4.2 Residential Building Permits
The first section of this chapter provides a summary of recent developments in the Maltese economy, highlighting major changes in regional economic statistics by industry NACE A*10/11. Macroeconomic activity and economic growth within each respective region are measured by Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at market prices, based on the production approach. The prevailing economic activity within the regions is explained by the respective GDP per capita. The second part of this chapter focuses on the development in the construction activity being measured by the number of approved buildings permits and new dwellings.
Last Updated: 10 April 2026
Salient Points
Residential Building Permits: 2025
… 2,213 building permits for a total of 12,325 new dwellings were approved.
… the highest numbers of both building permits and approved new dwellings were recorded in the Northern Harbour district at 577 permits and 3,509 new dwellings respectively.
… the majority of newly approved dwellings in MALTA consisted of apartments (72.1 per cent), followed by penthouses with 1,856 units.
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4.2.1 Approved new building permits and dwellings in MALTA by year
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4.2.2 Approved new building permits and dwellings by district (LAU 1) and selected years
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4.2.3 Distribution of approved new dwellings in MALTA by type
Reference year: 2025
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4.2.4 Approved new dwellings by district (LAU 1) and type
Reference year: 2025
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Maps
Note: Data on distance travelled of agricultural motor vehicles, motorcycles, e-bicycles, PA-bicycles, e-kick scooters, quadricycles and ATVs is not available.
Methodological Notes
1. The data source of the statistics provided in this section is the Maltese Planning Authority. It includes approved building permits for the:
● construction of approved new dwellings,
● change of use from non-residential buildings to residential ones.
2. Building permits for dwelling extensions, restorations, alterations, or demolitions that have no effect on the number of new dwellings are not being included in the statistics provided in this section.
3. Definitions:
● Building permit: An authorisation to start work on a building project. It can include more than one approved new dwelling.
● Dwelling: A room or suite of rooms and its accessories in a permanent building or structurally separated part thereof which by the way it has been built, rebuilt and converted, is intended for private habitation.
4. More information may be accessed at:
European statistics comparable to this data are available at here.
