Malta's population reaches 400,000

The population of Malta has hit the 400,000 mark, according to figures released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The landmark was reached as a result of a population increase of 5.7 per thousand in 2003. The natural increase (live births minus deaths) was of 1.8 per thousand while the net migration rate was of 3.9 per thousand - more immigration than emigration was recorded.

The European Union has 380.8 million inhabitants and the acceding countries 74.1 million, the figures show.

While the EU had a natural population growth of 294,000 people last year, the net inflow of international migrants (immigration minus emigration) amounted to 983,000. This means the population grew by 3.4 per 1,000 inhabitants, with natural population growth and net migration of +0.8 per thousand and +2.6 per thousand respectively.

In total, the EU population is estimated to have increased by 1,276,000. This is in line with the past few years but still modest compared with growth in the 1950s and 1960s.

On the other hand, and despite net migration (+0.4 per thousand), the acceding countries' population fell by 0.8 per thousand due to a negative natural growth of 1.2 per thousand.

Live births in the EU are likely to have been 4.03 million, about 1.1 per cent higher than the post-war low observed in 2002. The highest birth rates were recorded in Ireland (15.5 live births per 1,000 inhabitants), France (12.7 per thousand), the Netherlands (12.6 per thousand) and Denmark (12.0 per thousand).

In the acceding countries, the highest birth rate was found in Cyprus (11.1 per thousand, the only rate above the EU average of 10.6 per thousand).

Four acceding countries recorded more emigration than immigration, in particular Lithuania (-1.4 per thousand). The highest net migration rates were observed in Cyprus (+14.1 per thousand) and Malta.