The latest officially reported population of Malta was 579,704 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 586,345 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.
Population statistics:
- The Netherlands' population is 31.1 times bigger than Malta's.
- Malta is ranked the 167th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
- The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
- For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
- Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 586K (44.7% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).
Malta vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Malta
|
Netherlands
|
|
| 2100 | 385,935 | 17,329,352 |
| 2099 | 389,134 | 17,362,626 |
| 2098 | 392,349 | 17,395,665 |
| 2097 | 395,676 | 17,429,925 |
| 2096 | 399,078 | 17,465,162 |
| 2095 | 402,765 | 17,502,567 |
| 2094 | 406,545 | 17,540,959 |
| 2093 | 410,348 | 17,580,632 |
| 2092 | 414,228 | 17,619,384 |
| 2091 | 418,324 | 17,658,238 |
| 2090 | 422,539 | 17,700,204 |
| 2089 | 426,802 | 17,739,947 |
| 2088 | 431,058 | 17,779,324 |
| 2087 | 435,593 | 17,815,257 |
| 2086 | 440,311 | 17,854,371 |
| 2085 | 444,985 | 17,890,610 |
| 2084 | 449,785 | 17,926,885 |
| 2083 | 454,721 | 17,963,416 |
| 2082 | 459,549 | 17,998,527 |
| 2081 | 464,574 | 18,032,297 |
| 2080 | 469,503 | 18,062,716 |
| 2079 | 474,408 | 18,093,254 |
| 2078 | 479,266 | 18,121,649 |
| 2077 | 484,147 | 18,150,234 |
| 2076 | 489,066 | 18,175,683 |
| 2075 | 493,650 | 18,196,574 |
| 2074 | 498,129 | 18,214,405 |
| 2073 | 502,551 | 18,232,486 |
| 2072 | 506,905 | 18,249,136 |
| 2071 | 511,168 | 18,264,367 |
| 2070 | 515,276 | 18,279,781 |
| 2069 | 519,370 | 18,295,123 |
| 2068 | 523,386 | 18,310,300 |
| 2067 | 527,196 | 18,325,333 |
| 2066 | 530,842 | 18,343,435 |
| 2065 | 534,346 | 18,364,513 |
| 2064 | 537,672 | 18,386,352 |
| 2063 | 540,800 | 18,409,851 |
| 2062 | 543,938 | 18,433,299 |
| 2061 | 546,831 | 18,460,766 |
| 2060 | 549,661 | 18,488,598 |
| 2059 | 552,414 | 18,517,020 |
| 2058 | 554,917 | 18,545,884 |
| 2057 | 557,274 | 18,576,502 |
| 2056 | 559,707 | 18,606,997 |
| 2055 | 562,109 | 18,634,546 |
| 2054 | 564,244 | 18,660,585 |
| 2053 | 566,461 | 18,686,212 |
| 2052 | 568,738 | 18,709,643 |
| 2051 | 571,060 | 18,736,166 |
| 2050 | 573,186 | 18,757,302 |
| 2049 | 575,026 | 18,777,673 |
| 2048 | 576,946 | 18,795,411 |
| 2047 | 579,015 | 18,812,362 |
| 2046 | 580,778 | 18,823,628 |
| 2045 | 582,504 | 18,834,974 |
| 2044 | 584,119 | 18,844,772 |
| 2043 | 585,724 | 18,850,396 |
| 2042 | 587,136 | 18,853,495 |
| 2041 | 588,589 | 18,852,912 |
| 2040 | 589,860 | 18,847,238 |
| 2039 | 591,157 | 18,837,931 |
| 2038 | 592,353 | 18,823,220 |
| 2037 | 593,277 | 18,804,912 |
| 2036 | 594,028 | 18,779,656 |
| 2035 | 594,615 | 18,751,144 |
| 2034 | 595,017 | 18,718,013 |
| 2033 | 594,907 | 18,676,061 |
| 2032 | 594,310 | 18,630,094 |
