Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1507380
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 SEPTEMBER 2023 NEWS JAMES DEBONO MIDDLE-AGED Maltese-born men are more inclined to live alone compared to their female counter- parts, while among the elderly a higher proportion of women live alone. The data on solo living was ex- tracted from the Census by the Na- tional Statistics Office, following a request by MaltaToday. The information reveals that there are 22,665 Maltese-born males and 21,270 Maltese-born females, liv- ing in single-person households. Together these constitute 63% of all individuals living alone. In con- trast, among non-Maltese individ- uals making up the remaining 37%, males are more prevalent, particu- larly among younger age groups. Although there is a roughly equal number of Maltese men and wom- en living alone, a closer look at age demographics highlights signifi- cant gender disparities. The most significant difference emerges among those aged be- tween 30 and 59. Within this age bracket, 11,805 Maltese males live alone, while only 5,951 similar- ly aged females live solo. Conse- quently, 52% of all males residing in single-member households fall into this age group, while only 28% of women living alone belong to the 30 to 59 age range. The NSO currently lacks data on marital status since this informa- tion is expected to become avail- able in November when the final tranche of Census data is released. The higher percentage of mid- dle-aged men living alone may be indicative of separated women continuing to cohabit with their children, while their former part- ners are more likely to move to single-person dwellings. The lower number of females aged 30 to 60 living alone also correlates with a higher rate of single parenthood among women and suggests that males are more inclined towards a bachelor lifestyle. In contrast, nearly half (46.3%) of Maltese women living alone are aged over 70, compared to only 21% of men in the same age group. Furthermore, over 70-year-old Maltese women are nearly twice as likely to live alone as men. This could be attributed in part to the longer life expectancy of females, leading to a higher female popula- tion. However, among individuals un- der 30, Maltese women are almost as likely as men to live alone, al- though the numbers are relatively low for both genders. The Census identifies only 2,097 Maltese males and 1,626 Maltese females living alone in this age group. This sug- gests that many people under 30 still reside with their parents. Foreigners tend to be younger In contrast, foreigners living in single-person households tend to be younger than their Maltese counterparts, with males outnum- bering females in this category. The Census identifies 26,221 for- eigners living alone, constituting 37% of the 70,156 individuals living alone in Malta. Of these, 9,102 are women, while 17,119 are men, re- flecting the predominance of single males among the foreign work- force in Malta. Additionally, non-Maltese indi- viduals living alone, regardless of gender, tend to be younger than their Maltese counterparts. In fact, individuals under 30 account for 33% of foreign males and 30% of foreign females living alone. Among both genders, 60% of for- eigners living alone fall within the 30 to 59 age range. Census shows that 70,000 people live alone but who are they? CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 But an investigation by MaltaToday has revealed that scores of operators are illegally parking their vehicles over- night in a variety of public locations across Malta. Others are also parking their cars in fields and supermarket parking spaces, a practice that does not conform to the law. In St Paul's Bay, near the Qawra Pri- mary school, three dirt parking lots surrounding a field have attracted a number of Y-plate vehicles that were observed parked overnight next to res- ident's cars. The area, according to a person who spoke to this newspaper is a known hotspot for cab owners to park their vehicles overnight. Other Y-plate vehicles in the area were observed parked behind structures in order to appear hidden from surround- ing streets. Meanwhile, down south in Marsax- lokk, one cab driver told MaltaToday that Y-plate vehicles could be found parked overnight in a public parking lot next to Marsaxlokk FC's football ground. Here, Y-plate vehicles were found in the innermost parts of the parking lot, far away from the entrance. In San Gwann, a number of parking spaces in an underground parking lot of a supermarket were also occupied by Y-plate vehicles. In fact, MaltaToday has learned that in a number of super- market and department store parking lots, Y-plate vehicles have been ob- served to be left parked overnight and collected in the morning. In Zabbar and Marsaskala, a number of these vehicles could be found parked in certain streets away from main roads. In these areas, Y-plate vehicles can easi- ly be found in more remote roads which are nearly impossible to find unless one is already familiar with the area. Additionally, in Zabbar an empty plot which has been marked with 'Private' signs is also being used to park Y-plate vehicles overnight, even though it is sit- uated next to a main road frequented by numerous law enforcement officials. When contacted by MaltaToday, Transport Malta did not reply to ques- tions regarding the legality of parking such vehicles in these unusual off-street parking zones. However, when a journalist called the authority's offices posing as an interest- ed prospective Y-plate owner, they were informed that the parking space or ga- rage listed in the application must be owned by the applicant or covered by a lease agreement in the applicant's name. The operator made it clear that park- ing in a field or a supermarket parking lot is illegal unless the area or parking space is owned by them or leased to them. Over the past few months in a bid to crack down on indiscipline on the streets, the authorities have embarked on several enforcement sprees. It re- mains unclear how many Y-plate car owners have been sanctioned for illegal parking of their vehicles when not in use. If MaltaToday's investigation is any- thing to go by, the abuse appears to be widespread with scores of owners ig- noring the law. Operators parking their cars overnight in illegal spaces Y-plate vehicles parked illegally overnight in (left to right) Bugibba, a supermarket parking garage and Marsaxlokk