Malta birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Malta has a birth rate of 8.1 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.06 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Malta was 3.62 children per woman — 3.42 times higher than in 2023.

Malta birth rate statistics:

Malta is ranked 174/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 151/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Malta is 29.8 — it was 25.9 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.3, a change from 28.9 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 17.7 in 1960 to 10.4 in 2023.
22.6% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 24.2% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Malta by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.06	191
2022	1.08	190
2021	1.13	190
2020	1.13	191
2019	1.14	191
2018	1.23	191
2017	1.26	190
2016	1.37	184
2015	1.37	182
2014	1.38	183
2013	1.36	184
2012	1.42	181
2011	1.45	176
2010	1.36	191
2009	1.42	183
2008	1.43	182
2007	1.35	185
2006	1.36	178
2005	1.38	175
2004	1.4	173
2003	1.48	165
2002	1.45	167
2001	1.48	167
2000	1.68	157
1999	1.73	154
1998	1.84	145
1997	1.93	142
1996	1.99	141
1995	1.77	155
1994	1.84	153
1993	1.96	148
1992	2.07	145
1991	1.99	154
1990	2.02	157
1989	2.1	150
1988	2.06	155
1987	1.97	160
1986	1.93	160
1985	1.95	161
1984	1.95	162
1983	1.92	166
1982	1.9	171
1981	1.87	172
1980	1.99	165
1979	2.1	162
1978	2.05	166
1977	2.14	166
1976	2.21	165
1975	2.27	163
1974	1.64	192
1973	1.65	192
1972	2.01	183
1971	2.06	182
1970	2.03	185
1969	2.02	186
1968	2.12	186
1967	2.24	184
1966	2.33	180
1965	2.52	174
1964	2.79	167
1963	2.9	161
1962	3.24	155
1961	3.27	154
1960	3.62	151

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

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

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Malta was 1.06 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1990. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.96 — a 45.9% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	442	4,477	4,035
2022	54	4,302	4,248
2021	259	4,404	4,145
2020	361	4,433	4,072
2019	655	4,333	3,678
2018	774	4,451	3,677
2017	747	4,297	3,550
2016	1,091	4,454	3,363
2015	888	4,308	3,420
2014	910	4,161	3,251
2013	807	4,035	3,228
2012	714	4,116	3,402
2011	916	4,162	3,246
2010	871	3,896	3,025
2009	825	4,042	3,217
2008	777	4,011	3,234
2007	691	3,782	3,091
2006	568	3,769	3,201
2005	727	3,876	3,149
2004	883	3,892	3,009
2003	917	4,065	3,148
2002	911	3,920	3,009
2001	1,061	3,969	2,908
2000	1,482	4,407	2,925
1999	1,357	4,418	3,061
1998	1,656	4,661	3,005
1997	1,991	4,861	2,870
1996	2,279	5,052	2,773
1995	1,887	4,604	2,717
1994	2,136	4,834	2,698
1993	2,451	5,161	2,710
1992	2,573	5,477	2,904
1991	2,438	5,312	2,874
1990	2,621	5,383	2,762
1989	2,981	5,576	2,595
1988	2,813	5,522	2,709
1987	2,412	5,305	2,893
1986	2,395	5,234	2,839
1985	2,590	5,416	2,826
1984	2,678	5,587	2,909
1983	2,512	5,651	3,139
1982	2,835	5,898	3,063
1981	2,233	5,295	3,062
1980	2,375	5,604	3,229
1979	2,852	5,828	2,976
1978	2,389	5,645	3,256
1977	2,916	5,801	2,885
1976	2,721	5,687	2,966
1975	2,829	5,719	2,890
1974	2,687	5,435	2,748
1973	2,327	5,258	2,931
1972	2,480	5,383	2,903
1971	2,482	5,569	3,087
1970	2,270	5,326	3,056
1969	2,069	5,081	3,012
1968	2,247	5,141	2,894
1967	2,306	5,296	2,990
1966	2,458	5,326	2,868
1965	2,646	5,642	2,996
1964	3,630	6,392	2,762
1963	3,709	6,676	2,967
1962	4,664	7,514	2,850
1961	4,748	7,675	2,927
1960	5,747	8,555	2,808

