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Malta vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malta has a population of 569K (ranked 167/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Malta's land area is 123.6 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 187th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Malta ranks 119/197 ($25B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Malta ranks 28/197 ($43,899), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Malta South Africa
Population
581729
65683993
Population rank 167/197 24/197
GDP
$25B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 119/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$43,899
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 28/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$69,864
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$11.5B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.2%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$20,269
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 31/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,692
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 123.6 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
4,704 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.06
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
41.8 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Malta and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Malta and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Malta

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Malta South Africa
2024 $24,971,574,502 $401,144,998,374
2023 $22,610,561,526 $381,440,724,491
2022 $18,928,276,162 $407,596,043,068
2021 $19,739,875,611 $419,986,284,375
2020 $16,404,663,226 $337,974,655,408
2019 $16,337,793,531 $389,330,032,224
2018 $16,153,779,511 $405,260,723,893
2017 $14,161,366,724 $381,448,814,653
2016 $12,025,782,834 $323,585,509,674
2015 $11,340,795,042 $346,709,790,459
2014 $11,888,032,874 $381,198,869,776
2013 $10,796,782,636 $400,886,013,596
2012 $9,609,532,089 $434,400,545,086
2011 $9,789,361,703 $458,199,494,831
2010 $9,097,044,159 $417,363,822,802
2009 $8,734,745,698 $329,754,060,647
2008 $9,135,419,465 $316,131,258,616
2007 $7,908,412,306 $333,077,117,254
2006 $6,749,838,806 $303,858,675,364
2005 $6,393,234,993 $288,867,217,197
2004 $6,104,141,520 $255,806,908,595
2003 $5,418,315,224 $197,018,965,309
2002 $4,455,127,414 $129,087,556,612
2001 $4,070,867,133 $135,429,905,923
2000 $4,036,809,815 $151,752,757,215
1999 $4,111,857,809 $151,516,957,079
1998 $4,010,111,688 $152,982,984,557
1997 $3,787,023,707 $168,978,057,328
1996 $3,822,547,197 $163,234,925,381
1995 $3,709,396,045 $171,735,933,897
1994 $2,998,505,428 $153,512,712,382
1993 $2,709,193,538 $147,194,747,566
1992 $3,021,942,759 $146,956,150,987
1991 $2,750,216,747 $135,203,698,238
1990 $2,547,328,748 $126,048,140,142
1989 $2,118,655,677 $108,055,624,082
1988 $2,019,503,068 $103,976,831,871
1987 $1,751,293,461 $96,535,763,418
1986 $1,435,038,441 $73,354,771,399
1985 $1,117,797,439 $64,459,376,087
1984 $1,101,807,023 $84,870,163,366
1983 $1,165,729,707 $96,204,110,942
1982 $1,234,474,404 $85,904,057,409
1981 $1,243,509,394 $93,141,472,164
1980 $1,250,198,601 $89,411,864,402
1979 $1,001,288,847 $63,038,658,089
1978 $793,673,402 $51,607,412,902
1977 $625,563,171 $45,328,411,332
1976 $527,936,989 $41,150,460,288
1975 $474,618,321 $42,906,905,672
1974 $376,081,124 $41,389,186,095
1973 $345,616,106 $33,262,772,008
1972 $295,106,628 $24,515,919,217
1971 $264,578,485 $23,411,076,638
1970 $250,728,796 $21,218,391,513
1969 - $19,256,992,297
1968 - $17,124,793,150
1967 - $15,821,393,671
1966 - $14,211,394,315
1965 - $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malta/south-africa | CC BY

Malta and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Malta

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Malta South Africa
2024 $43,899 $6,267
2023 $40,906 $6,034
2022 $35,639 $6,534
2021 $38,097 $6,829
2020 $31,823 $5,581
2019 $32,422 $6,534
2018 $33,382 $6,914
2017 $30,317 $6,618
2016 $26,459 $5,651
2015 $25,530 $6,112
2014 $27,425 $6,857
2013 $25,416 $7,332
2012 $22,878 $8,077
2011 $23,517 $8,646
2010 $21,947 $7,973
2009 $21,176 $6,375
2008 $22,315 $6,185
2007 $19,444 $6,592
2006 $16,654 $6,077
2005 $15,831 $5,837
2004 $15,212 $5,221
2003 $13,594 $4,062
2002 $11,251 $2,688
2001 $10,358 $2,847
2000 $10,348 $3,218
1999 $10,609 $3,242
1998 $10,408 $3,310
1997 $9,893 $3,700
1996 $10,062 $3,618
1995 $9,828 $3,856
1994 $8,000 $3,489
1993 $7,296 $3,400
1992 $8,220 $3,462
1991 $7,559 $3,243
1990 $7,192 $3,093
1989 $6,041 $2,727
1988 $5,814 $2,702
1987 $5,084 $2,586
1986 $4,195 $2,027
1985 $3,322 $1,839
1984 $3,333 $2,504
1983 $3,527 $2,938
1982 $3,788 $2,717
1981 $3,898 $3,050
1980 $3,948 $3,029
1979 $3,196 $2,202
1978 $2,559 $1,852
1977 $2,038 $1,671
1976 $1,727 $1,559
1975 $1,560 $1,670
1974 $1,245 $1,656
1973 $1,144 $1,369
1972 $976 $1,038
1971 $874 $1,020
1970 $828 $952
1969 - $891
1968 - $817
1967 - $779
1966 - $722
1965 - $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malta/south-africa | CC BY

