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Population density: Malta vs United Arab Emirates compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malta has a population density of 4,704 people per square mile compared to 424 people in the United Arab Emirates. Malta has 5,979 sq ft of land per person vs 81,907 sq ft in the United Arab Emirates. Malta and the United Arab Emirates rank 5th and 62nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Malta has 0.007% of the world's population and 0.0002% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.14% of the population and 0.05% of the land area for the United Arab Emirates, making the population density in Malta 1,009% higher than in the United Arab Emirates.

Population density by year

Malta
United Arab Emirates

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Malta UAE
2026 4,704 424
2025 4,659 415
2024 4,604 401
2023 4,474 382
2022 4,299 367
2021 4,194 349
2020 4,172 343
2019 4,079 344
2018 3,917 341
2017 3,781 336
2016 3,679 326
2015 3,595 310
2014 3,508 293.9
2013 3,438 280.6
2012 3,400 269.6
2011 3,369 259.1
2010 3,355 250.5
2009 3,338 244.6
2008 3,313 229.8
2007 3,292 205.1
2006 3,280 182.7
2005 3,269 170.1
2004 3,248 161.5
2003 3,226 152.9
2002 3,205 144.3
2001 3,181 135.8
2000 3,157 127.4
1999 3,137 119.1
1998 3,118 110.9
1997 3,098 102.7
1996 3,075 94.7
1995 3,055 88.8
1994 3,033 84.9
1993 3,005 81
1992 2,975 77.1
1991 2,945 73.2
1990 2,867 69.2
1989 2,839 65.3
1988 2,811 61.3
1987 2,788 57.4
1986 2,769 53.5
1985 2,723 50.3
1984 2,676 47.6
1983 2,675 45
1982 2,638 42.5
1981 2,582 40.1
1980 2,563 37
1979 2,536 33.3
1978 2,511 29.5
1977 2,485 25.9
1976 2,475 22.5
1975 2,462 19.8
1974 2,444 17.8
1973 2,446 15.9
1972 2,448 14
1971 2,450 12.2
1970 2,450 10.4
1969 2,463 8.74
1968 2,492 7.27
1967 2,522 6.55
1966 2,551 6.34
1965 2,580 6.09
1964 2,600 5.82
1963 2,611 5.55
1962 2,622 5.29
1961 2,632 5.03

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/malta/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Malta increased by 43.4%, compared to a 132.2% growth in the United Arab Emirates.

In 2006, Malta ranked 5th by population density and is 5th still. The United Arab Emirates was 102nd in 2006 and ranks 62nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Malta
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Urban population
Malta UAE
2024 95.7% 85.8%
2023 95.6% 85.7%
2022 95.6% 85.5%
2021 95.5% 85.4%
2020 95.2% 85.2%
2019 94.9% 85%
2018 94.7% 84.9%
2017 94.6% 84.7%
2016 94.5% 84.5%
2015 94.4% 84.3%
2014 94.4% 84.1%
2013 94.4% 84%
2012 94.4% 83.8%
2011 94.3% 83.6%
2010 94.2% 83.4%
2009 94.1% 83.2%
2008 94% 83%
2007 93.9% 82.8%
2006 93.8% 82.6%
2005 93.7% 82.2%
2004 93.6% 81.5%
2003 93.5% 80.8%
2002 93.4% 80.3%
2001 93.4% 79.7%
2000 93.3% 79.3%
1999 93.2% 78.9%
1998 93.1% 78.6%
1997 93% 78.4%
1996 92.9% 78.3%
1995 92.7% 78.3%
1994 92.5% 78.3%
1993 92.2% 78.4%
1992 91.8% 78.4%
1991 91.4% 78.6%
1990 91% 78.7%
1989 90.7% 78.8%
1988 90.3% 79%
1987 90.1% 79.2%
1986 89.9% 79.3%
1985 89.8% 79.5%
1984 89.8% 79.7%
1983 89.7% 80%
1982 89.7% 80.3%
1981 89.6% 80.7%
1980 89.6% 81.1%
1979 89.6% 81.8%
1978 89.5% 82.6%
1977 89.5% 83.4%
1976 89.5% 83.9%
1975 89.4% 83.9%
1974 89.4% 83.7%
1973 89.4% 83.2%
1972 89.4% 82.6%
1971 89.4% 82%
1970 89.4% 81.2%
1969 89.4% 80.5%
1968 89.4% 79.8%
1967 89.4% 79.2%
1966 89.4% 78.5%
1965 89.5% 77.8%
1964 89.6% 77.1%
1963 89.7% 76.3%
1962 89.9% 75.5%
1961 90% 74.5%
1960 90.1% 73.5%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/malta/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 93.6% to 95.7% in Malta and from 81.5% to 85.8% in the United Arab Emirates.

Densely populated cities

UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/malta/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2015–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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