75 persons benefited from assisted voluntary return programmes.