Malta vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Malta

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Malta South Africa
2026 83.8 66.7
2025 83.6 66.5
2024 83.5 66.3
2023 83.3 66.1
2022 82.2 65.5
2021 82.3 62
2020 82.3 65.2
2019 82.8 66.1
2018 82.9 65.7
2017 83.1 65.4
2016 82.7 64.7
2015 82.6 64.1
2014 82.3 63.2
2013 81.8 62.4
2012 81.1 61.7
2011 80.8 60.6
2010 81.4 58.9
2009 80.4 57.4
2008 79.7 56
2007 79.7 54.9
2006 79.6 54.2
2005 79.5 53.9
2004 79.2 54
2003 78.7 54.2
2002 78.5 55.6
2001 78.9 57.2
2000 77.9 58.4
1999 77.8 59.2
1998 77.8 59.9
1997 77.3 60.5
1996 76.3 61.1
1995 77 61.6
1994 76.9 62.1
1993 76.8 62.6
1992 76.7 62.8
1991 76.5 63
1990 76.2 62.9
1989 76.2 63
1988 75.9 62.9
1987 75.3 62.7
1986 74.5 62.4
1985 73.9 62.2
1984 73.3 61.8
1983 73.1 61.4
1982 72.8 60.9
1981 72.4 60.4
1980 72.3 60
1979 72.5 59.5
1978 72.3 59
1977 72.3 58.5
1976 72.2 58
1975 72.1 57.6
1974 71.9 57.1
1973 71.3 56.7
1972 70.7 56.4
1971 70.1 56
1970 70.4 55.7
1969 70.1 55.4
1968 69.9 55.2
1967 69.8 55
1966 69.7 54.7
1965 69.5 54.4
1964 69.3 54.2
1963 69.2 53.9
1962 69.2 53.6
1961 68.4 53.1
1960 68.4 52.6
1959 68.4 51.9
1958 67.8 51.1
1957 67.5 50.2
1956 66.8 49.2
1955 66.3 48.2
1954 65.1 47.1
1953 64.3 46.1
1952 64.1 45
1951 63.9 44.1
1950 63.5 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/malta/south-africa | CC BY

Malta and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Malta

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Malta South Africa
2024 568,847 64,007,187
2023 552,747 63,212,384
2022 531,113 62,378,410
2021 518,150 61,502,603
2020 515,490 60,562,381
2019 503,912 59,587,885
2018 483,903 58,613,001
2017 467,106 57,635,162
2016 454,505 57,259,551
2015 444,220 56,723,537
2014 433,481 55,594,838
2013 424,810 54,678,791
2012 420,028 53,782,567
2011 416,268 52,995,205
2010 414,508 52,344,051
2009 412,477 51,728,516
2008 409,379 51,114,599
2007 406,724 50,528,584
2006 405,308 49,998,277
2005 403,834 49,490,033
2004 401,268 48,991,421
2003 398,582 48,500,348
2002 395,969 48,019,415
2001 393,028 47,566,800
2000 390,087 47,159,719
1999 387,578 46,730,335
1998 385,287 46,223,880
1997 382,791 45,666,838
1996 379,905 45,123,018
1995 377,419 44,541,554
1994 374,797 44,004,139
1993 371,308 43,297,156
1992 367,618 42,443,509
1991 363,845 41,687,898
1990 354,170 40,746,268
1989 350,722 39,628,575
1988 347,325 38,480,649
1987 344,485 37,326,190
1986 342,121 36,180,515
1985 336,452 35,042,093
1984 330,593 33,892,788
1983 330,524 32,739,304
1982 325,898 31,615,339
1981 318,982 30,541,044
1980 316,645 29,518,857
1979 313,342 28,634,162
1978 310,182 27,869,507
1977 306,970 27,118,952
1976 305,774 26,395,450
1975 304,222 25,690,940
1974 301,996 24,989,108
1973 302,200 24,294,263
1972 302,450 23,609,456
1971 302,700 22,942,143
1970 302,650 22,279,984
1969 304,300 21,614,676
1968 307,900 20,957,287
1967 311,550 20,314,066
1966 315,200 19,690,087
1965 318,800 19,089,380
1964 321,250 18,511,361
1963 322,550 17,954,564
1962 323,900 17,418,522
1961 325,250 16,908,035
1960 326,550 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malta/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Malta and South Africa

