Net migration (UNICEF) in Malta
Malta: Net migration was 5,161 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5,161
Change on year
down 18.4%
World rank
30th
of 74 countries
All-time high
20,302
in 2019
All-time low
-5,540
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Malta, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Malta recorded 5,161 for net migration in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.4% on the previous year and down 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Malta peaked at 20,302 in 2019 and was at its lowest, -5,540, in 1960.
That places Malta 30th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -5,540 | — |
| 1961 | -5,099 | -8.0% |
| 1962 | -5,360 | +5.1% |
| 1963 | -4,773 | -11.0% |
| 1964 | -4,768 | -0.1% |
| 1965 | -4,329 | -9.2% |
| 1966 | -4,318 | -0.3% |
| 1967 | -4,073 | -5.7% |
| 1968 | -753 | -81.5% |
| 1969 | -827 | +9.8% |
| 1970 | -1,123 | +35.8% |
| 1971 | -1,327 | +18.2% |
| 1972 | -1,316 | -0.8% |
| 1973 | -1,549 | +17.7% |
| 1974 | -1,597 | +3.1% |
| 1975 | -1,742 | +9.1% |
| 1976 | -1,641 | -5.8% |
| 1977 | -1,598 | -2.6% |
| 1978 | -1,302 | -18.5% |
| 1979 | -1,311 | +0.7% |
| 1980 | -886 | -32.4% |
| 1981 | -548 | -38.1% |
| 1982 | -1,059 | +93.2% |
| 1983 | -740 | -30.1% |
| 1984 | -558 | -24.6% |
| 1985 | -428 | -23.3% |
| 1986 | 464 | -208.4% |
| 1987 | 295 | -36.4% |
| 1988 | 164 | -44.4% |
| 1989 | 248 | +51.2% |
| 1990 | 568 | +129.0% |
| 1991 | 763 | +34.3% |
| 1992 | 737 | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 1,006 | +36.5% |
| 1994 | 1,136 | +12.9% |
| 1995 | 1,306 | +15.0% |
| 1996 | 1,142 | -12.6% |
| 1997 | 1,003 | -12.2% |
| 1998 | 1,260 | +25.6% |
| 1999 | 1,463 | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 1,591 | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 1,678 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 1,821 | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 1,626 | -10.7% |
| 2004 | 1,662 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 1,626 | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 997 | -38.7% |
| 2007 | 926 | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 869 | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 836 | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 741 | -11.4% |
| 2011 | 999 | +34.8% |
| 2012 | 911 | -8.8% |
| 2013 | 861 | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 9,192 | +967.6% |
| 2015 | 9,588 | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 8,624 | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 14,372 | +66.7% |
| 2018 | 16,961 | +18.0% |
| 2019 | 20,302 | +19.7% |
| 2020 | 6,904 | -66.0% |
| 2021 | 4,638 | -32.8% |
| 2022 | 2,480 | -46.5% |
| 2023 | 6,591 | +165.8% |
| 2024 | 6,323 | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 5,161 | -18.4% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 5,161 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9,502, 54% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Malta's 5,161 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -376.5. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +967.6% | 861 | 9,192 |
| 1986 | +208.4% | -428 | 464 |
| 2023 | +165.8% | 2,480 | 6,591 |
| 1990 | +129.0% | 248 | 568 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3,984 | -5,540 | -753 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1,451 | -1,742 | -1,123 | 10 |
| 1980s | -304.8 | -1,059 | 464 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,038 | 568 | 1,463 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,363 | 836 | 1,821 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,255 | 741 | 20,302 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,350 | 2,480 | 6,904 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 27 Azerbaijan 8,731 compare
- 28 Cyprus 7,749 compare
- 29 Luxembourg 5,237 compare
- 31 Slovenia 2,711 compare
- 32 Iceland 2,709 compare
- 33 Kyrgyzstan 1,815 compare
More population data for Malta
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 522.74 Persons (2050)
- Demographic balances and indicators by type of projection and NUTS 3 -0.2548 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4258 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.8129 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 11,503 people (2100)
- Population density 1,125 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.8% (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Malta?
- Net migration in Malta was 5,161 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 20,302 in 2019.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was -5,540 in 1960.
- How does Malta rank for net migration?
- Malta ranks 30th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).