2011 census counts 2,676 sub-Saharan Africans

Data from the November 2011 census put the number of non-Maltese nationals hailing from sub-Saharan Africa at 2,676 - or just 0.6% of the total population and 13% of the 20,288 non-Maltese living on the island. According to the census, 4.8% of the population of Malta is composed of non-Maltese, up from 3% in 2005.

The census showed that the vast majority (59%) of non-Maltese living in Malta hail from fellow states in the European Union.

Sub-Saharan Africans were the second-largest foreign ethnic group (13%), followed by Europeans hailing from non-EU countries (10%), Asians (8%) and North Africans (5%).

This information, which lends perspective to the current debate on migration, was provided to MaltaToday by the National Office of Statistics.

The census, which included persons living in detention centres, showed that 58% of sub-Saharan Africans in Malta live in the south-eastern district, with the seaside port town of Birzebbugia being home to the vast majority.

In an indication that most of them were living in detention, Birzebbugia also hosts the highest number of Maltese residents living in an "institution".

Before the end of 2011, a total of 13,088 migrants, mostly but not exclusively from sub-Saharan Africa, had arrived to Malta by boat.

The census data, which showed fewer than 3,000 sub-Saharan Africans living in Malta, indicates that many had either left the island or were not counted. Other estimates put the number still living in Malta at around 5,000.

Asked whether the census also included "stateless" persons, who cannot be categorised under any nationality, an NSO spokesperson insisted that in the census "practically everyone declared his or her nationality".

According to the preliminary report on the census issued last year, it is estimated that over 96% of all persons residing in Malta were counted in the census exercise. The publication of the full report is expected in the coming weeks.

The census was executed through the distribution of a questionnaire and visits by enumerators to all households. Non-Maltese residents with an ID card were included.

Anyone living in Malta qualified as a Maltese resident if he or she had done so for a continuous period of at least 12 months as of 20 November 2011 or had arrived in Malta during the 12 months before 20 November 2011 with the intention of staying for at least 12 months.

The preliminary report of the census specified that even persons who were in Malta illegally or irregularly were included.

Asylum seekers and persons who had applied for or been granted refugee status or similar types of international protection were included in the resident population if the duration of their stay in the country was, or was expected to be, at least 12 months.

The census indicated that the vast majority of EU citizens live in the northern and north harbour regions. In fact, 6% of the population in these two regions hails from another EU country. Gozo also boasts a large percentage of EU citizens, at 3.5%, but they account for less than 2% of the population in the southern and western regions.

Despite the historical attractions of Valletta and the Grand Harbour area, residents from other EU countries were least likely to live in the south harbour region.

St Paul's Bay had the highest percentage of residents from other EU countries, 14%, followed by Sliema (10%).

Sliema also boasted the highest number of residents hailing from non-EU European states, 3%, followed by St Julian's (2%). Sliema had 374 residents from countries like Russia, Turkey, Serbia and the other European countries not part of the EU.

On the other hand, sub-Saharan Africans only surpassed the 2% mark in the south-eastern region, even though the only locality with a large number of sub-Saharans was Birzebbugia, where they accounted for 9% of the total population. In fact, foreigners represent a very tiny minority in most of the other south-eastern localities.

The only other south-eastern locality to host a significant number of non-Maltese residents is Marsascala, where foreigners, mostly from the EU, account for 3.5% of the population. Only 21 sub-Saharan Africans lived in Marsascala, less than the 52 in Sliema.

In localities like Gudja and Kirkop, only 0.1% was non-Maltese. This suggests that Birzebbugia is an island of ethnic diversity surrounded by tightly knit, ethnically homogeneous localities.

Only 40 sub-Saharan Africans lived in Gozo, and 81% of non-Maltese living there hailed from the EU.

Despite the geographic proximity to the Maghreb, North Africans were outnumbered by Asians. While 1,065 North Africans lived in Malta, the number of Asians was 1,665.

The largest number of North Africans lived in the south-east, with 151 in Birzebbugia.

Asians were most numerous in the northern and north harbour regions, with 170 in St Paul's Bay and 168 in Sliema.

The census statistics tally those issued by the Employment and Training Corporation on foreign workers in Malta, which show that 66% (12,724) foreign workers in Malta hail from the EU. Only 7% of foreign workers hail from sub-Saharan Africa.

But while the census showed 2,676 sub-Saharans living in Malta in 2011, ETC data show that only about 900 were working legally. Sub-Saharan workers mostly hail from East Africa, notably Eritrea (179), Ethiopia (114) and Somalia (104).

The census only showed 544 non-Maltese residents hailing from the Americas and just 224 hailing from Oceania.