Birkirkara was and is still one of the largest localities in Malta with a population of around 23,000. Besides the area it occupies today, in the past it used to include other areas where today one finds other villages and towns. These were Santa Venera, part of il-Ħamrun, l-Imsida, Tas-Sliema, San Ġiljan, il-Gżira, Ħ’Attard, Ħal Balzan, Ħal Lija, Ħal Mann and Ħal Bordi. As time went by these places got cut off from Birkirkara and became a parish in their own right because of their growing population.