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

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

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Malta (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.13% annually. On average, 618 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.08% — 442 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Malta ranks 147/196 for absolute natural population change and 147/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Malta compared to other countries

	Malta	Rank
Fertility rate	1.06	191/196
Birth rate	8.1	174/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+442	147/196
Natural population change rate	+0.08%	147/196
Population growth	+2.91%	19/197
Age at first childbirth	29.8 years	24/137
Average age at childbearing	31.3 years	34/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	9.69	140/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	38.6	189/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	16	139/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	22.6%	145/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	46%	88/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.8%	44/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.008%	154/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.37%	142/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.48%	150/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.55%	149/192
Life expectancy	83.8 years	12/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	15.1	9.69	38.6	16
2025	15.3	9.75	39.5	16
2024	15.4	10.1	40.3	15.9
2023	15.8	10.4	41	15.8
2022	16.8	10.4	41.1	16
2021	17.4	10.5	41.4	16.2
2020	17.7	10.7	43.1	16.1
2019	17.3	11.3	44	15.7
2018	18	12.1	47.5	16.1
2017	18.2	12.2	51	15.7
2016	19.3	12.8	55.3	16.4
2015	19.1	12.6	56.9	16
2014	19	13.2	58.6	15.4
2013	19.1	13.8	58.7	15.1
2012	20	16.3	61.9	15.3
2011	20.4	17.7	64	15.2
2010	19.4	18	62.9	14
2009	19.9	19.2	66.5	13.9
2008	20	18.5	68.6	13.7
2007	19.1	16.8	67.2	12.8
2006	19.1	17.3	69.8	12.1
2005	19.3	20.7	77.7	10.3
2004	19.5	20.8	79.3	10.3
2003	20.4	15	80.4	12.2
2002	20	8.67	84.8	11.6
2001	20.4	15.6	85.4	11.6
2000	22.8	16.9	97.4	12.7
1999	23.4	11.2	101.2	14.2
1998	24.7	16.6	107.2	14.8
1997	26	16.2	110.3	16.8
1996	26.6	14.3	110.1	18.6
1995	24.3	11	101.1	17.5
1994	25.4	11	105.4	18.3
1993	27.5	12.4	114.4	19.6
1992	29.6	12.7	120.7	21.4
1991	29.4	10.5	119.3	21.1
1990	31.1	6.47	126.2	21.2
1989	32.8	10.4	127.1	22.4
1988	32.8	11.2	122.8	22.7
1987	31.9	11.8	117	21.9
1986	31.6	12.5	112.9	22
1985	32.8	13.9	113.9	22.4
1984	33.9	15.6	119.5	21.1
1983	35.1	14.8	118.5	23.3
1982	37.1	14.6	120.4	25.1
1981	34.9	13	109.9	23.3
1980	37.1	13.1	115.6	24.5
1979	39.3	13.7	121.6	25.4
1978	39.1	13.9	122	24
1977	40.9	14.9	127.7	24
1976	40.6	15.5	130.1	22.1
1975	40.9	16.1	133.4	21.1
1974	39.2	14.8	128.3	20.1
1973	38.3	14.6	125.7	20.5
1972	36.4	13.8	120.2	20.5
1971	36.8	14.1	122.3	22.3
1970	34.8	14	117.3	22.4
1969	32.7	13.6	114.1	22.3
1968	32	13.6	116.7	23
1967	32.5	13.7	121.3	24.8
1966	32.8	13.7	124.9	26.1
1965	34.4	13.7	131.7	28.9
1964	38.5	14.9	149.9	32.9
1963	40.3	15.2	159.7	34.4
1962	45.2	15.5	179.2	39.1
1961	46.5	15.9	183.7	40.3
1960	51.2	18.5	201.6	44.2

