19% of all business units in wholesale and retail trade

In 2012, registered business units amounted to 70,782, an increase of 2.1 per cent, or 1,461, over the amount recorded in 2011. Business units are predominantly solely owned or in partnership. These amounted to 42,035 registered units and accounted for 59.4 per cent of the total.

Limited liability companies represented 37.3 per cent of all units, a 4.9 per cent increase when compared to 2011. By economic activity, the number of business units in wholesale and retail trade, except that of motor vehicles amounted to 19.3 per cent of all business units, up by 2.0 per cent from 2011.

Furthermore, registered business units in crop and animal production, specialised construction activities food and beverage service activities and activities of head offices; management consultancy activities amounted to 4.5, 5.5, 4.4 and 4.6 per cent respectively of the total registered units in 2012.

By size class, 97.1 per cent of business units employ less than 10 persons and are considered micro. On the other hand, only 83 enterprises in Malta employ more than 250 persons and are classified as large businesses.