The National Statistics Office has just published Regional Statistics Malta 2020 Edition, and below we have set out the salient points for Gozo.

This publication presents regional statistics on the socio-economic and environmental aspects of Malta and Gozo and has been compiled by Regional, Geospatial, Energy and Transport Statistics Unit in collaboration with various units within NSO.

It presents a comprehensive collection of statistics covering eight domains, namely, demography, education, labour market, economy, transport, tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and resources

As at 2018, data shows that 33,388 persons lived in Gozo and Comino, with the highest share of the population aged between 20 and 29, a change from 2017, when the age group was 50-59.

n 2018, commuter workers were predominantly Gozo and Comino residents working in Malta, accounting to 3,309 workers on a full-time basis, up from 3,043 in 2017.” the NSO said.

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 average household disposable income being the lowest across the Maltese Islands at €23,741, the publication said. Persons at risk of poverty rates stood at 14.1% for the region.

In 2018, 14,729 Gozo and Comino residents had a full-time job, this was an increase of 7.5% when compared to 2017, the NSO said. 60.6%worked in the private sector.

Full-time employment in Gozo amounted to 10,875, an increase of 7.3% when compared to 2017, 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 2018 for Gozo and Comino increased by 12.3% when compared to 2017.

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

The largest increase in Gozo and Comino was registered the industries comprising public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities accounted for the highest share at 24.1% of the total GVA.

GDP per capita in Gozo stood at 63.8% when compared to corresponding estimates at national level, the NSO said.

Driving Licence holders in Gozo in 2019 accounted for 9.3% of the total for the Maltese Islands. The NSO said that Gozo also registered the highest ratio of vehicles – 1,071 per 1 000 total residents.

The number of public transport commuters on the Maltese Islands totalled 57,409,385, with just 4.5% of them pertaining to Gozo.

In 2019, Gozo had the lowest registered accidents, with 916 cases reported, the NSO said.

There were 2,689 fishing vessels registered on the Maltese Islands in 2019, 18.4% of which were in Gozo and Comino.

Data on Gozo Channel crossings in 2019 show that passengers and vehicles travelling between Malta and Gozo increased by 2.8% and 7.4% respectively when compared to 2018.

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 2019 decreased by 0.7% to 99,074, while guest nights went down by 8.0%.

Data noted that registered self-catering establishments in Gozo, as at the end of 2019 accounted for 73.7% of total bedstock in the Gozo and Comino region.

The NSO said that other self-catering establishments, comprising of apartments and villas with pool, accounted for more than half of the total active holiday furnished premises.

The NSO said that, in 2018, the total domestic trips to and from Malta, and Gozo and Comino regions amounted to 245,477, a decrease of 5.9% when compared to 2017.

Domestic tourists on average stayed 2.6 nights, were mostly aged between 25-44 and travelled for holiday purposes (89.1%).

Malta residents who visited the Gozo and Comino region for duration of at least one night, accounted for 52.6% of total tourists (domestic + inbound) visiting this region, and stayed in non-rented accommodation establishments, decreased by 2.4% over 2017, whereas those who stayed in collective accommodation decreased by 7.0% over the same period

The Maltese visitors to Gozo and Comino spent an estimate of €38.4 million, 4.2% less when compared to 2017.

The NSO said that Gozo and Comino residents who travelled to Malta amounted to 18,356, this was a decrease of 23.3% when compared to 2017.

Same-day visitors to Gozo and Comino in 2019 accounted for 88.2%of the total inbound visitors to Gozo and Comino, totalling to 1,346,550 visitors, the NSO said.

17 cruise liners called in Gozo during 2019 with a total of 8,160 passengers.

For Agriculture and fisheries in 2019, Gozo and Comino generated €2.0 million from vegetables and €0.3 million from fruits. The share of fish value originating from Gozo and Comino landings accounted for 9.3% of the total.

Between 2013 to 2018 seasonal peaks and troughs for water consumption were more pronounced in Gozo and Comino region – characterised with sharper increases in demand during summer months.

1,787 tonnes were collected in grey/green recycle bays in Gozo and Comino during 2018.

Bring-in sites constituted the highest share of all the material in Gozo – 69.8% – with mixed paper, plastic, cans and glass.

In 2018, the top 10 localities – when comparing the total number of PVs installed in the domestic sector per thousand population – were all located in the Gozo and Comino region.

Photograph by Alain Salvary

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