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

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

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Malta by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 2.63% will be to women under age 20, 25.6% to women ages 20-29, and 71.8% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 1.5%, 58.6%, and 39.9%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Malta	World
2100	10.1%	16.5%
2099	10.1%	16.6%
2098	10.1%	16.6%
2097	10.1%	16.7%
2096	10.1%	16.8%
2095	10.1%	16.8%
2094	10%	16.9%
2093	9.98%	17%
2092	9.93%	17%
2091	9.87%	17.1%
2090	9.81%	17.2%
2089	9.75%	17.2%
2088	9.68%	17.3%
2087	9.61%	17.4%
2086	9.55%	17.4%
2085	9.49%	17.5%
2084	9.43%	17.5%
2083	9.39%	17.6%
2082	9.34%	17.7%
2081	9.31%	17.7%
2080	9.28%	17.8%
2079	9.26%	17.8%
2078	9.26%	17.9%
2077	9.25%	17.9%
2076	9.26%	18%
2075	9.27%	18%
2074	9.29%	18.1%
2073	9.32%	18.2%
2072	9.35%	18.2%
2071	9.38%	18.3%
2070	9.42%	18.3%
2069	9.45%	18.4%
2068	9.49%	18.5%
2067	9.53%	18.6%
2066	9.57%	18.6%
2065	9.61%	18.7%
2064	9.64%	18.8%
2063	9.67%	18.9%
2062	9.69%	19.1%
2061	9.7%	19.2%
2060	9.71%	19.3%
2059	9.71%	19.4%
2058	9.7%	19.5%
2057	9.68%	19.6%
2056	9.66%	19.8%
2055	9.63%	19.9%
2054	9.6%	20%
2053	9.57%	20.1%
2052	9.54%	20.2%
2051	9.52%	20.3%
2050	9.51%	20.4%
2049	9.51%	20.5%
2048	9.53%	20.6%
2047	9.57%	20.7%
2046	9.62%	20.8%
2045	9.7%	20.9%
2044	9.8%	20.9%
2043	9.92%	21%
2042	10.1%	21.1%
2041	10.2%	21.2%
2040	10.4%	21.2%
2039	10.5%	21.3%
2038	10.7%	21.4%
2037	10.8%	21.5%
2036	11%	21.6%
2035	11.2%	21.8%
2034	11.4%	22%
2033	11.6%	22.2%
2032	11.8%	22.4%
2031	12.1%	22.7%
2030	12.3%	23%
2029	12.4%	23.3%
2028	12.5%	23.6%
2027	12.7%	23.9%
2026	12.8%	24.2%
2025	13%	24.6%
2024	13%	24.7%
2023	13.2%	25%
2022	13.2%	25.3%
2021	13.2%	25.6%
2020	13.3%	25.8%
2019	13.6%	26%
2018	13.8%	26.2%
2017	14%	26.4%
2016	14.2%	26.5%
2015	14.2%	26.6%
2014	14.3%	26.8%
2013	14.5%	26.9%
2012	14.7%	27%
2011	14.9%	27.1%
2010	15.2%	27.3%
2009	15.5%	27.5%
2008	15.9%	27.6%
2007	16.4%	27.9%
2006	16.9%	28.1%
2005	17.4%	28.5%
2004	17.9%	28.8%
2003	18.4%	29.2%
2002	18.9%	29.6%
2001	19.4%	30%
2000	19.8%	30.4%
1999	20.2%	30.8%
1998	20.7%	31.1%
1997	21.2%	31.5%
1996	21.6%	31.8%
1995	22%	32.1%
1994	22.3%	32.3%
1993	22.6%	32.5%
1992	22.9%	32.7%
1991	23.1%	32.9%
1990	23.4%	33%
1989	23.6%	33.2%
1988	23.8%	33.4%
1987	24%	33.6%
1986	24.1%	33.8%
1985	24.1%	34%
1984	24%	34.3%
1983	23.8%	34.6%
1982	23.6%	34.9%
1981	23.5%	35.2%
1980	23.4%	35.5%
1979	23.5%	35.9%
1978	23.6%	36.3%
1977	23.8%	36.7%
1976	24.1%	36.9%
1975	24.5%	37.1%
1974	25%	37.2%
1973	25.6%	37.3%
1972	26.3%	37.5%
1971	26.9%	37.6%
1970	27.7%	37.7%
1969	28.5%	37.8%
1968	29.3%	37.9%
1967	30.1%	38%
1966	30.9%	38%
1965	31.7%	38%
1964	32.6%	38%
1963	33.4%	37.8%
1962	34.2%	37.6%
1961	35%	37.5%
1960	35.8%	37.4%

