Malta approved 3,126 new residential dwellings in the second quarter of 2026, a 3.3 per cent rise on the same period a year earlier, according to figures published by the National Statistics Office on 20th August 2026.

The data, sourced from the Maltese Planning Authority and covering approvals up to 30th June 2026, show 539 building permits were issued during the quarter, down 9.9 per cent year on year. Yet the number of approved dwellings per permit climbed to an average of 5.8, pointing to a clear shift towards larger, multi-unit schemes over standalone residential projects.

Apartments made up the bulk of what was approved, accounting for 72.1 per cent of all new dwellings at 2,253 units. Penthouses followed at 464, maisonettes at 295, terraced houses at 93 and other residential types including bungalows, farmhouses and villas at 21. The composition reflects the pattern that has characterised Malta’s residential planning pipeline across recent quarters.

On a geographical basis, the Northern Harbour district recorded the highest number of approved new dwellings at 1,122, while the Western district posted the lowest at 225. Across Malta as a whole, approvals rose 4.6 per cent year on year. Gozo and Comino moved in the opposite direction, recording a 5.1 per cent decline over the same period.

At locality level, San Pawl Il-Baħar led all areas with 258 approved dwellings, just ahead of Birkirkara on 256. L-Imsida, Ħal Safi and Il-Mosta completed the top five with 164, 133 and 130 respectively.

The NSO notes that the figures cover permits for new residential construction and changes of use from non-residential to residential buildings. Extensions, restorations, alterations and demolitions with no net effect on dwelling numbers are excluded. All data remains subject to revision and historical time-series figures are accessible through the NSO’s selected indicators portal.