Editing Malta (section)

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Malta}}
{{bar box
|title=Self-identified racial origin - 2021 census<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing 2021: Final Report: Population, migration and other social characteristics (Volume 1) |url=https://nso.gov.mt/mt/themes_publications/census-of-population-and-housing-2021-final-report-population-migration-and-other-social-characteristics/ |date=16 February 2023 |access-date=5 February 2024 |website=nso.gov.mt |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204200023/https://nso.gov.mt/mt/themes_publications/census-of-population-and-housing-2021-final-report-population-migration-and-other-social-characteristics/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1='''Racial origin'''
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Caucasian race|Caucasian]]|purple|89.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Asians|Asian]]|grey|5.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Arabs|Arab]]|maroon|1.7}}
{{bar percent|[[Demographics of Africa|African]]|blue|1.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Hispanic]] or Latino|Gold|1.3}}
{{bar percent|More than one racial origin|black|1.2}}
|caption= 
}}
As of the 2021 census, [[Maltese people|Maltese]]-born natives make up the majority of the island with 386,280 people out of a total population of 519,562.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing 2021: Final Report: Population, migration and other social characteristics (Volume 1)|url=https://nso.gov.mt/mt/themes_publications/census-of-population-and-housing-2021-final-report-population-migration-and-other-social-characteristics/|date=16 February 2023|access-date=5 February 2024|website=nso.gov.mt|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204200023/https://nso.gov.mt/mt/themes_publications/census-of-population-and-housing-2021-final-report-population-migration-and-other-social-characteristics/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, there are minorities, the largest of which by birthplace were: 15,082 from the United Kingdom, Italy (13,361), India (7,946), Philippines (7,784) and Serbia (5,935). Among racial origins for the non-Maltese, 58.1% of all identified as Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 6.3% Arab, 6.0% African, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino and 2.9% more than one race.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing 2021: Final Report: Population, migration and other social characteristics (Volume 1)|url=https://nso.gov.mt/mt/themes_publications/census-of-population-and-housing-2021-final-report-population-migration-and-other-social-characteristics/|date=16 February 2023|access-date=5 February 2024|website=nso.gov.mt|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204200023/https://nso.gov.mt/mt/themes_publications/census-of-population-and-housing-2021-final-report-population-migration-and-other-social-characteristics/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{As of|2005}}, 17 percent were aged 14 and under, 68 percent were within the 15–64 age bracket whilst the remaining 13 percent were 65 years and over<!--Table 8: Total population by broad age group and locality as at 27 November 2005-->. Malta's population density of 1,282 per square km (3,322/sq&nbsp;mi) <!--Table 6: Population density: 1995–2005-->is by far the highest in the EU<!--Table 15: Population density in Europe--> and one of the highest in the world. 
[[File:Malta, 2010 - panoramio - Bengt Nyman (23).jpg|thumb|left|Valletta, Malta's capital]]
The Maltese-resident population for 2004 was estimated to make up 97.0 per cent of the total resident population.<ref name="Demo2004">{{Cite book |last=National Statistics Office |url=http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1542 |title=Demographic Review 2004 |publisher=National Statistics Office |year=2005 |isbn=978-99909-73-32-7 |page=59 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907101948/http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1542 |archive-date=7 September 2006 }}</ref> All censuses since 1842 have shown a slight excess of females over males. Population growth has slowed down, from +9.5 per cent between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, to +6.9 per cent between the 1995 and 2005 censuses (a yearly average of +0.7 per cent)<!--Commentary p. xvii & Chart 3: Percentage population change between censuses-->. The birth rate stood at 3860 (a decrease of 21.8 per cent from the 1995 census) and the death rate stood at 3025. Thus, there was a natural population increase of 835 (compared to +888 for 2004, of which over a hundred were foreign residents).<ref name="NSO 20060711">{{Cite press release |title=World Population Day&nbsp;– 2006: Special Observances |date=10 July 2006 |publisher=National Statistics Office |url=http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1719 |access-date=12 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190022/http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1719 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref>
<!--May be used in any future section on the pension problem-->The population's age composition is similar to the age structure prevalent in the EU<!--Chart 11. Comparative distribution bet Malta and EU25-->. Malta's [[Dependency ratio|old-age-dependency-ratio]] rose from 17.2 percent in 1995 to 19.8 percent in 2005, reasonably lower than the EU's 24.9 percent average; 31.5 percent of the Maltese population is aged under 25 (compared to the EU's 29.1 percent); but the 50–64 age group constitutes 20.3 percent of the population, significantly higher than the EU's 17.9 percent. Malta's old-age-dependency-ratio is expected to continue rising steadily in the coming years<!--Commentary p. xxvii-->.

