The report, laid on the table of the House of Representatives last week, showed that people are living longer than they did and that the number of children has fallen drastically.

For example, the number of people aged 80 and over increased by 40 per cent when compared to the 1995 census. There was also an increase of 25 per cent in the number of people aged between 65 and 79. On the other hand, the percentage of children under 15 years of age dropped by nearly five per cent or, in numerical terms, by about 14,000.

This provides much food for thought as it confirms what has been known for quite some time – that fewer children are being born and that, because of a better lifestyle, people are living much longer. The average age of the Maltese people has in fact risen from 36 in 1995 to 39 in 2005.

Although we should all be thankful that advances in medicine and improvements in the way of life are helping the Maltese live a longer and perhaps a better life, there is the other side of the coin to all this. It also means that the burden on the country’s economy and social fabric is increasing as the number of non-workers continues to rise.

This is because the country has to support more pensioners than it used to in the past. To exacerbate this problem, the number of workers whose national insurance contribution goes to support these pensioners is on the decline because fewer children are being born.

Unless matters change quickly, there will soon come a time when the number of workers in the labour market to support pensioners will not be enough to maintain a sustainable pensions system, and in this regard the government is doing the right thing in trying to tackle the matter now.

Although the problem is not yet with us, it will be in 15-20 years’ time and therefore it is necessary that any alterations to the pensions system are made as soon as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk that the whole pensions set-up will collapse as the country would not be in a position to sustain pensioners.

The government seems to be working on the matter but one gets the impression that it is doing so in fits and starts. There needs to be a more concerted effort in this regard – decisions must be taken and implemented quickly so as to start countering this phenomenon.

The census confirmed other trends too. Although central locations such as Birkirkara, Mosta and Qormi remain densely-populated, there has been a shift to areas such as Marsascala and St Paul’s Bay, whose population has nearly doubled over a 10-year period.

It is also worth noting that the northern district has registered a steep rise in its population as people move to quieter areas from the more densely-populated south and central parts. The 27.5 per cent increase in the population of the northern district is clear evidence that people prefer to take longer to get to work so long as there is peace and quiet when they return home.

Conversely, the populations of Valletta and its suburb Floriana continue to decline as people move out of the “administrative headquarters” and certainly the biggest commercial area of the country. Fewer and fewer young people are choosing to live in Valletta and Floriana.

It is rather sad to see that the capital city of Malta is losing more and more people. It seems that efforts that have been made to revitalise it and to make it more attractive – both for residents and visitors – are not making much success.