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Fertility & birth rates in Italy and Malta

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has an annual birth rate of 6.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.1 for Malta. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Italy and 1.06 in Malta — 11.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 50% in Italy and by 70.7% in Malta — in 1960, it was 2.4 and 3.62, respectively.

  • Italy is ranked 190/196 by birth rate compared to 174/196 for Malta.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 31.8 years in Italy, compared to 29.8 years in Malta.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.3 in Italy — it's 31.3 in Malta.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 2.85 in Italy vs 10.4 in Malta.
  • In Italy, 19.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.6% in Malta.

Fertility rate in Italy vs Malta by year

Italy
Malta
1x
Year Fertility rate
Italy Malta
2023 1.2 1.06
2022 1.24 1.08
2021 1.25 1.13
2020 1.24 1.13
2019 1.27 1.14
2018 1.31 1.23
2017 1.34 1.26
2016 1.36 1.37
2015 1.36 1.37
2014 1.38 1.38
2013 1.39 1.36
2012 1.42 1.42
2011 1.42 1.45
2010 1.44 1.36
2009 1.44 1.42
2008 1.44 1.43
2007 1.39 1.35
2006 1.37 1.36
2005 1.33 1.38
2004 1.34 1.4
2003 1.29 1.48
2002 1.27 1.45
2001 1.25 1.48
2000 1.26 1.68
1999 1.23 1.73
1998 1.22 1.84
1997 1.22 1.93
1996 1.2 1.99
1995 1.19 1.77
1994 1.21 1.84
1993 1.25 1.96
1992 1.3 2.07
1991 1.3 1.99
1990 1.33 2.02
1989 1.33 2.1
1988 1.36 2.06
1987 1.33 1.97
1986 1.35 1.93
1985 1.42 1.95
1984 1.46 1.95
1983 1.51 1.92
1982 1.56 1.9
1981 1.58 1.87
1980 1.64 1.99
1979 1.73 2.1
1978 1.84 2.05
1977 1.93 2.14
1976 2.04 2.21
1975 2.17 2.27
1974 2.28 1.64
1973 2.3 1.65
1972 2.35 2.01
1971 2.4 2.06
1970 2.38 2.03
1969 2.47 2.02
1968 2.46 2.12
1967 2.5 2.24
1966 2.58 2.33
1965 2.6 2.52
1964 2.66 2.79
1963 2.51 2.9
1962 2.46 3.24
1961 2.44 3.27
1960 2.4 3.62

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/italy/malta | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Italy was 1.2 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.06 in Malta in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Italy vs Malta population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Italy
Malta
1x
Year Natural population change
Italy Malta
2023 -283,125 442
2022 -318,674 54
2021 -301,579 259
2020 -338,801 361
2019 -215,025 655
2018 -192,475 774
2017 -192,007 747
2016 -138,265 1,091
2015 -162,620 888
2014 -96,513 910
2013 -90,468 807
2012 -78,248 714
2011 -48,021 916
2010 -23,928 871
2009 -17,866 825
2008 -11,842 777
2007 -5,876 691
2006 0 568
2005 -17,450 727
2004 11,566 883
2003 -40,179 917
2002 -22,836 911
2001 -11,396 1,061
2000 -17,082 1,482
1999 -22,766 1,357
1998 -39,835 1,656
1997 -22,756 1,991
1996 -22,744 2,279
1995 -34,107 1,887
1994 -17,053 2,136
1993 0 2,451
1992 22,718 2,573
1991 11,352 2,438
1990 22,688 2,621
1989 28,336 2,981
1988 33,977 2,813
1987 16,980 2,412
1986 11,319 2,395
1985 28,297 2,590
1984 50,919 2,678
1983 33,939 2,512
1982 79,161 2,835
1981 73,452 2,233
1980 84,650 2,375
1979 129,531 2,852
1978 168,465 2,389
1977 190,248 2,916
1976 228,445 2,721
1975 271,660 2,829
1974 336,176 2,687
1973 328,508 2,327
1972 364,355 2,480
1971 383,922 2,482
1970 376,753 2,270
1969 390,827 2,069
1968 399,268 2,247
1967 439,074 2,306
1966 488,427 2,458
1965 474,222 2,646
1964 527,089 3,630
1963 440,767 3,709
1962 427,387 4,664
1961 459,880 4,748
1960 426,697 5,747

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/italy/malta | CC BY

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.48% in Italy and +0.08% in Malta.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.38% in Italy and +0.13% in Malta.

