Malta has a population of 403,342 (2004 estimate), which gives an average density of 1,257 people per sq km (3,254 per sq mi). Around 377,000 people live in Malta, approximately 26,000 in Gozo and 20 call Comino their home. Average life expectancy in 2004 was 76 years for men and 81 years for women; the infant mortality rate in 1995 was 6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Population:

399,867 (2003)

401,880 (2007)

408,333 (July 2011 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.7% (male 32,829; female 31,198)

15-64 years: 68.5% (male 142,006; female 137,803)

65 years and over: 15.8% (male 28,305; female 36,192) (2011 est.)

Median age:

Total: 40 years

Male: 38.8 years

Female: 41.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.375% (2011 est.)

Birth rate:

10.35 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate:

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Sex ratio:

At birth: 1.058 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

Total: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

Total population: 79.72 years

Male: 77.45 years

Female: 82.12 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.52 children born/woman (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 500 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2009 est.)

Nationality:

Noun: Maltese (singular and plural)

Adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups:

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Religions:

The Maltese are predominantly Roman Catholic.

Roman Catholic (official) 98%

Languages:

Maltese (the only Semitic language in the EU) is the first-official language, English the second. Maltese is much more widely spoken, generally by the majority of the population, whereas English is a mother tongue for a minority. Maltese is a descendant of Maghrebi Arabic, although the grammatical structure and sound system is different, and it has taken a lot of vocabulary from Italian. Italian is spoken by some on Malta, due to its close cultural and historical links with Italy. Maltese is written in Latin characters.

Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (mainly Italian)

Literacy:

Definition: age 10 and over can read and write

Total population: 92.8%

Male: 91.7%

Female: 93.9% (2005 census)

Education:

Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16. The University of Malta (1592) is in Msida. In 2000–2001 there were approximately 34,914 primary-school children, 36,243 secondary-school pupils, and 6,000 students in higher education. University-level education is provided by the University of Malta (1592).

In 2007 Malta spent 6.4% of its GDP