Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta
Malta: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 88.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
88.9%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
29th
of 202 countries
All-time high
88.9%
in 2025
All-time low
0.6%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta is 88.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta peaked at 88.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1000.
That places Malta 29th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.6% | — |
| 1100 | 0.8% | +33.3% |
| 1200 | 1.1% | +33.3% |
| 1300 | 1.5% | +33.3% |
| 1400 | 1.9% | +33.3% |
| 1500 | 2.6% | +33.3% |
| 1600 | 3.4% | +33.3% |
| 1700 | 4.6% | +33.3% |
| 1710 | 7.7% | +67.1% |
| 1720 | 10.8% | +40.2% |
| 1730 | 13.8% | +28.6% |
| 1740 | 16.9% | +22.3% |
| 1750 | 20.0% | +18.2% |
| 1760 | 23.1% | +15.4% |
| 1770 | 26.2% | +13.4% |
| 1780 | 29.3% | +11.8% |
| 1790 | 32.4% | +10.5% |
| 1800 | 35.4% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 38.5% | +8.7% |
| 1820 | 41.6% | +8.0% |
| 1830 | 44.7% | +7.4% |
| 1840 | 47.8% | +6.9% |
| 1850 | 50.9% | +6.5% |
| 1860 | 53.9% | +6.1% |
| 1870 | 57.0% | +5.7% |
| 1880 | 60.1% | +5.4% |
| 1890 | 63.2% | +5.1% |
| 1900 | 66.3% | +4.9% |
| 1910 | 69.4% | +4.7% |
| 1920 | 72.4% | +4.4% |
| 1930 | 75.5% | +4.3% |
| 1940 | 78.6% | +4.1% |
| 1950 | 81.7% | +3.9% |
| 1951 | 82.1% | +0.4% |
| 1952 | 82.2% | +0.2% |
| 1953 | 82.4% | +0.2% |
| 1954 | 82.6% | +0.2% |
| 1955 | 82.8% | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 83.1% | +0.4% |
| 1957 | 83.5% | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 83.6% | +0.1% |
| 1959 | 83.4% | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 83.0% | -0.5% |
| 1961 | 82.3% | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 81.3% | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 80.2% | -1.3% |
| 1964 | 79.2% | -1.2% |
| 1965 | 78.5% | -0.9% |
| 1966 | 78.0% | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 77.9% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 77.9% | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 78.0% | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 78.0% | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 78.7% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 79.4% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 80.1% | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 81.1% | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 82.4% | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 82.1% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 82.2% | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 82.4% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 82.6% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 82.5% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 82.5% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 82.4% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 82.3% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 82.1% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 82.0% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 82.0% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 82.0% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 82.0% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 82.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 82.1% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 82.2% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 82.2% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 82.1% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 82.4% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 82.7% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 82.9% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 83.1% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 83.4% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 83.8% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 84.2% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 84.6% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 85.0% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 85.4% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 85.8% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 86.2% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 86.6% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 87.0% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 87.3% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 87.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 87.6% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 87.7% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 87.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 87.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 88.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 88.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 88.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 88.4% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 88.6% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 88.6% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 88.7% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 88.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 88.8% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 88.9% | +0.1% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 88.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 78.9%, 1.1× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Malta's 88.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 72.8%, 1.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1710 | +67.1% | 4.6% | 7.7% |
| 1720 | +40.2% | 7.7% | 10.8% |
| 1100 | +33.3% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| 1200 | +33.3% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| 1300 | +33.3% | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| 1400 | +33.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1600s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 1710s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
| 1720s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1730s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 16.9% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 1 |
| 1750s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1760s | 23.1% | 23.1% | 23.1% | 1 |
| 1770s | 26.2% | 26.2% | 26.2% | 1 |
| 1780s | 29.3% | 29.3% | 29.3% | 1 |
| 1790s | 32.4% | 32.4% | 32.4% | 1 |
| 1800s | 35.4% | 35.4% | 35.4% | 1 |
| 1810s | 38.5% | 38.5% | 38.5% | 1 |
| 1820s | 41.6% | 41.6% | 41.6% | 1 |
| 1830s | 44.7% | 44.7% | 44.7% | 1 |
| 1840s | 47.8% | 47.8% | 47.8% | 1 |
| 1850s | 50.9% | 50.9% | 50.9% | 1 |
| 1860s | 53.9% | 53.9% | 53.9% | 1 |
| 1870s | 57.0% | 57.0% | 57.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 60.1% | 60.1% | 60.1% | 1 |
| 1890s | 63.2% | 63.2% | 63.2% | 1 |
| 1900s | 66.3% | 66.3% | 66.3% | 1 |
| 1910s | 69.4% | 69.4% | 69.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 72.4% | 72.4% | 72.4% | 1 |
| 1930s | 75.5% | 75.5% | 75.5% | 1 |
| 1940s | 78.6% | 78.6% | 78.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 82.7% | 81.7% | 83.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 79.6% | 77.9% | 83.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 80.8% | 78.0% | 82.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 82.2% | 82.0% | 82.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 82.4% | 82.0% | 83.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 85.2% | 83.4% | 87.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 87.9% | 87.3% | 88.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 88.7% | 88.6% | 88.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 26 United Kingdom 89.4% compare
- 27 Gabon 89.4% compare
- 28 New Zealand 89.2% compare
- 30 France 88.3% compare
- 31 Luxembourg 88.2% compare
- 32 Finland 88.2% compare
More population data for Malta
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.8129 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.3593 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.8129 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4258 % change on previous year (2100)
- Demographic balances and indicators by type of projection and NUTS 3 -0.2548 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 522.74 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1107 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.8% (2100)
- Population density 1,125 people per km² (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malta was 88.9% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1000.
- How does Malta rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Malta ranks 29th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.