In 2021, the population of the Maltese Islands stood at 519,562.<ref name="NSO" />

The [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) {{As of|2016||lc=y|since=}} was estimated at 1.45 children born/woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1.<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malta/ |access-date=16 May 2007 |website=The World Factbook |archive-date=2 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402195116/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malta/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, 25.8 per cent of births were to unmarried women.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eurostat – Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00018  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114113/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00018 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |website=Europa (web portal)}}</ref> The [[life expectancy]] in 2018 was estimated at 83.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Key Figures For Malta 2019 – Visuals & Word |url=https://nso.gov.mt/en/nso/Media/Salient-Points-of-Publications/Documents/Key%20Figures%20for%20Malta%20-%202019%20Edition/Malta%20In%20Figures%20-%202019.pdf |access-date=31 January 2020 |publisher=National Statistics Office – Malta |archive-date=22 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322014632/https://nso.gov.mt/en/nso/Media/Salient-Points-of-Publications/Documents/Key%20Figures%20for%20Malta%20-%202019%20Edition/Malta%20In%20Figures%20-%202019.pdf  }}</ref>

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of Malta}}
{{See also|#Education}}
[[File:Il-Kantilena.png|thumb|''[[Il-Kantilena]]'' by [[Pietru Caxaro]], the oldest text in [[Maltese language]], 15th century]]
The [[Maltese language]] ({{langx|mt|Malti}}) is one of the two constitutional [[languages]] of Malta and is considered the national language. The second official language is English and hence laws are enacted both in Maltese and English. However, article 74 of the Constitution states that "if there is any conflict between the Maltese and the English texts of any law, the Maltese text shall prevail."<ref name="constitution" /> Many speakers of English use a local dialect, [[Maltese English]].

Maltese is a [[Semitic language]] descended from the now extinct Sicilian-Arabic ([[Siculo-Arabic]]) dialect (from [[southern Italy]]) that developed during the [[Emirate of Sicily]].<ref name="MED">Joseph M. Brincat [http://macmillandictionaries.com/MED-Magazine/February2005/27-LI-Maltese.htm Maltese&nbsp;– an unusual formula] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063739/http://macmillandictionaries.com/MED-Magazine/February2005/27-LI-Maltese.htm |date=8 December 2015 }}, MED Magazine (February 2005)</ref> The [[Maltese alphabet]] consists of 30 letters based on the [[Latin alphabet]].

In 2022, Malta National Statistics Office states that 90 percent of the Maltese population has at least a basic knowledge of Maltese, 96 percent of English, 62 percent of Italian, and 20 percent of French.<ref name="skills2022"/> This widespread knowledge of [[second language]]s makes Malta one of the most multilingual countries in the [[European Union]]. A study collecting public opinion on what language was "preferred" discovered that 86 percent of the population preferred Maltese, 12 percent English, and 2 percent Italian.<ref name=LinguisticView/> Italian television channels from Italy-based broadcasters, such as [[Mediaset]] and [[RAI]], reach Malta and remain popular.<ref name="LinguisticView">Ignasi Badia i Capdevila (2004) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120312145908/http://www6.gencat.cat/llengcat/noves/hm04primavera-estiu/a_badia2_3.htm A view of the linguistic situation in Malta]. NovesSl. Retrieved 24 February 2008</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1045691.stm Country profile: Malta] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607062334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1045691.stm |date=7 June 2012 }}. BBC News</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2005 |title=Europeans and languages |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_237.en.pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128095746/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_237.en.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2007 |access-date=29 January 2007 |publisher=European Commission |page=4}}</ref>