Fertility rate
Malta

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Malta South Africa
2023 1.06 2.22
2022 1.08 2.23
2021 1.13 2.25
2020 1.13 2.26
2019 1.14 2.26
2018 1.23 2.27
2017 1.26 2.28
2016 1.37 2.26
2015 1.37 2.36
2014 1.38 2.42
2013 1.36 2.43
2012 1.42 2.45
2011 1.45 2.44
2010 1.36 2.44
2009 1.42 2.5
2008 1.43 2.68
2007 1.35 2.55
2006 1.36 2.55
2005 1.38 2.51
2004 1.4 2.44
2003 1.48 2.36
2002 1.45 2.32
2001 1.48 2.37
2000 1.68 2.41
1999 1.73 2.56
1998 1.84 2.63
1997 1.93 2.73
1996 1.99 2.99
1995 1.77 3.17
1994 1.84 3.26
1993 1.96 3.37
1992 2.07 3.48
1991 1.99 3.62
1990 2.02 3.72
1989 2.1 3.98
1988 2.06 4.18
1987 1.97 4.35
1986 1.93 4.41
1985 1.95 4.5
1984 1.95 4.57
1983 1.92 4.63
1982 1.9 4.7
1981 1.87 4.71
1980 1.99 4.78
1979 2.1 4.82
1978 2.05 4.85
1977 2.14 4.94
1976 2.21 5.07
1975 2.27 5.19
1974 1.64 5.3
1973 1.65 5.41
1972 2.01 5.49
1971 2.06 5.57
1970 2.03 5.63
1969 2.02 5.72
1968 2.12 5.78
1967 2.24 5.85
1966 2.33 5.91
1965 2.52 5.89
1964 2.79 5.96
1963 2.9 6.01
1962 3.24 6.05
1961 3.27 6.08
1960 3.62 6.11

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

GeoRank.org/facts/malta/south-africa | CC BY

Malta and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Malta

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Malta South Africa
2024 41.8 29.5
2023 41.4 29.2
2022 40.8 28.9
2021 40.2 28.6
2020 39.9 28.3
2019 39.9 27.9
2018 40.2 27.5
2017 40.5 27
2016 40.6 26.7
2015 40.6 26.4
2014 40.6 26
2013 40.4 25.7
2012 40.2 25.3
2011 39.9 25
2010 39.6 24.6
2009 39.3 24.3
2008 39 24
2007 38.7 23.8
2006 38.4 23.5
2005 38.1 23.3
2004 37.7 23.1
2003 37.4 22.8
2002 37 22.4
2001 36.7 22.2
2000 36.4 21.9
1999 36.1 21.6
1998 35.8 21.4
1997 35.5 21.2
1996 35.1 21.2
1995 34.7 21.5
1994 34.3 22
1993 34 21.9
1992 33.7 21.5
1991 33.3 21.5
1990 33 21.3
1989 32.7 21.1
1988 32.4 20.9
1987 32 20.7
1986 31.7 20.5
1985 31.4 20.4
1984 31.2 20.2
1983 30.9 20
1982 30.6 19.8
1981 30.3 19.6
1980 30 19.4
1979 29.6 19.3
1978 29.2 19.2
1977 28.7 19.1
1976 28.4 19
1975 28 18.9
1974 27.6 18.9
1973 27.2 18.8
1972 26.8 18.8
1971 26.3 18.8
1970 25.9 18.8
1969 25.5 18.8
1968 25 18.8
1967 24.8 18.8
1966 24.6 18.8
1965 24.5 18.8
1964 24.4 18.9
1963 24.2 18.9
1962 24 18.9
1961 23.8 19
1960 23.6 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malta/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Malta and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Malta South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$20.9B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
37.3%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.72%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.45%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.58%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.12%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
81.8%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
10.7%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
68.2
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.7%
2022
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.7%
2022
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
34
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$4.29B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.42B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.7M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
718,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
11.5%
2007
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
96.6%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Malta South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,398 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$48
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1.81 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.18 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
87.2%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
8.6%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.81%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
404%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
5,042 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
11.9%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Malta South Africa
% of world population
0.007%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+5,161
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
95.7%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.9:48.1
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.72 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
81.9
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
49
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
74
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.56
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4.1
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
171
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
94.9%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
88.3%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
92.1%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Malta South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,623
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,121
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
83.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.51
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.8 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
8
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
5.5
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
32.8%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
10%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
66
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.7%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.11 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Malta South Africa
% of world land
0.0002%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
217.2 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
32 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1.78 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
1,401 mi
2001
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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