Malta Records Largest Median Age Decrease Amid EU’s Ageing Population
Over the last decade, not only did Malta’s median age decrease, as opposed to pretty much the rest of the EU, but the country recorded the highest decrease in numbers across Europe.
Between 2013 and 2023, Malta and Sweden were the only EU countries that recorded a decrease in the population’s median age.
The median number on our island decreased by 0.4 years, whereas in Sweden it decreased by 0.1. In Germany, the median age remained unchanged.
On the other hand, Portugal experienced the highest increase in the population’s median age with a rise of 4.4 years in the span of 10 years. Greece, Spain, Slovakia and Italy followed suit, registering an increase of four years.
As of 1st January 2023, the median age of the EU population stood at 44.5 years, signifying that half of the population was older than 44.5 years, while the other half was younger.
Over the past decade, the median age of the EU population has increased by 2.3 years from 42.2 years in 2013. Interestingly, during the same period, Malta’s median age saw a decrease.
Similarly, Malta recorded the second lowest old-age dependency ratio increase within the EU when compared to 2013 numbers.
This is the ratio of the number of elderly people (aged 65 years and over) compared with the number of people of working age (15-64 years).
The total ratio within the EU has increased by 5.7 percentage points since 1st January 2013 when it was at 27.7%. Malta’s numbers increased only by two percentage points over the last decade.
Similarly, Malta recorded the second lowest old-age dependency ratio increase within the EU when compared to 2013 numbers.
This is the ratio of the number of elderly people (aged 65 years and over) compared with the number of people of working age (15-64 years).
The total ratio within the EU has increased by 5.7 percentage points since 1st January 2013 when it was at 27.7%. Malta’s numbers increased only by two percentage points over the last decade.
These latest revelations regarding Malta’s population come as a surprise, especially since previous Eurostat data had revealed that the country has the lowest fertility rate in Europe.
In fact, data shows that Malta’s fertility rate has experienced a steady decline since 2012.
On the other hand, Malta was one of the EU countries which experienced the highest influx of migrants throughout the years. In fact, Eurostat data revealed that in 2021 the number of migrants that came to Malta amounted to about 35% of the entire population.
Were you surprised by the recent findings?
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