Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Malta
Malta: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 5.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
5.0%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
198th
of 214 countries
All-time high
10.3%
in 1970
All-time low
5.0%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Malta, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Malta recorded 5.0% for rural population in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Malta peaked at 10.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2024.
Malta ranks 198th of 214 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Malta, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.3% | — |
| 1971 | 10.3% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 10.3% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 10.3% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 10.3% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 10.3% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 10.1% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 10.0% | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 9.9% | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 9.7% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 9.6% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 9.5% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 9.3% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 9.2% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 9.1% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 8.8% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 8.2% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 7.6% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 6.0% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 5.9% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 5.7% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 5.0% | -1.3% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 5.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.4%, 31% of the median. (84 countries reporting)
- Malta's 5.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.3%, 23% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.3% | 10.2% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.1% | 9.7% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.9% | 7.9% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.6% | 6.0% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 195 Puerto Rico 6.3% compare
- 196 Iceland 5.9% compare
- 197 Turks and Caicos Islands 5.6% compare
- 199 Guam 4.8% compare
- 200 Uruguay 4.1% compare
- 201 United States Virgin Islands 3.7% 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)
- Population growth rate -0.805 (2100)
- Population density 1,125 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Malta?
- Rural population in Malta was 5.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 10.3% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2024.
- How does Malta rank for rural population?
- Malta ranks 198th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release