10% of population have second dwelling

Ten per cent of the population, or 14,000 households, possess a second dwelling for private use, with the highest number being in Gozo, according to figures released yesterday by the National Statistics Office.

The NSO published an analysis of household characteristics, dwelling and ownership of household items and household expenditure on a regional basis.

The data analysed emerged from the Household Budgetary Survey of 2000.

The results show that Maltese prefer to own their property rather than rent, with house ownership standing at 76.2 per cent in Malta and 94.9 per cent in Gozo. Around one fifth - 22.4 per cent - rent their accommodation.

The proportion of terraced houses in Gozo (78.8 per cent) is higher than in Malta (47.6 per cent). In Malta, 47.8 per cent of housing is in the form of flats and maisonettes, while in Gozo this proportion is 14.4 per cent.

The majority of the present housing stock on both islands, 33.8 per cent, was built between 1981 and 1995, with 40,080 dwellings built in Malta as opposed to 3,220 on Gozo.

Figures on household characteristics show that 36.4 per cent of the population is gainfully occupied, while 12.4 per cent are retired.

Twenty per cent of the population stay at home and look after the household. It also emerged that Gozo has a higher percentage of inactive persons (30.7 per cent) when compared with Malta. Inactive persons are defined as those who are neither employed nor unemployed.

The survey also revealed that 14.9 per cent of households are at risk of poverty. However, 85 per cent of the households on both islands have a good economic status.

Figures also show that there are no major differences between the spending patterns of households on the two islands, with the majority spending most of their income on food, beverages and tobacco; transport and communication; and household equipment and maintenance.

However, while Maltese households devote 10.1 per cent of their income to recreation and culture, Gozitans prefer to spend more on housing and energy.