The ratio between the sums of the highest and lowest 20 per cent equivalised incomes of persons within the households.

Early school leavers refer to the percentage of persons aged 18-24 who achieved secondary education or less (ISCED <= 2) and are not pursuing further education or training.

At risk of poverty, also referred to as the at-risk-of-poverty line (or simply the poverty line), it is equivalent to 60 per cent of the median of the national equivalised income of persons living in private households.

Total gross household income includes the sum for all household members of gross personal income components plus gross income components at household level, including: - Gross employee cash or near cash income; - Gross non-cash employee income (only company car and associated costs included); - Gross cash benefits or losses from self-employment (including royalties); - Unemployment benefits; - Old-age benefits; - Survivors’ benefits; - Sickness benefits; - Disability benefits; - Education-related allowances; - Income from rental property or land; - Family/Children related allowances; - Social exclusion not elsewhere classified; - Housing allowances; - Regular inter-household cash transfers received; - Interests, dividends, profits from capital investments in unincorporated business; - Income received by people aged under 16; - Income received from individual private pension plans.

The at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate corresponds to the proportion of persons who fall within at least one of the following three categories: persons whose equivalised income falls below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold; persons who live in severely materially deprived private households; and persons who live in private households where the working intensity (WI) is below 20 per cent.

All population components are based on definitions provided for in the European Regulation (EU) No. 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics. Total Population: includes both Maltese and foreign residents. The total population at the end of year t, is computed using the following equation: Pt = Pt-1 + Bt - Dt + It – Et, where Pt is the total resident population at the end of year t, Pt-1 is the total resident population at the end of year t-1, Bt is the total number of births born to mothers resident in Malta registered during year t, Dt is the total number of deaths of persons resident in Malta registered during year t, It is the total immigration of both Maltese and foreign nationals registered during year t who immigrated with the intention to live in Malta for a period of at least 12 months. Et is the total emigration of both Maltese and foreign nationals resident in Malta registered during year t who leave the country for a period of at least 12 months. Maltese Population: includes Maltese residents only. The Maltese population at the end of year t is computed using the following equation: P’t = P’t-1 + B’t – D’t + I’t – E’t , where: P’t is the Maltese resident population at the end of year t, P’t-1 is the Maltese resident population at the end of year t-1, B’t is the number of Maltese births born to mothers resident in Malta registered during year t, D’t is the number of deaths occurring to Maltese citizens resident in Malta during year t, I’t is the total immigration of Maltese nationals registered during year t who immigrated with the intention to live in Malta for a period of at least 12 months. E’t is the total emigration of Maltese nationals during year t who leave the country for a period of at least 12 months.

The data on expenditure under the various social protection schemes are drawn up according to the ESSPROS (European System of integrated Social Protection Statistics) Manual issued by Eurostat. Generally, the objectives of ESSPROS are to provide a comprehensive, realistic and coherent description of social protection which: (i) covers social benefits and their financing; (ii) is geared towards international comparability; and (iii) is completely harmonised with other statistics, particularly the National Accounts, in its main concepts. The Unemployment function consists of the following benefits: Special Unemployment Benefit, Unemployment Benefit, Social Assistance Board, Subsidiary Unemployment Assistance, Unemployment Assistance and Unemployment Assistance Tapering. Spatial ESSPROS data is represented per 1000 population. The data source used to compile the beneficiaries data is the System for the Administration of Social Benefits (SABS) database held by the Department of Social Security. Beneficiaries are grouped according to their ID card number. If a person received a particular benefit more than once in a calendar year, the records show one beneficiary. Beneficiaries obtaining more than one benefit under the same function are counted once. Beneficiaries living abroad are not included in the data.

Activity rate refers to labour force (15-64) as a percentage of the population of working age (15-64).

Unemployment rate refers to unemployed persons (15 to 74 years) as a percentage of the labour force (15-74 years).

Tertiary Educational Attainment refers to the percentage of persons aged between 30-34 years having achieved at least tertiary level of education (ISCED >=5).