Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Malta
Malta: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 521,847 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
521,847 people
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
163rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
521,847 people
in 2025
All-time low
261,976 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Malta, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Malta is 521,847 people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Malta peaked at 521,847 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 261,976 people, in 1950.
That places Malta 163rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Malta, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 261,976 people | — |
| 1951 | 267,885 people | +2.3% |
| 1952 | 272,645 people | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 277,375 people | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 282,016 people | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 286,551 people | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 290,868 people | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 294,910 people | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 297,359 people | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 298,036 people | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 298,154 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 297,786 people | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 297,017 people | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 295,946 people | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 294,596 people | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 292,975 people | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 291,154 people | -0.6% |
| 1967 | 289,346 people | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 289,060 people | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 290,179 people | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 291,324 people | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 292,500 people | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 293,716 people | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 295,056 people | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 296,571 people | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 298,225 people | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 299,948 people | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 301,716 people | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 303,519 people | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 305,341 people | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 307,171 people | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 308,985 people | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 310,825 people | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 312,727 people | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 314,652 people | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 316,629 people | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 319,163 people | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 322,501 people | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 326,292 people | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 330,476 people | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 334,914 people | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 339,480 people | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 344,090 people | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 348,583 people | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 352,734 people | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 356,468 people | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 359,922 people | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 363,250 people | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 366,563 people | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 369,855 people | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 373,015 people | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 376,048 people | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 378,972 people | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 381,790 people | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 384,541 people | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 387,275 people | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 389,690 people | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 391,796 people | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 393,954 people | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 396,146 people | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 398,312 people | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 400,490 people | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 402,560 people | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 404,419 people | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 410,208 people | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 420,234 people | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 430,138 people | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 442,491 people | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 458,994 people | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 478,478 people | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 493,250 people | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 500,855 people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 504,953 people | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 509,651 people | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 516,159 people | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 521,847 people | +1.1% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 521,847 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million people, 23% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Malta's 521,847 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.75 million people, 5% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 282,962 people | 261,976 people | 298,036 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 293,621 people | 289,060 people | 298,154 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 297,792 people | 291,324 people | 305,341 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 316,942 people | 307,171 people | 330,476 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 353,586 people | 334,914 people | 369,855 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 385,323 people | 373,015 people | 396,146 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 424,632 people | 398,312 people | 478,478 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 507,786 people | 493,250 people | 521,847 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 160 Luxembourg 645,643 people compare
- 161 Fiji 555,642 people compare
- 162 Western Sahara 522,087 people compare
- 164 Mauritius 495,098 people compare
- 165 Suriname 420,949 people compare
- 166 Montenegro 415,124 people compare
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Malta?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Malta was 521,847 people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 521,847 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 261,976 people in 1950.
- How does Malta rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Malta ranks 163rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.