[[Maltese Sign Language]] is used by signers in Malta.<ref name="paggio">{{Cite book |last1=Paggio |first1=Patrizia |url=http://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/182 |title=The languages of Malta |last2=Gatt |first2=Albert |date=2018 |publisher=Language Science Press |isbn=978-3-96110-070-5 |veditors=Paggio P, Gatt A |format=pdf |doi=10.5281/zenodo.1181783 |access-date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115195121/http://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/182 |archive-date=15 November 2018 |url-status=live |doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Main |Religion in Malta}}
{{Further |History of the Jews in Malta|Christianity in Malta|Islam in Malta}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Malta (2021 census)<ref name="2021 census-2">{{Cite web|url=https://nso.gov.mt/en/nso/Media/Salient-Points-of-Publications/Documents/2023/Census%20of%20Population%202021%20volume1-final.pdf|title=Census of Population and Housing 2021 Final report: Religious Affiliation, pages 159-168|website=nso.gov.mt|archive-date=19 February 2023|access-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219094017/https://nso.gov.mt/en/nso/Media/Salient-Points-of-Publications/Documents/2023/Census%20of%20Population%202021%20volume1-final.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Census statistics"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/121338/census_2021_maltese_citizens_overwhelmingly_identify_as_roman_catholics#.Y_aUpXbP02w|title=Census 2021: Maltese citizens overwhelmingly identify as Roman Catholics|website=maltatoday.com.mt|language=en|access-date=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222221916/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/121338/census_2021_maltese_citizens_overwhelmingly_identify_as_roman_catholics#.Y_aUpXbP02w|url-status=live}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Catholic Church]]
|value1 = 82.6
|color1 = Dodgerblue
|label2 = [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]]
|value2 = 3.6
|color2 = Orchid
|label3 = [[Church of England]]
|value3 = 1.3
|color3 = red
|label4 = Other [[Protestantism]]
|value4 = 1
|color4 = Purple
|label5 = [[Islam]]
|value5 = 3.9
|color5 = Green
|label6 = [[Hinduism]]
|value6 = 1.4
|color6 = Orange
|label7 = [[Buddhism]]
|value7 = 0.5
|color7 = DeepSkyBlue
|label8 = Judaism
|value8 = 0.3
|color8 = yellow
|label9 = Other religious groups 
|value9 = 0.04
|color9 = black
|label10 = No religion
|value10 = 5.1
|color10 = mint
}}

The predominant religion in Malta is Catholicism. The second article of the [[Constitution of Malta]] establishes Catholicism as the [[state religion]] and it is also reflected in various elements of [[Culture of Malta|Maltese culture]], although there are [[Entrenched clause|entrenched provisions]] for the freedom of religion.<ref name="constitution" /> There are more than 360 churches in Malta, Gozo, and Comino, or one church for every 1,000 residents. The parish church (Maltese: ''"il-parroċċa"'', or ''"il-knisja parrokkjali"'') is the architectural and geographic focal point of every Maltese town and village.

Malta is an [[Apostolic See]]; the [[Acts of the Apostles]] ([[Acts 28]]) tells of how [[Paul of Tarsus|St. Paul]] was shipwrecked on the island of "Melite", which many Biblical scholars identify with Malta, an episode dated around AD 60.<ref name="doi.gov.mt">{{Cite web |date=3 March 2008 |title=Department of Information |url=http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/islands/dates.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125021207/http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/islands/dates.asp |archive-date=25 November 2009 |access-date=2 August 2008 |website=Doi.gov.mt}}</ref> [[Saint Publius]] is said to have been made Malta's first bishop. Further evidence of Christian practices and beliefs during the period of Roman persecution appears in [[catacombs]] that lie beneath various sites around Malta, including [[St. Paul's Catacombs]]. There are also a number of cave churches, including the grotto at [[Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa|Mellieħa]], which is a Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady where, according to legend, [[St. Luke]] painted a picture of the [[Virgin Mary]]. It has been a place of pilgrimage since the medieval period.

For centuries, the Church in Malta was subordinate to the [[Diocese of Palermo]], except when it was under [[Charles of Anjou]], who appointed bishops for Malta, as did&nbsp;– on rare occasions&nbsp;– the Spanish and later, the Knights. Since 1808 all [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta#Bishops of Malta|bishops of Malta]] have been Maltese. The patron saints of Malta are [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]], [[Saint Publius]], and [[Saint Agatha]]. Although not a patron saint, [[George Preca|St George Preca]] (San Ġorġ Preca) is greatly revered as the first canonised Maltese saint. Various Catholic religious orders are present in Malta, including the [[Jesuits]], [[Franciscans]], [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]], [[Carmelites]] and [[Little Sisters of the Poor]].