Birth rate in Italy vs Malta by year

Italy
Malta

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Italy Malta
2023 6.4 8.1
2022 6.7 8.1
2021 6.8 8.5
2020 6.8 8.6
2019 7 8.6
2018 7.3 9.2
2017 7.6 9.2
2016 7.9 9.8
2015 8.1 9.7
2014 8.3 9.6
2013 8.5 9.5
2012 8.9 9.8
2011 9.1 10
2010 9.4 9.4
2009 9.6 9.8
2008 9.7 9.8
2007 9.6 9.3
2006 9.6 9.3
2005 9.5 9.6
2004 9.7 9.7
2003 9.5 10.2
2002 9.4 9.9
2001 9.4 10.1
2000 9.5 11.3
1999 9.4 11.4
1998 9.3 12.1
1997 9.4 12.7
1996 9.3 13.3
1995 9.2 12.2
1994 9.4 12.9
1993 9.7 13.9
1992 10 14.9
1991 9.9 14.6
1990 10 15.2
1989 9.9 15.9
1988 10.1 15.9
1987 9.7 15.4
1986 9.8 15.3
1985 10.2 16.1
1984 10.4 16.9
1983 10.6 17.1
1982 10.9 18.1
1981 11 16.6
1980 11.3 17.7
1979 11.9 18.6
1978 12.6 18.2
1977 13.2 18.9
1976 14 18.6
1975 14.9 18.8
1974 15.8 18
1973 16 17.4
1972 16.3 17.8
1971 16.8 18.4
1970 16.7 17.6
1969 17.4 16.7
1968 17.5 16.7
1967 17.9 17
1966 18.7 16.9
1965 19 17.7
1964 19.7 19.9
1963 18.7 20.7
1962 18.4 23.2
1961 18.4 23.6
1960 18.1 26.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/italy/malta | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.4 in Italy and 8.1 in Malta, compared with 18.1 and 26.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Italy Malta
Fertility rate 1.2 1.06
Fertility rate rank 182/196 191/196
Birth rate 6.4 8.1
Birth rate rank 190/196 174/196
Population change due to births and deaths -283,125 +442
Natural population change rank 191/196 147/196
Natural population change rate -0.48% +0.08%
Population growth -0.05% +2.91%
Population growth rank 170/197 19/197
Age at first childbirth 31.8 years 29.8 years
Average age at childbearing 32.3 years 31.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 2.92 9.69
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 38.3 38.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 11.7 16
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 19.6% 22.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 51.8% 46%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.006% 0.008%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.16% 0.37%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.23% 0.48%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.28% 0.55%
Life expectancy 84.2 years 83.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Italy
Factual

UN forecast
Malta
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Italy Malta
2100 11.1% 10.1%
2099 11.1% 10.1%
2098 11.1% 10.1%
2097 11.1% 10.1%
2096 11.1% 10.1%
2095 11.1% 10.1%
2094 11.1% 10%
2093 11.2% 9.98%
2092 11.2% 9.93%
2091 11.2% 9.87%
2090 11.2% 9.81%
2089 11.3% 9.75%
2088 11.3% 9.68%
2087 11.3% 9.61%
2086 11.3% 9.55%
2085 11.3% 9.49%
2084 11.3% 9.43%
2083 11.3% 9.39%
2082 11.3% 9.34%
2081 11.2% 9.31%
2080 11.2% 9.28%
2079 11.2% 9.26%
2078 11.1% 9.26%
2077 11.1% 9.25%
2076 11% 9.26%
2075 10.9% 9.27%
2074 10.9% 9.29%
2073 10.8% 9.32%
2072 10.8% 9.35%
2071 10.7% 9.38%
2070 10.7% 9.42%
2069 10.6% 9.45%
2068 10.6% 9.49%
2067 10.6% 9.53%
2066 10.5% 9.57%
2065 10.5% 9.61%
2064 10.5% 9.64%
2063 10.6% 9.67%
2062 10.6% 9.69%
2061 10.6% 9.7%
2060 10.6% 9.71%
2059 10.7% 9.71%
2058 10.7% 9.7%
2057 10.8% 9.68%
2056 10.8% 9.66%
2055 10.8% 9.63%
2054 10.9% 9.6%
2053 10.9% 9.57%
2052 10.9% 9.54%
2051 10.9% 9.52%
2050 10.9% 9.51%
2049 10.9% 9.51%
2048 10.8% 9.53%
2047 10.8% 9.57%
2046 10.7% 9.62%
2045 10.7% 9.7%
2044 10.6% 9.8%
2043 10.6% 9.92%
2042 10.5% 10.1%
2041 10.5% 10.2%
2040 10.4% 10.4%
2039 10.4% 10.5%
2038 10.3% 10.7%
2037 10.3% 10.8%
2036 10.3% 11%
2035 10.3% 11.2%
2034 10.4% 11.4%
2033 10.4% 11.6%
2032 10.5% 11.8%
2031 10.7% 12.1%
2030 10.8% 12.3%
2029 11% 12.4%
2028 11.1% 12.5%
2027 11.3% 12.7%
2026 11.5% 12.8%
2025 11.8% 13%
2024 11.9% 13%
2023 12.1% 13.2%
2022 12.4% 13.2%
2021 12.6% 13.2%
2020 12.8% 13.3%
2019 13% 13.6%
2018 13.2% 13.8%
2017 13.4% 14%
2016 13.6% 14.2%
2015 13.7% 14.2%
2014 13.8% 14.3%
2013 13.9% 14.5%
2012 14% 14.7%
2011 14% 14.9%
2010 14% 15.2%
2009 14% 15.5%
2008 14% 15.9%
2007 14% 16.4%
2006 14.1% 16.9%
2005 14.1% 17.4%
2004 14.2% 17.9%
2003 14.2% 18.4%
2002 14.2% 18.9%
2001 14.2% 19.4%
2000 14.3% 19.8%
1999 14.3% 20.2%
1998 14.3% 20.7%
1997 14.4% 21.2%
1996 14.5% 21.6%
1995 14.6% 22%
1994 14.8% 22.3%
1993 15% 22.6%
1992 15.2% 22.9%
1991 15.8% 23.1%
1990 16.5% 23.4%
1989 17% 23.6%
1988 17.5% 23.8%
1987 18.1% 24%
1986 18.7% 24.1%
1985 19.3% 24.1%
1984 19.9% 24%
1983 20.5% 23.8%
1982 21.1% 23.6%
1981 21.6% 23.5%
1980 22.3% 23.4%
1979 22.8% 23.5%
1978 23.4% 23.6%
1977 23.7% 23.8%
1976 24.1% 24.1%
1975 24.3% 24.5%
1974 24.5% 25%
1973 24.6% 25.6%
1972 24.6% 26.3%
1971 24.6% 26.9%
1970 24.7% 27.7%
1969 24.7% 28.5%
1968 24.6% 29.3%
1967 24.6% 30.1%
1966 24.5% 30.9%
1965 24.5% 31.7%
1964 24.5% 32.6%
1963 24.5% 33.4%
1962 24.7% 34.2%
1961 25% 35%
1960 25% 35.8%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/italy/malta | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.9% of the population in Italy and 13% in Malta in 2024, compared to 16.5% and 23.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Italy and Malta compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/italy/malta | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Italy vs Malta

