Gozo population stood at 32,723 in 2017 – 3,400 commute to Malta for work

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Gozo population stood at 32,723 in 2017 - 3,400 commute to Malta for workAccording to a new publication by the National Statistics Office on regional statistics, 32 723 persons lived in Gozo and Comino in 2017, with the highest share of the population aged between 50-59.

In 2017, commuter workers were predominantly Gozo residents working in Malta, accounting to 3 410 employed persons.

It noted that natural population change in the region was positive, except for 2013 and 2015.

One-person households were the most common in Gozo and Comino, with the household disposable income being the lowest across the Maltese Islands at €22,867, the publication said. Persons at risk of poverty rates stood at 16.4% for the region.

For students, the share of graduates at MQF levels 5 and 6 per 1 000 inhabitants was highest in the Gozo district at 5.4 and 6.3 respectively.

In 2017, 13 272 Gozo residents had a full-time job, this was an increase of 6.7% when compared to 2016, the NSO said. 58.1% worked in the private sector.

Full-time employment in Gozo amounted to 10 133, an increase of 8.0% when compared to 2016, the NSO said.

Full-time males in Gozo were predominantly employed in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food services activities, the NSO said. While the females were mainly employed in the public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities.

The data show that Gross Value Added at basic price in 2017 for Gozo and Comino increased by 10.9% when compared to 2016.

Almost all industries in Gozo registered increases with the exception of agriculture, forestry and fishing.

The largest increase in Gozo was registered in economic activities relating to professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities at 49.3%, contributing to 12.5% of the total GVA.

GDP per capita in Gozo stood at 60.9% when compared to corresponding estimates at national level, the NSO said.

Driving Licence holders in Gozo in 2016 accounted for 9.1% of the total for the Maltese Islands. The NSO said that Gozo also registered the highest ratio of vehicles, 1 025 per 1 000 total residents.

The number of public transport commuters on the Maltese Islands totalled 43 253 238, with just 4.6% of them pertaining to Gozo.

In 2016, Gozo had the lowest registered accidents, with 773 cases reported, the NSO said.

There were 2,977 fishing vessels registered on the Maltese Islands in 2017, 19.8% of which were in Gozo and Comino.

Data on Gozo Channel crossings in 2018 show that passengers and vehicles travelling between Malta and Gozo increased by 7.0 and 7.5% respectively when compared to 2017.

It also noted that passenger traffic originating from Cirkewwa was busiest on Friday and Saturday, whereas highest numbers from Mgarr were recorded on Sunday and Saturday.

In the Gozo and Comino region, guests staying in collective accommodation during 2017 increased by 12.6% to 97 781, while guest nights went up by 11.1%.

Data noted that registered self-catering establishments in Gozo, as at the end of 2017 accounted for 72.3% of total bedstock in the Gozo and Comino region. Farmhouses accounted for more than half of the total active holiday furnished premises.

The NSO said that, in 2017, the total domestic trips to and from Malta, and Gozo and Comino regions amounted to 260 763, an increase of 10.3% when compared to 2016.

Malta residents who visited the Gozo and Comino region for a duration of at least one night accounted for 52.4% of total tourists (domestic + inbound) visiting this region, and were mostly aged between 25-44, and on average stayed 2.8 nights.

They travelled for holiday purposes (89.9%) and stayed in private accommodation establishments (including rented accommodation) which increased by 1.0% over 2016, whereas those who stayed in collective accommodation increased by 35.6% over the same period, the NSO said.

The Maltese visitors to Gozo and Comino spent an estimate of €40 million, 8.9% more when compared to 2016.

Photograph by Alain Salvary

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