There exists a considerable minority of [[Eastern Orthodox Christians]] in Malta, of which there are 16,457, according to the 2021 census;<ref>{{cite report |url=https://nso.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/Census-of-Population-2021-volume1-final.pdf  |title=Census of Population and Housing 2021: Final Report: Population, Migration and Other Social Characteristics |publisher=National Statistics Office, Malta |location=Valletta |date=2023 |access-date=5 October 2024 |isbn=978-9918-605-14-9 |page=159}}</ref> although the number may also include [[Oriental Orthodox Christian]]s, who are not in [[Full communion|communion]] with the former. There are a small number of parishes belonging to each [[autocephalous Church]], typically one for each. There are [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Greek]], [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]], [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian]], [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian]], and [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church|Bulgarian Orthodox]] parishes located around Malta.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecumenical Patriarchate Holy Patriarchal Exarchate of Malta |url=https://www.exarmalta.com/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian Orthodox Parish of St. Paul the Apostle - Churches-Orthodox in San Gwann, Malta {{!}} Yellow Malta |url=https://www.yellow.com.mt/russian-orthodox-parish-of-st-paul-the-apostle_churches-orthodox+san-gwann/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |website=www.yellow.com.mt |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Парохија Св. Ап. Павла и Св. Никола на Малти {{!}} Епархија Аустрије, Швајцарске, Италије и Малте |url=https://spcmalta.com/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Romanian Orthodox Church Malta {{!}} orthodox church {{!}} The Church of Saint Rocco, 107 , Saint Ursula Street , Valletta , Malta |url=https://www.romanianchurchmalta.com/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |website=Romanian Orthodox |language=en}}</ref>

Most congregants of the local [[Protestant]] churches are not Maltese; their congregations mainly draw on vacationers and British retirees living in the country. There are also a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] church in [[Birkirkara]], and a [[New Apostolic Church]] congregation founded in 1983 in [[Gwardamanġa|Gwardamangia]].<ref name="archive.maltatoday.com.mt">{{cite web |last=Vassallo |first=Harry |date=8 April 2009 |url=http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/04/08/t5.html |title=A map of faith in Malta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016010540/http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/04/08/t5.html |archive-date=16 October 2015 |work=MaltaToday |access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> There are approximately 600 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses |publisher=Watch Tower Society |year=2015 |page=182}}</ref> [[Mormonism]] is also represented with 241 members in 1 congregation in [[Mosta]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistics and Church Facts {{!}} Total Church Membership |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/malta |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref>
[[File:Michelangelo Caravaggio 021.jpg|thumb|''[[The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (Caravaggio)|The Beheading of Saint John]]'', by [[Caravaggio]]. Oil on canvas, {{convert|361|x|520|cm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}. Oratory of the [[St. John's Co-Cathedral|Co-Cathedral]]]]
The Jewish population of Malta reached its peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule. In 1479, Malta and [[Sicily]] came under [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragonese]] rule and the [[Alhambra Decree]] of 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country. Today, there are two Jewish congregations.<ref name="archive.maltatoday.com.mt" /> In 2019 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 150 persons, slightly more than the 120 (of which 80 were active) estimated in 2003, and mostly elderly. Many among the newer generations decided to settle abroad, including in England and Israel. Most contemporary Maltese Jews are Sephardi, however, an Ashkenazi prayer book is used. In 2013 the Chabad Jewish Centre in Malta was founded.

There is one purpose-built Muslim [[mosque]], the [[Mariam Al-Batool Mosque]], although there are also a few improvised mosques located in Muslim homes spread around the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bugibba Mosque - Opening Hours, Reviews & Photos [2024] |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/st-paul-s-bay/bugibba-mosque-141756431?curr=SAR&locale=en-US |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/people/Bugibba-Mosque-%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A8%D8%A7/61557732665236/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> Of the estimated 3,000 [[Islam in Malta|Muslims in Malta]], approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalised citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2003 – Malta |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24422.htm |access-date=9 January 2008 |publisher=[[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] |archive-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625004310/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24422.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Zen Buddhism]] and the [[Baháʼí Faith]] claim some 40 members.<ref name="archive.maltatoday.com.mt" />

