The Central Bank of Malta published a clarification disputing a Times of Malta fact-check of a claim that 90% of under-35s own their own homes, arguing that the newspaper misinterpreted the Bank’s Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) and the then Deputy Governor’s earlier commentary by treating household-based results as if they referred to individuals. The Bank stressed that the HFCS deals exclusively with households, so any results necessarily relate to households in the relevant age group. It also challenged the article’s implication that the HFCS excludes people under 35 who live with their parents or others, noting that such individuals appear in the survey as part of other households with an age cohort above 34. HFCS data cited by the Bank shows the homeownership rate for Maltese households aged 18-34 increased from 78% in 2010 to 91% in 2023, while the share of total Maltese households aged under 35 rose from 8.7% to 12.2% over the same period.
Central Bank of Malta 2026-01-15
Central Bank of Malta rejects Times of Malta interpretation of HFCS under-35 homeownership figures and cites 91% ownership for 18-34 households in 2023
The Central Bank of Malta clarified a misinterpretation by the Times of Malta regarding its Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS), emphasizing that the results pertain to households, not individuals. The Bank highlighted that individuals under 35 living with parents are included in the survey as part of households with older age cohorts. HFCS data indicates that homeownership among Maltese households aged 18-34 rose from 78% in 2010 to 91% in 2023.