The estimated total population of Malta and Gozo at the end of 2018 stood at 493,559, up by 3.8 per cent when compared to 2017, the NSO said today.

The population of Malta was just over 400,000 in 2006, meaning that there has been an increase of nearly 100,000 in 12 years.

Persons under the age of 18 made up 16.2 per cent of the total population, while a further 18.7 per cent were aged 65 and over. Of these, 2,889 persons – 2,010 females and 879 males – were over 89. The population increase in 2018 was largely due to net migration (immigration less emigration). Population increase was driven by a net migration of 17,102 persons, an increase of 17 per cent when compared to the previous year.

The biggest proportion of net migrants was made up of men, reaching 10,835 against 6,267 female counterparts. Excluding adoptions, the largest share of migrants were third-country nationals at 9,209 followed by other EU nationals at 7,349. Net migration of Maltese nationals was estimated at 480.

Resident live births registered during 2018 increased by 2.9 per cent over the previous year. There were approximately nine births for every 1,000 persons in 2018. Over the past ten years the total fertility rate has decreased from 1.43 to 1.23, while the average age of parent who gave birth has increased from 28.6 years to 30.5 years . This was largely due to a sharper increase in population figures when compared to increases in the number of births.

Resident deaths rose by 3.3 per cent over the previous year. Of the 3,688 registered resident deaths during 2018, 64.4 per cent were persons aged 75 and over. The average life expectancy for those born in 2018 is 82.5 years, an increase of 2.8 years when compared to ten years ago.