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Population density: Malta vs United Kingdom compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malta has a population density of 4,704 people per square mile compared to 750 people in the United Kingdom. Malta has 5,979 sq ft of land per person vs 37,705 sq ft in the United Kingdom. Malta and the United Kingdom rank 5th and 35th 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 0.85% of the population and 0.16% of the land area for the United Kingdom, making the population density in Malta 527% higher than in the United Kingdom.

Population density by year

Malta
United Kingdom

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Malta United Kingdom
2026 4,704 750
2025 4,659 746
2024 4,604 741
2023 4,474 733
2022 4,299 724
2021 4,194 717
2020 4,172 715
2019 4,079 713
2018 3,917 710
2017 3,781 706
2016 3,679 702
2015 3,595 697
2014 3,508 692
2013 3,438 687
2012 3,400 682
2011 3,369 677
2010 3,355 672
2009 3,338 667
2008 3,313 662
2007 3,292 656
2006 3,280 651
2005 3,269 647
2004 3,248 642
2003 3,226 639
2002 3,205 636
2001 3,181 633
2000 3,157 630
1999 3,137 628
1998 3,118 626
1997 3,098 624
1996 3,075 623
1995 3,055 621
1994 3,033 619
1993 3,005 618
1992 2,975 616
1991 2,945 615
1990 2,867 613
1989 2,839 611
1988 2,811 609
1987 2,788 608
1986 2,769 607
1985 2,723 605
1984 2,676 604
1983 2,675 603
1982 2,638 603
1981 2,582 603
1980 2,563 603
1979 2,536 602
1978 2,511 602
1977 2,485 602
1976 2,475 602
1975 2,462 602
1974 2,444 602
1973 2,446 602
1972 2,448 600
1971 2,450 598
1970 2,450 596
1969 2,463 594
1968 2,492 591
1967 2,522 588
1966 2,551 585
1965 2,580 582
1964 2,600 578
1963 2,611 574
1962 2,622 570
1961 2,632 565

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Malta increased by 43.4%, compared to a 15.1% growth in the United Kingdom.

In 2006, Malta ranked 5th by population density and is 5th still. The United Kingdom was 35th in 2006 and still ranks 35th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Malta
United Kingdom
1x
Year Urban population
Malta United Kingdom
2024 95.7% 83.2%
2023 95.6% 83.2%
2022 95.6% 83.1%
2021 95.5% 83%
2020 95.2% 82.9%
2019 94.9% 82.7%
2018 94.7% 82.4%
2017 94.6% 82.2%
2016 94.5% 82%
2015 94.4% 81.8%
2014 94.4% 81.6%
2013 94.4% 81.5%
2012 94.4% 81.3%
2011 94.3% 81.1%
2010 94.2% 81%
2009 94.1% 80.9%
2008 94% 80.8%
2007 93.9% 80.6%
2006 93.8% 80.5%
2005 93.7% 80.4%
2004 93.6% 80.3%
2003 93.5% 80.2%
2002 93.4% 80.1%
2001 93.4% 80%
2000 93.3% 79.8%
1999 93.2% 79.6%
1998 93.1% 79.4%
1997 93% 79.1%
1996 92.9% 78.9%
1995 92.7% 78.7%
1994 92.5% 78.4%
1993 92.2% 78.3%
1992 91.8% 78.2%
1991 91.4% 78.1%
1990 91% 78.1%
1989 90.7% 78.1%
1988 90.3% 78.2%
1987 90.1% 78.3%
1986 89.9% 78.3%
1985 89.8% 78.4%
1984 89.8% 78.5%
1983 89.7% 78.5%
1982 89.7% 78.6%
1981 89.6% 78.6%
1980 89.6% 78.6%
1979 89.6% 78.5%
1978 89.5% 78.3%
1977 89.5% 78.1%
1976 89.5% 77.8%
1975 89.4% 77.5%
1974 89.4% 77.3%
1973 89.4% 77.1%
1972 89.4% 77%
1971 89.4% 76.9%
1970 89.4% 76.9%
1969 89.4% 77%
1968 89.4% 77.1%
1967 89.4% 77.2%
1966 89.4% 77.4%
1965 89.5% 77.6%
1964 89.6% 77.8%
1963 89.7% 78%
1962 89.9% 78.2%
1961 90% 78.4%
1960 90.1% 78.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 93.6% to 95.7% in Malta and from 80.3% to 83.2% in the United Kingdom.

Densely populated cities

United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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