In a survey held by [[Malta Today]], the overwhelming majority of the Maltese population adheres to Christianity (95.2%) with Catholicism as the main denomination (93.9%); 4.5% of the population declared themselves either atheist or agnostic, one of the lowest figures in Europe.<ref name="2018 survey">{{Cite web |title=MaltaToday Survey {{!}} Maltese identity still very much rooted in Catholicism |url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/data_and_surveys/85738/maltatoday_survey__maltese_identity_still_very_much_rooted_in_catholicism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326134607/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/data_and_surveys/85738/maltatoday_survey__maltese_identity_still_very_much_rooted_in_catholicism |archive-date=26 March 2019 |access-date=26 March 2019 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref> According to a 2019 [[Eurobarometer]] survey, 83% of the population identified as Catholic.<ref name="2019 Eurobarometer">{{Cite web |title=Special Eurobarometer 493, European Union: European Commission, September 2019, pages 229–230 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2251 |access-date=3 October 2020 |website=ec.europa.eu |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311010736/https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2251 |url-status=live }}</ref> The number of [[atheists]] has doubled from 2014 to 2018. [[Non-religious]] people have a higher risk of suffering from discrimination. In the 2015 edition of the annual [[International Humanist and Ethical Union#The Freedom of Thought Report|Freedom of Thought Report]] from the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]], Malta was in the category of "severe discrimination". In 2016, following the [[Blasphemy law#Malta|abolishment of blasphemy law]], Malta was shifted to the category of "systematic discrimination" (same as most EU countries).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganado |first=Philip Leone |date=9 December 2016 |title=Malta still discriminating against the non-religious – report |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161209/local/malta-still-discriminating-against-the-non-religious-report.633311 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210140814/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161209/local/malta-still-discriminating-against-the-non-religious-report.633311 |archive-date=10 December 2016 |website=[[The Times (Malta)|The Times]]}}</ref>

===Migration===
{{main|Immigration to Malta|Emigration from Malta}}
{| class="toc" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:25%; float:right; text-align:center; clear:all; margin-left:8px; font-size:90%;"
|-
! colspan="20" style="background:green; color:white;"|Foreign population in Malta
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!width=15% |Year
!width=60% |Population
!width=25% |% total
|-
|2005
|12,112
|3.0%
|-
|2011
|20,289
|4.9%
|-
|2019
|98,918
|21.0%
|-
|2020
|119,261
|23.17%
|-
|}

Historically a land of emigration, since the early 21st century Malta has seen a significant increase in net migration; the foreign-born population has grown nearly eightfold between 2005 and 2020. Most of the foreign community in Malta consists of active or retired British nationals and their dependents, centred on [[Sliema]] and surrounding suburbs. Other smaller foreign groups include Italians, Libyans, and Serbians, many of whom have assimilated into the [[Maltese people|Maltese nation]] over the decades.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ltd |first=Allied Newspapers |title=Genetic origin of contemporary Maltese |date=5 August 2007 |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20070805/opinion/genetic-origin-of-contemporary-maltese |access-date=29 October 2017 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413212844/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20070805/opinion/genetic-origin-of-contemporary-maltese |url-status=live }}</ref>

Malta is also home to a large number of foreign workers who migrated to the island for economic opportunity. This migration was driven predominantly in the early 21st century, when the Maltese economy was steadily booming yet the cost and quality of living on the island remained relatively stable. In recent years however the local Maltese housing index has doubled<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real Economy Indicators |url=https://www.centralbankmalta.org/site/Subscriber%20Categories/Real%20Economy%20Indicators/house_prices.xls |publisher=Malta Central Bank |access-date=28 December 2019 |archive-date=7 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107152921/https://www.centralbankmalta.org/site/Subscriber%20Categories/Real%20Economy%20Indicators/house_prices.xls |url-status=live }}</ref> pushing property and rental prices to very high and almost unaffordable levels. Consequently, some expats in Malta have seen their relative financial fortunes decline, with others relocating to other European countries altogether.

