War and population change in the Maltese context

Abstract

Warfare is associated with marked social consequences that directly and indirectly will influence the reproductive patterns of the population. The present analysis looks at the population changes that occurred during the three of the four major conflicts where the Maltese population was directly involved. The study confirms that one of the consequence of warfare in the Maltese context during the centuries was a reduction in birth rates that picked up again in the post-war period.