| 2031 | 593,505 | 18,577,582 |
| 2030 | 592,412 | 18,517,866 |
| 2029 | 591,100 | 18,449,618 |
| 2028 | 589,420 | 18,372,676 |
| 2027 | 587,406 | 18,289,268 |
| 2026 | 585,225 | 18,196,186 |
| 2025 | 579,704 | 18,087,633 |
| 2024 | 568,847 | 17,993,485 |
| 2023 | 552,747 | 17,877,117 |
| 2022 | 531,113 | 17,700,982 |
| 2021 | 518,150 | 17,533,044 |
| 2020 | 515,490 | 17,441,500 |
| 2019 | 503,912 | 17,344,874 |
| 2018 | 483,903 | 17,231,624 |
| 2017 | 467,106 | 17,131,296 |
| 2016 | 454,505 | 17,030,314 |
| 2015 | 444,220 | 16,939,923 |
| 2014 | 433,481 | 16,865,008 |
| 2013 | 424,810 | 16,804,432 |
| 2012 | 420,028 | 16,754,962 |
| 2011 | 416,268 | 16,693,074 |
| 2010 | 414,508 | 16,615,394 |
| 2009 | 412,477 | 16,530,388 |
| 2008 | 409,379 | 16,445,593 |
| 2007 | 406,724 | 16,381,696 |
| 2006 | 405,308 | 16,346,101 |
| 2005 | 403,834 | 16,319,868 |
| 2004 | 401,268 | 16,281,779 |
| 2003 | 398,582 | 16,225,302 |
| 2002 | 395,969 | 16,148,929 |
| 2001 | 393,028 | 16,046,180 |
| 2000 | 390,087 | 15,925,513 |
| 1999 | 387,578 | 15,812,088 |
| 1998 | 385,287 | 15,707,209 |
| 1997 | 382,791 | 15,610,650 |
| 1996 | 379,905 | 15,530,498 |
| 1995 | 377,419 | 15,459,006 |
| 1994 | 374,797 | 15,382,838 |
| 1993 | 371,308 | 15,290,368 |
| 1992 | 367,618 | 15,184,166 |
| 1991 | 363,845 | 15,069,798 |
| 1990 | 354,170 | 14,951,510 |
| 1989 | 350,722 | 14,848,907 |
| 1988 | 347,325 | 14,760,094 |
| 1987 | 344,485 | 14,665,037 |
| 1986 | 342,121 | 14,572,278 |
| 1985 | 336,452 | 14,491,632 |
| 1984 | 330,593 | 14,424,211 |
| 1983 | 330,524 | 14,367,070 |
| 1982 | 325,898 | 14,312,690 |
| 1981 | 318,982 | 14,247,208 |
| 1980 | 316,645 | 14,149,800 |
| 1979 | 313,342 | 14,038,270 |
| 1978 | 310,182 | 13,941,700 |
| 1977 | 306,970 | 13,856,185 |
| 1976 | 305,774 | 13,774,037 |
| 1975 | 304,222 | 13,666,335 |
| 1974 | 301,996 | 13,545,056 |
| 1973 | 302,200 | 13,439,322 |
| 1972 | 302,450 | 13,328,593 |
| 1971 | 302,700 | 13,194,497 |
| 1970 | 302,650 | 13,038,526 |
| 1969 | 304,300 | 12,877,984 |
| 1968 | 307,900 | 12,729,721 |
| 1967 | 311,550 | 12,598,201 |
| 1966 | 315,200 | 12,456,251 |
| 1965 | 318,800 | 12,294,732 |
| 1964 | 321,250 | 12,127,120 |
| 1963 | 322,550 | 11,965,966 |
| 1962 | 323,900 | 11,805,689 |
| 1961 | 325,250 | 11,638,712 |
| 1960 | 326,550 | 11,486,631 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/netherlands | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malta increased by 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malta gained 131,840 people (a 29% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).
Malta was ranked 168th most populous country in 2006 and is 167th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Malta's population will shrink by 2.24% to 573,186 people and will still be ranked 167th. The population of the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.
Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 595K people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
Netherlands
|
|
| 2100 | -0.82% | -0.19% |
| 2099 | -0.82% | -0.19% |
| 2098 | -0.84% | -0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.85% | -0.2% |
| 2096 | -0.92% | -0.21% |
| 2095 | -0.93% | -0.22% |
| 2094 | -0.93% | -0.23% |
| 2093 | -0.94% | -0.22% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | -0.22% |
| 2091 | -1% | -0.24% |
| 2090 | -1% | -0.22% |
| 2089 | -0.99% | -0.22% |
| 2088 | -1.04% | -0.2% |
| 2087 | -1.07% | -0.22% |
| 2086 | -1.05% | -0.2% |
| 2085 | -1.07% | -0.2% |
| 2084 | -1.09% | -0.2% |
| 2083 | -1.05% | -0.2% |
| 2082 | -1.08% | -0.19% |
| 2081 | -1.05% | -0.17% |
| 2080 | -1.03% | -0.17% |
| 2079 | -1.01% | -0.16% |
| 2078 | -1.01% | -0.16% |
| 2077 | -1.01% | -0.14% |
| 2076 | -0.93% | -0.11% |
| 2075 | -0.9% | -0.1% |
| 2074 | -0.88% | -0.1% |
| 2073 | -0.86% | -0.09% |
| 2072 | -0.83% | -0.08% |
| 2071 | -0.8% | -0.08% |
| 2070 | -0.79% | -0.08% |
| 2069 | -0.77% | -0.08% |
| 2068 | -0.72% | -0.08% |
| 2067 | -0.69% | -0.1% |
| 2066 | -0.66% | -0.11% |
| 2065 | -0.62% | -0.12% |
| 2064 | -0.58% | -0.13% |
| 2063 | -0.58% | -0.13% |
| 2062 | -0.53% | -0.15% |
| 2061 | -0.51% | -0.15% |
| 2060 | -0.5% | -0.15% |
| 2059 | -0.45% | -0.16% |
| 2058 | -0.42% | -0.16% |
| 2057 | -0.43% | -0.16% |
| 2056 | -0.43% | -0.15% |
| 2055 | -0.38% | -0.14% |
| 2054 | -0.39% | -0.14% |
| 2053 | -0.4% | -0.13% |
| 2052 | -0.41% | -0.14% |
| 2051 | -0.37% | -0.11% |
| 2050 | -0.32% | -0.11% |
| 2049 | -0.33% | -0.09% |
| 2048 | -0.36% | -0.09% |
| 2047 | -0.3% | -0.06% |
| 2046 | -0.3% | -0.06% |
| 2045 | -0.28% | -0.05% |
| 2044 | -0.27% | -0.03% |
| 2043 | -0.24% | -0.02% |
| 2042 | -0.25% | 0.003% |
| 2041 | -0.22% | 0.03% |
| 2040 | -0.22% | 0.05% |
| 2039 | -0.2% | 0.08% |
| 2038 | -0.16% | 0.1% |
| 2037 | -0.13% | 0.13% |
| 2036 | -0.1% | 0.15% |
| 2035 | -0.07% | 0.18% |
| 2034 | 0.02% | 0.22% |
| 2033 | 0.1% | 0.25% |
| 2032 | 0.14% | 0.28% |
| 2031 | 0.18% | 0.32% |
| 2030 | 0.22% | 0.37% |
| 2029 | 0.29% | 0.42% |
| 2028 | 0.34% | 0.46% |
| 2027 | 0.37% | 0.51% |
| 2026 | 0.95% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 1.91% | 0.52% |
| 2024 | 2.91% | 0.65% |
| 2023 | 4.07% | 1% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | 0.96% |
| 2021 | 0.52% | 0.52% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | 0.56% |
| 2019 | 4.13% | 0.66% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | 0.59% |
| 2017 | 2.77% | 0.59% |
| 2016 | 2.32% | 0.53% |
| 2015 | 2.48% | 0.44% |
| 2014 | 2.04% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 1.14% | 0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | 0.37% |
| 2011 | 0.42% | 0.47% |
| 2010 | 0.49% | 0.51% |
| 2009 | 0.76% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 0.65% | 0.39% |
| 2007 | 0.35% | 0.22% |
| 2006 | 0.37% | 0.16% |
| 2005 | 0.64% | 0.23% |
| 2004 | 0.67% | 0.35% |
| 2003 | 0.66% | 0.47% |
| 2002 | 0.75% | 0.64% |
| 2001 | 0.75% | 0.76% |
| 2000 | 0.65% | 0.72% |
| 1999 | 0.59% | 0.67% |
| 1998 | 0.65% | 0.62% |
| 1997 | 0.76% | 0.52% |
| 1996 | 0.66% | 0.46% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| 1994 | 0.94% | 0.6% |
| 1993 | 1% | 0.7% |
| 1992 | 1.04% | 0.76% |
