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