Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1253597
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 MAY 2020 NEWS Population: the cosmopolitan divide National Statistics Office data show that that foreigners now account for more than one in every four residents in Msida, St Paul's Bay, Mellieha, Gzira, Sliema, St Julian's and Birzeb- bugia. But in a reflection of another regional divide between cos- mopolitan and insular locali- ties, foreigners account for less than 5% in localities like Mtarfa, Dingli and Mqabba. Compared to 2012, the high- est population growth rates were registered in St Paul's Bay, Msida, St Julian's, Gzira, Sliema, Swieqi and Marsascala, while the localities of Bormla, Santa Luċija and Isla are recording negative growth rates. In the Gozo and Comino re- gion, Żebbug, Munxar, San Lawrenz and Għajnsielem and Comino registered the highest percentage increase in popula- tion, while Għasri recorded a decline. In a reflection of internal mo- bility and a higher number of planning permits in over-sat- urated localities, Swieqi regis- tered the highest Maltese pop- ulation growth rate, followed by St Julian's and Sliema. Most of the localities registered in- creases of less than 5%, while 21 localities recorded a decline in population. Overall, the Northern Har- bour district registered the highest population growth of 30.3%, followed by the North- ern district (+28.2%), while the least growth was recorded in the Southern Harbour district +4.3%). Regional differences are also found in the age composition of the population. While in Malta persons aged 30-39 account- ed for the highest share of the population (17%), in Gozo it is those aged 20-29 accounting for the highest share (14%). Com- pared to 2012, those aged 0-9 registered an increase of 16.1% in Malta, but only 6.1% in Gozo. One-person households prevail in Gozo In 2018, the most common household size for people liv- ing in the Malta region was the two-person (31.4%), whereas in Gozo one-person households (30.0%) were the most common. Compared to 2013, house- holds increased by 13.6% in Malta, while Gozo registered an increase of 3.9%. In a reflec- tion of the migrant influx, the largest increases in the number of persons residing in private households recorded in 2018 over 2013 were registered in the Northern Harbour and North- ern districts, with growth rates of 21.9% and 16.5%, re- spectively. Rich West, poorer Gozo and south The average house- hold disposable in- come was highest in the Western district at €32,964 and low- est in the Gozo and Comino district at €23,741. The sec- ond lowest was in the South Harbour at €25,183. In 2018, the average house- hold disposable income stood at €28,131 in Malta, an increase of 1.2% over the previous year, while in Gozo average house- hold disposable income stood at €23,741, an increase of 3.8% over 2017. Compared to 2013, the sharp- est income increase was still registered in the most affluent region, the Western (Ħad-Ding- li; Ħal Balzan; Ħal Lija; Ħ'At- tard; Ħaż-Żebbuġ; Iklin; Mdina; Mtarfa; Rabat; Siġġiewi) where income increased by 26%. Despite lower incomes in Gozo, Malta had a higher at- risk-of-poverty rate: 17% on the mainland compared to 14.1% in Gozo. Compared to the previ- ous year, increases in the num- ber of persons at-risk-of-pov- erty in 2018 were registered in the Northern Harbour, South Eastern and Northern districts. Meanwhile, persons at-risk-of- poverty in the Southern Har- bour, Western and Gozo dis- tricts decreased by 17.2%, 11.2% and 5.5%, respectively. However, compared to 2013 only Gozo and the South Har- bour regions saw a decrease in the at-risk-of-poverty rate. Renewables: Gozo has higher ratio of solar panels In a clear indication that overshadowing is limiting the growth of renewables, the low- est ratio of PV installations was found in the highly urban- ised North Harbour region, which includes major urban centres like Qormi, B i r k i r k a - ra and Sliema. When calculating the number of PV installations per 1,000 popula- tion by locali- ty, the top 10 localities are all Gozitan – which has small popu- lations – with an average of 111 domestic i n s t a l l a t i o n s per 1,000 popu- lation, followed by the Western (71) and South Eastern districts (57). The lowest was in the Northern Harbour district (30). The stock of PV installations in 2018 amounted to 25,007 – 84.5% in Malta, 15.5% in Gozo. The Northern Harbour, with the largest population, and Western districts accounted for 37.5% of the total PV stock (4,831 and 4,544 respectively). Compared to 2017, new instal- lations increased by 9.5%, main- ly in the Southern Harbour (11.7%) and lowest in Gozo (8.3%). Transport: Oldest cars found in the south Regional divisions persist in Crossing Malta from one end to the other takes less than an hour, but the regional divide of aff luence persists, and a new one is emerging between insular and more cosmopolitan towns. JAMES DEBONO looks at the NSO's regional statistics, casting a light on old and new faultlines Average income 2013 2018 S Harbour €20,861 €25,183 +20.7% N Harbour €23,381 €27,173 +16.2% S Eastern €24,479 €30,419 +23.1% Western €26,276 €32,964 +25.5% Northern €24,345 €27,724 +13.8% Gozo €2,2214 €23,741 +6.9% The share of graduates at MQF levels 6 (bachelor's degree) and 7 (masters degree) per 1,000 inhabitants was highest in the Western district where 12.6 per 1,000 residents possessed a BA while 8.3 possessed an MA In 2018, 3,662 Gozo residents commuted to Malta to work. This implies that approximately one out of every five employed persons resident in Gozo worked in Malta. Of these 3,309 worked full time. 50% worked in the public sector. Women in the public sector accounted for 30.6% of the total