74 per cent of households are home owners

Just over 74.1 per cent of all households own the dwellings in which they live, statistics released by the National Statistics Office show.

57.6 per cent of all dwellings, which number 127,970, are owned without any outstanding loans. Only 15.6 per cent of households have outstanding house loans, while 22.4 per cent live in rented property.

Most of those who have loans are in the 30-39 age bracket. None of those who have loans is over 69, the statistics show.

There are stark differences in the geographical distribution of those who rent property: 37.2 per cent of households in the Southern Harbour district rent their homes, compared with just 5.1 per cent in the Gozo and Comino district.

The statistics also reveal households' material belongings: private households use 162,320 cars (1.27 cars on average); 98.9 per cent own at least one TV set; 99 per cent own a cooker; 95.1 per cent own a washing machine; 92.8 per cent own a water heater and 82.3 per cent own a fridge-freezer.

It was also found that 101,070 households, or 79 per cent, make use of at least one car.

The lowest proportion of households using a car is in the Southern Harbour area, while the highest proportion is in the Northern district. In fact, 26.8 per cent of households in the Southern Harbour district do not use a car, compared with 14.5 per cent in the North.

On the other hand, 50.5 per cent of households in the Northern district make use of two cars or more, this being the highest proportion. The lowest proportion of households making use of at least two cars, with 32.3 per cent, is again in the Southern Harbour district.

It was estimated that 74,660 household members, or 19.4 per cent of the population which forms part of private households, have life insurance, and 69,480, or 18 per cent, have health insurance.

Disctricts

Southern Harbour: Valletta, Cospicua, Vittoriosa, Senglea, Zabbar, Fgura, Floriana, Kalkara, Luqa, Marsa, Paola, Santa Lucija, Tarxien, Xghajra.

Northern Harbour: Qormi, Birkirkara, Gzira, Hamrun, Msida, Pembroke, Pietà, San Giljan, San Gwann, Santa Venera, Sliema, Swieqi, Ta' Xbiex.

South Eatern: Zejtun, Birzebbuga, Gudja, Ghaxaq, Kirkop, M'Scala, M'Xlokk, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi, Zurrieq.

Western: Mdina, Zebbug, Siggiewi, Attard, Balzan, Dingli, Iklin, Lija, Rabat, Mtarfa.

Northern: Gharghur, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mosta, Naxxar, San Pawl il-Bahar.

Gozo and Comino: Rabat, Fontana, Ghajnsielem and Comino, Gharb, Ghasri, Kercem, Munxar.