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/malta | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Malta was 35.8% in 1960, 22.9% in 1992, and 13% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Malta.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	8	197
2022	10	203
2021	10	242
2020	10	211
2019	8	207
2018	9	211
2017	7	215
2016	10	220
2015	7	228
2014	8	231
2013	7	235
2012	9	239
2011	11	247
2010	9	253
2009	11	258
2008	10	264
2007	10	269
2006	12	276
2005	11	283
2004	11	291
2003	13	301
2002	13	311
2001	12	321
2000	13	328
1999	15	340
1998	14	360
1997	15	358
1996	16	366
1995	15	371
1994	16	382
1993	16	389
1992	17	395
1991	17	395
1990	17	391
1989	17	401
1988	17	414
1987	19	429
1986	19	438
1985	21	460

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

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

The maternal mortality rate in Malta was 8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.008% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 38.5% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Malta	World
2023	0.55%	2.49%
2022	0.57%	2.59%
2021	0.58%	2.66%
2020	0.6%	2.75%
2019	0.61%	2.86%
2018	0.63%	2.97%
2017	0.64%	3.11%
2016	0.65%	3.22%
2015	0.66%	3.35%
2014	0.67%	3.48%
2013	0.67%	3.61%
2012	0.68%	3.77%
2011	0.68%	3.97%
2010	0.69%	4.11%
2009	0.69%	4.31%
2008	0.69%	4.5%
2007	0.69%	4.7%
2006	0.69%	4.92%
2005	0.69%	5.16%
2004	0.7%	5.43%
2003	0.71%	5.65%
2002	0.72%	5.94%
2001	0.74%	6.21%
2000	0.76%	6.48%
1999	0.79%	6.75%
1998	0.82%	7.05%
1997	0.86%	7.28%
1996	0.9%	7.52%
1995	0.94%	7.76%
1994	0.98%	7.98%
1993	1.02%	8.19%
1992	1.06%	8.46%
1991	1.1%	8.66%
1990	1.13%	8.81%
1989	1.18%	9.02%
1988	1.23%	9.31%
1987	1.28%	9.47%
1986	1.33%	9.81%
1985	1.39%	10.1%
1984	1.45%	10.4%
1983	1.51%	10.6%
1982	1.57%	10.8%
1981	1.62%	11%
1980	1.69%	11.4%
1979	1.76%	11.7%
1978	1.84%	12.2%
1977	1.93%	12.6%
1976	2.03%	13%
1975	2.14%	13.4%
1974	2.26%	13.8%
1973	2.39%	14.1%
1972	2.52%	14.5%
1971	2.66%	15.1%
1970	2.79%	15.2%
1969	2.93%	15.4%
1968	3.06%	15.6%
1967	3.19%	15.9%
1966	3.31%	16.1%
1965	3.43%	16.4%
1964	3.53%	16.6%
1963	3.63%	16.5%
1962	3.73%	16.7%
1961	3.85%	17%
1960	4%	17.2%

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

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

The under-5 mortality rate in Malta was 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.55% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 7.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.