Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malta
Malta: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 72.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malta, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malta recorded 72.3% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
The figure is up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malta peaked at 77.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 68.9%, in 2015.
That places Malta 9th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 70.9% | — |
| 1955 | 73.6% | +3.8% |
| 1960 | 75.1% | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 76.4% | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 77.3% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 75.7% | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 74.4% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 74.8% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 72.8% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 74.0% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 72.3% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 70.8% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 70.2% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 68.9% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 72.3% | +4.9% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 72.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.2%, 2.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malta's 72.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.7%, 3.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 72.3% | 70.9% | 73.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 75.8% | 75.1% | 76.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 76.5% | 75.7% | 77.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 74.6% | 74.4% | 74.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 73.4% | 72.8% | 74.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 71.6% | 70.8% | 72.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 69.5% | 68.9% | 70.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 72.3% | 72.3% | 72.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More population data for Malta
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malta?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malta was 72.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 77.3% in 1970.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.9% in 2015.
- How does Malta rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Malta ranks 9th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.