Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Malta
Malta: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 68.7% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Malta, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Malta stood at 68.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Malta peaked at 70.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 63.9%, in 1950.
That places Malta 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 63.9% | — |
| 1955 | 67.0% | +4.7% |
| 1960 | 68.6% | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 69.6% | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 70.3% | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 69.0% | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 68.5% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 68.5% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 67.4% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 69.3% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 68.1% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 66.6% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 66.0% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 65.0% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 68.7% | +5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.5% | 63.9% | 67.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 69.1% | 68.6% | 69.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 69.6% | 69.0% | 70.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 68.5% | 68.5% | 68.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 68.3% | 67.4% | 69.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 67.3% | 66.6% | 68.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 65.5% | 65.0% | 66.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 68.7% | 68.7% | 68.7% | 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 population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Malta?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Malta was 68.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 70.3% in 1970.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.9% in 1950.
- How does Malta rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Malta ranks 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.