Editing Maltese language (section)

==Demographics==
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''[[Ethnologue]]'' reports a total of {{sigfig|533,280|2}} Maltese speakers: {{sigfig|454,000|2}} in Malta and {{sigfig|79,280|2}} in the [[Emigration from Malta|diaspora]]. Most speakers also use English,<ref name=e27/> usually the local dialect known as [[Maltese English]].

The largest diaspora community of Maltese speakers is [[Maltese Australians|in Australia]], with 36,000 speakers reported in 2006 (down from 45,000 in 1996, and expected to decline further).<ref>"As at the 2006 Australian Census, the number of Australians speaking Maltese at home was 36,514, compared to 41,250 in 2001 and 45,243 in 1996. The 2006 figures represent a drop of 19.29% when compared with the 1996 figures. Given that many of those who speak Maltese at home are over the age of 60, the number of Maltese speakers will invariably go for a nosedive by 2016." Joseph Carmel Chetcuti, [http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2010-03-02/opinions/why-its-time-to-bury-the-maltese-language-in-australia-271078/ Why It's time to bury the Maltese language in Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113165841/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2010-03-02/opinions/why-its-time-to-bury-the-maltese-language-in-australia-271078/ |date=2018-11-13 }}, Malta Independent, 2 March 2010.</ref>

The Maltese linguistic community in [[Tunisia]] originated in the 18th century. Numbering several thousand in the 19th century, it was reported to be only 100 to 200 people as of 2017.<ref>Nigel Mifsud, [https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/maltas-ambassador-meets-maltese-who-have-lived-their-whole-life-in-tunisia/ Malta's Ambassador meets Maltese who have lived their whole life in Tunisia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113165700/https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/maltas-ambassador-meets-maltese-who-have-lived-their-whole-life-in-tunisia/ |date=2018-11-13 }}, TVM, 13 November 2017.</ref>