Registered businesses in 2011 rise by 2.8%

Wholesale and retail trade businesses accounted for 20.4 per cent of the total registered business units in 2011.

In 2011, the number of registered business units rose by 2.8 per cent to 64,933 from 63,139 in 2010. By legal organisation, 64.3 per cent of all business units were 'sole ownerships/partnerships'.

These amounted to 41,739 registered units. Limited liability companies, which represented 32.2 per cent of all business units in 2011, registered an increase when compared to 2010. The number of business units in wholesale and retail trade except that of motor vehicles amounted to 20.4 per cent of all business units.

Furthermore, registered business units in crop and animal production, specialised construction activities, food and beverage service activities and activities of head offices; management consultancy activities amounted to 5, 5.9, 4.7 and 4.6 per cent respectively of the total registered units in 2011.

By size class, 97 per cent of business units have less than 10 employed persons. Comparatively, only 81 enterprises in Malta have more than 250 employed persons.