Since the late 20th century, Malta has become a transit country for migration routes from Africa towards Europe.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Malta guards Europe's gates against African immigrants |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-oct-09-la-fg-malta-refugees-20101009-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310075319/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/09/world/la-fg-malta-refugees-20101009 |archive-date=10 March 2012}}</ref> As a member of the [[European Union]] and the [[Schengen Agreement]], Malta is bound by the [[Dublin Regulation]] to process all claims for asylum by those asylum seekers that enter EU territory for the first time in Malta.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Maltese Anger Mounts Over Rising Illegal Immigration |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |url=http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,3621641,00.html |access-date=30 April 2012}}</ref> However, irregular migrants who land in Malta are subject to a [[immigration detention|compulsory detention policy]], being held in several camps organised by the [[Armed Forces of Malta]] (AFM), including those near [[Ħal Far]] and [[Safi, Malta|Ħal Safi]]. The compulsory detention policy has been denounced by several NGOs, and in July 2010, the [[European Court of Human Rights]] found that Malta's detention of migrants was arbitrary, lacking in adequate procedures to challenge detention, and in breach of its obligations under the [[European Convention on Human Rights]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2012 |title=Malta: Migrant Detention Violates Rights |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/18/malta-migrant-detention-violates-rights |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314162400/https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/18/malta-migrant-detention-violates-rights |archive-date=14 March 2016 |access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Malta faces problems with children of illegal immigrants |work=[[The Times (Malta)|The Times]] |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080610/local/malta-faces-problems-with-children-of-illegal-immigrants.211803 |url-status=live |access-date=30 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510111154/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080610/local/malta-faces-problems-with-children-of-illegal-immigrants.211803 |archive-date=10 May 2011}}</ref> On 8 September 2020, [[Amnesty International]] criticised Malta for "illegal tactics" in the Mediterranean, against immigrants who were attempting to cross from North Africa. The reports claimed that the government's approach might have led to avoidable deaths.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amnesty slams Malta over 'illegal' refugee tactics |url=https://www.dw.com/en/amnesty-slams-malta-over-illegal-refugee-tactics/a-54848334 |access-date=8 September 2020 |website=Deutsche Welle |archive-date=8 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908180011/https://www.dw.com/en/amnesty-slams-malta-over-illegal-refugee-tactics/a-54848334 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2014, Malta started granting citizenship for a €650,000 contribution plus investments, contingent on residence and criminal background checks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clenfield, Jason |date=11 March 2015 |title=Passport King Christian Kalin Helps Nations Sell Citizenship – Bloomberg Business |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-11/passport-king-christian-kalin-helps-nations-sell-citizenship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406182941/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-11/passport-king-christian-kalin-helps-nations-sell-citizenship |archive-date=6 April 2017 |access-date=8 March 2017 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}}</ref> This "[[Immigrant investor programs|golden passport]]" citizenship scheme has been criticized as a fraudulent act by the Maltese Government.{{clarification needed|Is the granting critised by the same government that applies it??|date=December 2022}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 January 2019 |title=EU to warn about crime risks from passport selling schemes in Malta |work=Malta Independent |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-01-22/local-news/EU-to-warn-about-crime-risks-from-passport-selling-schemes-in-Malta-and-Cyprus-6736202453 |url-status=live |access-date=28 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228134703/https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-01-22/local-news/EU-to-warn-about-crime-risks-from-passport-selling-schemes-in-Malta-and-Cyprus-6736202453 |archive-date=28 December 2019}}</ref> Concerns as to whether the Maltese citizenship scheme is allowing an influx of such individuals into the greater European Union have been raised by both the public as well as the European Council on multiple occasions.<ref>{{Cite news |title=EU urges crackdown on 'golden passports' for big investors |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46973590 |url-status=live |access-date=28 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217180746/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46973590 |archive-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Malta -mix- 2019 by-RaBoe 067.jpg|thumb|Child Migrants' Memorial at the [[Valletta Waterfront]], commemorating the 310 child migrants who travelled to Australia between 1950 and 1965]]
In the 19th century, most emigration from Malta was to North Africa and the Middle East, although rates of [[Repatriation|return migration]] to Malta were high.<ref name="Jones">{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Huw R. |year=1973 |title=Modern emigration from Malta |journal=Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers |volume=60 |issue=60 |pages=101–119 |doi=10.2307/621508 |jstor=621508}}</ref> In the 20th century, most emigrants went to destinations in the [[New World]], particularly to Australia, Canada, and the United States. Post Second World War, Malta's Emigration Department would assist emigrants with the cost of their travel. Between 1948 and 1967, 30 percent of the population emigrated.<ref name=Jones/> Between 1946 and the late-1970s, over 140,000 people left Malta on the assisted passage scheme, with 57.6% migrating to Australia, 22% to the UK, 13% to Canada and 7% to the United States.<ref name="King">{{Cite journal |last=King |first=Russell |year=1979 |title=The Maltese migration cycle: An archival survey |journal=Area |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=245–249 |jstor=20001477}}</ref> Emigration dropped dramatically after the mid-1970s and has since ceased to be a social phenomenon of significance. However, since Malta joined the EU in 2004 [[expatriate]] communities emerged in a number of European countries, particularly in Belgium and [[Luxembourg]].