| 1991 | 2.73% | 0.79% |
| 1990 | 0.98% | 0.69% |
| 1989 | 0.98% | 0.6% |
| 1988 | 0.82% | 0.65% |
| 1987 | 0.69% | 0.64% |
| 1986 | 1.68% | 0.56% |
| 1985 | 1.77% | 0.47% |
| 1984 | 0.02% | 0.4% |
| 1983 | 1.42% | 0.38% |
| 1982 | 2.17% | 0.46% |
| 1981 | 0.74% | 0.69% |
| 1980 | 1.05% | 0.79% |
| 1979 | 1.02% | 0.69% |
| 1978 | 1.05% | 0.62% |
| 1977 | 0.39% | 0.6% |
| 1976 | 0.51% | 0.79% |
| 1975 | 0.74% | 0.9% |
| 1974 | -0.07% | 0.79% |
| 1973 | -0.08% | 0.83% |
| 1972 | -0.08% | 1.02% |
| 1971 | 0.02% | 1.2% |
| 1970 | -0.54% | 1.25% |
| 1969 | -1.17% | 1.16% |
| 1968 | -1.17% | 1.04% |
| 1967 | -1.16% | 1.14% |
| 1966 | -1.13% | 1.31% |
| 1965 | -0.76% | 1.38% |
| 1964 | -0.4% | 1.35% |
| 1963 | -0.42% | 1.36% |
| 1962 | -0.42% | 1.43% |
| 1961 | -0.4% | 1.32% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/netherlands | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Malta grew by 1.91%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.
Live population counters
|
Malta
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
586345
|
18243998
|
| Population rank | 167/197 | 72/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.007% | 0.22% |
| One net population change |
48.5 minutes
|
5.6 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2 hours
|
3.18 minutes
|
| One death every |
2.11 hours
|
3.04 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +30 | +258 |
| Annual growth/decline | +10,857 | +94,148 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.91% | +0.52% |
| Population growth rate rank | 52/197 | 127/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.7 hours
|
5.03 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +5,161 | +104,681 |
| Net migration rank | 52/196 | 16/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 199,466 | 2,956,518 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 112/195 | 23/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 37% | 16.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 15/195 | 40/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
Netherlands
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 5,161 | - | 104,681 |
| 2024 | 228 | 6,323 | -7,197 | 121,628 |
| 2023 | 442 | 6,591 | -5,363 | 144,558 |
| 2022 | 54 | 2,480 | -1,770 | 224,472 |
| 2021 | 259 | 4,638 | 7,014 | 106,416 |
| 2020 | 361 | 6,904 | 0 | 67,598 |
| 2019 | 655 | 20,302 | 17,345 | 109,003 |
| 2018 | 774 | 16,961 | 15,508 | 87,197 |
| 2017 | 747 | 14,372 | 18,844 | 86,332 |
| 2016 | 1,091 | 8,624 | 23,843 | 88,743 |
| 2015 | 888 | 9,588 | 23,716 | 55,585 |
| 2014 | 910 | 9,192 | 35,417 | 36,591 |
| 2013 | 807 | 861 | 30,248 | 19,973 |
| 2012 | 714 | 911 | 35,186 | 14,861 |
| 2011 | 916 | 999 | 45,072 | 31,224 |
| 2010 | 871 | 741 | 48,184 | 33,703 |
| 2009 | 825 | 836 | 51,244 | 39,832 |
| 2008 | 777 | 869 | 49,337 | 32,406 |
| 2007 | 691 | 926 | 49,145 | -304 |
| 2006 | 568 | 997 | 49,038 | -25,401 |
| 2005 | 727 | 1,626 | 50,592 | -22,496 |
| 2004 | 883 | 1,662 | 56,987 | -9,230 |
| 2003 | 917 | 1,626 | 58,411 | 7,937 |
| 2002 | 911 | 1,821 | 59,751 | 28,824 |
| 2001 | 1,061 | 1,678 | 62,580 | 56,096 |
| 2000 | 1,482 | 1,591 | 66,887 | 59,308 |
| 1999 | 1,357 | 1,463 | 60,086 | 47,179 |
| 1998 | 1,656 | 1,260 | 61,258 | 52,058 |