Italy
Malta
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Italy Malta
2023 6 8
2022 10 10
2021 7 10
2020 8 10
2019 7 8
2018 7 9
2017 8 7
2016 8 10
2015 8 7
2014 8 8
2013 8 7
2012 8 9
2011 8 11
2010 8 9
2009 8 11
2008 7 10
2007 7 10
2006 7 12
2005 8 11
2004 8 11
2003 8 13
2002 10 13
2001 10 12
2000 11 13
1999 11 15
1998 12 14
1997 13 15
1996 14 16
1995 15 15
1994 15 16
1993 16 16
1992 17 17
1991 18 17
1990 18 17
1989 19 17
1988 20 17
1987 21 19
1986 22 19
1985 22 21

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/italy/malta | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 6 deaths per 100,000 live births in Italy, compared to 8 deaths in Malta.

Under-five mortality rates

Italy
Malta

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Italy Malta
2023 0.28% 0.55%
2022 0.28% 0.57%
2021 0.29% 0.58%
2020 0.3% 0.6%
2019 0.31% 0.61%
2018 0.32% 0.63%
2017 0.33% 0.64%
2016 0.34% 0.65%
2015 0.35% 0.66%
2014 0.36% 0.67%
2013 0.37% 0.67%
2012 0.38% 0.68%
2011 0.39% 0.68%
2010 0.4% 0.69%
2009 0.41% 0.69%
2008 0.41% 0.69%
2007 0.42% 0.69%
2006 0.43% 0.69%
2005 0.45% 0.69%
2004 0.46% 0.7%
2003 0.48% 0.71%
2002 0.51% 0.72%
2001 0.53% 0.74%
2000 0.56% 0.76%
1999 0.59% 0.79%
1998 0.62% 0.82%
1997 0.66% 0.86%
1996 0.7% 0.9%
1995 0.75% 0.94%
1994 0.8% 0.98%
1993 0.85% 1.02%
1992 0.89% 1.06%
1991 0.93% 1.1%
1990 0.97% 1.13%
1989 1% 1.18%
1988 1.04% 1.23%
1987 1.08% 1.28%
1986 1.14% 1.33%
1985 1.2% 1.39%
1984 1.27% 1.45%
1983 1.35% 1.51%
1982 1.43% 1.57%
1981 1.52% 1.62%
1980 1.61% 1.69%
1979 1.7% 1.76%
1978 1.82% 1.84%
1977 1.95% 1.93%
1976 2.11% 2.03%
1975 2.31% 2.14%
1974 2.53% 2.26%
1973 2.76% 2.39%
1972 2.98% 2.52%
1971 3.18% 2.66%
1970 3.36% 2.79%
1969 3.51% 2.93%
1968 3.64% 3.06%
1967 3.78% 3.19%
1966 3.93% 3.31%
1965 4.11% 3.43%
1964 4.31% 3.53%
1963 4.53% 3.63%
1962 4.76% 3.73%
1961 4.98% 3.85%
1960 5.19% 4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/italy/malta | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in Italy and 0.55% in Malta. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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