Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543310
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS Malta shows slowest ageing rate in the EU, Eurostat data shows MALTA remains one of Eu- rope's demographic outliers, with new figures from Eurostat showing it combines a relative- ly young population structure with one of the slowest ageing rates in the European Union (EU). Malta's median age fell slightly from 40.4 years in 2015 to 40.0 years in 2025, making it — to- gether with Germany — the only EU country where the me- dian age declined. Across the European Union, the median rose from 42.8 to 44.9 years, highlighting a broad continen- tal trend towards older popula- tions. Median ages vary widely across the bloc, ranging from 39.6 years in Ireland to 49.1 years in Italy. The fastest age- ing since 2015 was recorded in Slovakia and Cyprus (both +4 years), followed by Greece and Poland (+3.8 each) and Portugal (+3.7). Despite its relatively low me- dian age, Malta has one of the lowest shares of children (un- der 14 years of age) in the EU, at 12.1% of the population in 2025, compared with highs of 18.5% in Ireland and 16.8% in Sweden. The percentage of un- der 14-year-olds in Malta has dropped from 14.1% in 2015 to 12.1% a decade later. Only Italy reports a smaller percentage of children (11.9%). However, its population is age- ing far more slowly: the share of residents aged 65+ rose by just 0.4 percentage points between 2015 and 2025, compared with an EU average increase of 2.9 points. This is because Malta also re- ports the highest percentage of people aged between 15 and 64 years of age, with their per- centage increasing from 67.6% in 2015 to 69.5% in 2025. This means that Malta has the high- est percentage of people in this age bracket in the EU. This dynamic is reflected in Malta's dependency ratios. The country recorded the low- est total age dependency ratio in the EU in 2025, at 44.0%, and an old-age dependency ratio of 26.6%, equivalent to nearly five working-age people for every resident aged 65 or over. Eurostat data indicate that mi- gration plays a key role in shap- ing this profile. Across the EU, foreign-born residents are younger on aver- age than native-born popula- tions, with median ages of 43.1 and 45.2 years respectively — a gap that can reduce a country's overall median age where in- ward migration is strong. NSO statistics show that the median age of foreign residents in Malta was about 32 years, compared with 43 years for Maltese resi- dents in 2023 — a gap of rough- ly 10 years. Across Europe, populations are ageing due to longer life ex- pectancy and persistently low birth rates. In Malta, however, migration has a rejuvenating effect, keeping the population relatively young and setting it apart from a continent that is otherwise steadily growing old- er, even if it also brings chal- lenges from higher population density and infrastructural pressures. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Further dismantling uncov- ered multiple blue packages bound with yellow rope, con- taining cocaine. Additional packages were found after Piti- cariu voluntarily provided infor- mation to investigators. Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance was cocaine with a purity level of 55.7% and weighed approximately 15 kilo- grams in total. The court was told that the quantity, purity, and conceal- ment method clearly showed the drugs were intended for trafficking. DNA analysis on the packages also indicated the in- volvement of at least two other individuals, both in Malta and abroad. Presiding Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera accepted the plea agreement. After taking into account the large quantity of drugs, the high purity level, the early admission of guilt, and the accused's willingness (although unsuccessful) to cooperate fur- ther with authorities, the court sentenced Piticariu to 17 years' imprisonment and fined him €23,000, payable within one year or convertible to imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay €5,391.71 in expert and forensic costs. Defence lawyer Alfred Abela appeared for Piticariu. DNA evidence points to involvement of at least two other individuals, both in Malta and abroad An x-ray scan later revealed hidden compartments near the running board and rear wheel