An average of 7,347 new dwellings per year established new record – NSO

The steady growth of 7,345 new dwellings per year in the last decade establishes a new record, according to figures published by the NSO Thursday.

The 2021 Census recorded a total of 297,304 dwellings – an increase of 32.8% since the last Census held in 2011, and a fourfold increase over a century. Just over a quarter of these (81,613) were secondary, seasonally used or vacant dwellings.

The steady growth of 7,345 dwellings per year observed over the past 10 years was the largest intercensal growth ever recorded to date.

Primary residences increased at a higher rate (41.2%) compared to secondary, seasonally used, or vacant dwellings (14.8%).

In Gozo and Comino, nearly half of the dwellings comprising the total stock were secondary, seasonally used or vacant (45%).

St Paul’s Bay emerged as the locality with the largest number of dwellings, with 23,738 or 8% of the total stock.

Compared to 2011, the localities of St Paul’s Bay, Msida and Mosta experienced the highest increases in the total number of dwellings. Decreases were recorded in Valletta, Senglea and San Lawrenz. For occupied dwellings, the most substantial increases were seen in St Paul’s Bay, Sliema and Msida.

For the first time ever, flats and penthouses dominated as the main places of residence (48.4%), followed by maisonettes (23.9%) and terraced houses (22.7%).

Half of the primary residences were built (or reconstructed) after the year 2000, and a significant shift occurred in favour of flats, penthouses and maisonettes. The overall condition of dwellings was predominantly good.

The regions of the Southern Harbour and Gozo and Comino reported the lowest proportion of dwellings being in a good state of repair. These regions also recorded the highest percentages of dwellings in need of serious repairs or being in a dilapidated state.

The proportion of rented furnished primary residences increased remarkably over the past decade (+13.3 percentage points).

Among furnished residences, the highest monthly rental payments were recorded in Sliema (€1,150), followed by St Julian’s and Swieqi (both at €1,100).

Conversely, the lowest rental rates were observed in Vittoriosa (€553), Għajnsielem, Comino and Żurrieq (€600).

Approximately 50% of the main residential dwellings had either five or six rooms and a decrease in the average count of rooms was recorded within the past decade (from six to five).

The average number of members residing in main residential dwellings stood at 2.4, with a persistent upward trend in favour of single-member residences. A total of 51,278 residences, (23.8% of the main residential units), were inhabited by non-Maltese residents.