| 1997 | 1,991 | 1,003 | 56,198 | 31,302 |
| 1996 | 2,279 | 1,142 | 51,251 | 21,792 |
| 1995 | 1,887 | 1,306 | 54,106 | 15,056 |
| 1994 | 2,136 | 1,136 | 61,532 | 20,193 |
| 1993 | 2,451 | 1,006 | 58,103 | 44,514 |
| 1992 | 2,573 | 737 | 66,811 | 50,148 |
| 1991 | 2,438 | 763 | 69,321 | 51,670 |
| 1990 | 2,621 | 568 | 68,777 | 53,564 |
| 1989 | 2,981 | 248 | 59,396 | 31,165 |
| 1988 | 2,813 | 164 | 61,993 | 31,026 |
| 1987 | 2,412 | 295 | 64,526 | 39,559 |
| 1986 | 2,395 | 464 | 59,746 | 30,380 |
| 1985 | 2,590 | -428 | 55,069 | 27,356 |
| 1984 | 2,678 | -558 | 54,812 | 12,902 |
| 1983 | 2,512 | -740 | 51,722 | 11,007 |
| 1982 | 2,835 | -1,059 | 54,388 | 7,644 |
| 1981 | 2,233 | -548 | 62,688 | 17,643 |
| 1980 | 2,375 | -886 | 66,504 | 54,010 |
| 1979 | 2,852 | -1,311 | 63,172 | 42,772 |
| 1978 | 2,389 | -1,302 | 61,344 | 26,639 |
| 1977 | 2,916 | -1,598 | 63,739 | 19,809 |
| 1976 | 2,721 | -1,641 | 63,361 | 18,774 |
| 1975 | 2,829 | -1,742 | 64,232 | 68,569 |
| 1974 | 2,687 | -1,597 | 75,853 | 31,645 |
| 1973 | 2,327 | -1,549 | 84,668 | 18,705 |
| 1972 | 2,480 | -1,316 | 101,297 | 17,470 |
| 1971 | 2,482 | -1,327 | 116,112 | 32,756 |
| 1970 | 2,270 | -1,123 | 129,082 | 32,438 |
| 1969 | 2,069 | -827 | 139,082 | 21,850 |
| 1968 | 2,247 | -753 | 132,389 | 7,243 |
| 1967 | 2,306 | -4,073 | 138,580 | -10,673 |
| 1966 | 2,458 | -4,318 | 138,265 | 20,740 |
| 1965 | 2,646 | -4,329 | 146,308 | 19,444 |
| 1964 | 3,630 | -4,768 | 157,653 | 15,014 |
| 1963 | 3,709 | -4,773 | 154,361 | -21 |
| 1962 | 4,664 | -5,360 | 153,474 | 18,024 |
| 1961 | 4,748 | -5,099 | 159,450 | 8,258 |
| 1960 | 5,747 | -5,540 | 151,623 | -13,235 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/netherlands | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 5.38% of the population change in Malta is from natural causes (a gain of 5,499 people) and 94.6% is from migration (a gain of 96,783 people). In the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).
As of 2024, 199,466 residents or 37% of the population were not native-born in Malta, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.
Biggest cities by population
|
Malta
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| St. Paul's Bay | 40.2K |
| Mosta | 25.5K |
| Birkirkara | 24.4K |
| Naxxar | 18.1K |
| Zabbar | 18K |
| Sliema | 16.9K |
| San Gwann | 16.1K |
| Marsaskala | 15.6K |
| Gzira | 8.03K |
| Valletta | 6.44K |
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Amsterdam | 921K |
| Rotterdam | 664K |
| The Hague | 548K |
| Utrecht | 359K |
| Eindhoven | 244K |
| Groningen | 238K |
| Tilburg | 228K |
| Almere | 215K |
| Breda | 188K |
| Nijmegen | 177K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Malta and the Netherlands
|
Malta
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.8 years | 82.6 years |
| Average age | 43.2 years | 42.7 years |
| Median age | 42.1 years | 42.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.9:48.1 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.01 births per woman | 1.43 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,737 ppl/mi² | 1,400 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/netherlands | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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