A twofold particularity within the European Union
Malta and Gozo are home to over 518,000 people, according to statistics published at the end of 2022. This is the highest population increase in the European Union (+9.8% between 2019 and 2023). This increase is not due to a rise in the birth rate, as the Maltese birth rate is falling: 1.23 today compared with 1.43 10 years ago, and 9.2 births per 1,000 inhabitants in the archipelago compared with 9.7 in the European Union; but it does reflect the rise in economic immigration and, more marginally, the number of tourists settling here. One person in 7 living in Malta is a foreigner, twice the European average (14% in Malta versus 7.8% in the EU - source: Eurostat). Malta's other distinctive feature within the European Union is its population density. Although it is the smallest state in the European Union, it is also the most densely populated, with 1,641 inhabitants per km2, a density which rises to 4,550 inhabitants per km2 in urban areas, home to almost 95% of Malta's inhabitants. Hence the ever-increasing sense of "big suburbia" around Valletta, but also throughout the northeastern part of the island, reaching as far as the center (Attard, Birkirkara, Qormi). Future projections point to an increase in both these figures. It is estimated that by 2030, the Maltese archipelago could reach a population of 835,000, with an urban density of 6,700 people per km2, to the point of becoming a city-state like Hong Kong. The Maltese archipelago is also witnessing other trends, identical to those in the rest of the European Union. The average age at which Maltese women have their first baby has risen from over 28 to over 30. And the average life expectancy has risen to over 82 years (a gain of almost three years in 10 years). On the other hand, immigration has changed another fact: outnumbered by men until 2008, women have been outnumbered since 2014.
Diaspora and immigration
The island's scarcity and population density, combined with limited resources and inadequate agriculture, led to immigration that accelerated in the 19th century, reaching its peak in the decades following the Second World War. Between 1948 and 1967, an estimated 30% of the Maltese population emigrated. In the 19th century, most migration took place to North Africa and the Middle East, in particular to Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia, as the French Maghreb needed labor. After decolonization, most Maltese emigrants were unable, for economic reasons, to return to their homeland, where the situation remained difficult. Some went to France, particularly Marseille, where they mingled with the Pieds-Noirs. Others followed the new waves of Maltese migration to Australia, the United States, England and Canada. Maltese associations, Maltese radio stations, Maltese soccer clubs and bottles of Kinnie can all be found deep in Australia. Today, emigration is falling sharply and is directed almost exclusively towards England. But the proportion of Maltese living abroad is in surplus. Maltese who have emigrated to the other side of the world return from time to time on vacation or for good. Their children sometimes don't speak Maltese. These are the people we meet, in large numbers, at the Maltese language courses offered by the government. Today, Malta has also become a land of immigration. Most of the island's foreign residents are British expatriates and retirees, attracted by the sunshine, and living mainly in Sliema and the modern suburbs. Smaller groups of Italians, French and Lebanese have also integrated over the years. Since the end of the 20th century, Malta has also become a transit country on the migratory routes between Africa and Europe. And with integration into the Schengen area, irregular migrants are subject to a compulsory detention policy and held in several camps run by the AFM (Armed Forces of Malta). Their detention conditions have been denounced by several NGOs, and were condemned by the European Court of Human Rights in July 2010. There is a small Jewish community in Valletta and, in Birgu, the former Jewish ghetto is a reminder of the ancestral presence of this religion in Malta. The Indian community (due to the Commonwealth) is quite active in the commercial field. You'll notice some Indian names on the store signs on Republic Street. The Asian community, mainly Chinese, is also present, with Chinese restaurants multiplying in tourist areas. The Muslim community (3,000 people) is made up mainly of Libyans, as trade relations between the two countries are highly developed despite the new restrictions imposed by Malta's entry into the European Union. Malta's only mosque is in Paola.
A single Semitic language
Maltese is an Afro-Asiatic language belonging to the Semitic family. It is the national language of Malta and has been one of the island's two official languages, along with English, since 1934. The year 1934 also marked the official adoption of its alphabet, spelling and grammar. It is the only Semitic language to be transcribed using the Latin alphabet, enriched with diacritics such as the superscript dot and the inscribed bar (accents). Its origin is considered to be Sicilian Arabic, and it is particularly close to Tunisian Arabic, due to the historical links between the two countries. Today, an estimated 500,000 people speak Maltese, including 400,000 in Malta. Although they speak Maltese amongst themselves, most Maltese are bilingual, and English will be your most frequent language of communication, even if a certain number speak French. As Maltese is part of the Maltese identity, some people criticize the local media for giving priority to English, and are calling for radical measures to protect this heritage.