===Education===
{{Main|Education in Malta}}
{{See also|List of schools in Malta}}
[[File:Uni-20malta.jpg|thumb|[[University of Malta]]]]
[[File:National Library in Valletta.jpg|thumb|[[National Library of Malta|National Library]] in Valletta]]

Primary schooling has been compulsory since 1946; secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in 1971. The state and the Catholic Church provide education free of charge, both running a number of schools in Malta and [[Gozo]]. {{As of|2006}}, state schools are organised into networks known as Colleges and incorporate kindergarten schools, primary and secondary schools. A number of private schools are run in Malta. St. Catherine's High School, Pembroke offers an International Foundation Course for students wishing to learn English before entering mainstream education. {{As of|2008}}, there are two international schools, Verdala International School and QSI Malta. The state pays a portion of the teachers' salary in Church schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education in Malta |url=http://www.aboutmalta.com/grazio/education.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015203042/http://www.aboutmalta.com/grazio/education.html |archive-date=15 October 2007 |access-date=12 October 2007 |website=aboutmalta.com}}</ref>

Education in Malta is based on the [[Education in the United Kingdom|British model]]. Primary school lasts six years. Pupils sit for SEC [[O-level]] examinations at the age of 16, with passes obligatory in mathematics, a minimum of one science subject, English and [[Maltese language|Maltese]]. Pupils may opt to continue studying at a [[sixth form college]] for two years, at the end of which students sit for the matriculation examination. Subject to their performance, students may then apply for an undergraduate [[academic degree|degree]] or diploma.

The adult [[literacy rate]] is 99.5 per cent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malta – Literacy rate |url=http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/malta/literacy-rate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926154318/http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/malta/literacy-rate |archive-date=26 September 2013 |access-date=20 October 2013 |website=Indexmundi.com}}</ref><!-- This section is linked to from the "Languages" section above. If changing the section title, update the link as well. -->

Maltese and English are both used to teach pupils at the primary and secondary school level, and both languages are also compulsory subjects. [[State school|Public schools]] tend to use both Maltese and English in a balanced manner. Private schools prefer to use English for teaching, as is also the case with most departments of the [[University of Malta]]; this has a limiting effect on the capacity and development of the Maltese language.<ref name=LinguisticView/> Most university courses are in English.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malta |first=L.-Università ta' |title=Study |url=https://www.um.edu.mt/study |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801054244/https://www.um.edu.mt/study |archive-date=1 August 2019 |access-date=17 January 2020 |website=L-Università ta' Malta |language=en}}</ref><ref name=MED/> The [[College of Remote and Offshore Medicine]] based in Malta teaches exclusively in English.

Of the total number of pupils studying a first foreign language at secondary level, 51 per cent take Italian whilst 38 per cent take French. Other choices include German, Russian, Spanish, Latin, Chinese and Arabic.<ref name=LinguisticView/><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 September 2004 |title=Foreign Language Learning; National Statistics Office |url=http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=580  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114113545/http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=580 |archive-date=14 January 2009 |website=gov.mt}}</ref>

Malta is also a popular destination to study the English language, attracting over 83,000 students in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2013 |title=Malta on the rebound, language student arrivals up 18.2 per cent over last year |url=http://monitor.icef.com/2013/04/malta-on-the-rebound-language-student-arrivals-up-18-2-over-last-year/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925094205/http://monitor.icef.com/2013/04/malta-on-the-rebound-language-student-arrivals-up-18-2-over-last-year/ |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=23 September 2015 |website=ICEF Monitor}}</ref>