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Population in Malta compared to Nigeria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malta was 568,847 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 581,729 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 419 times bigger than Malta's.
  • Malta is ranked the 167th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 2.95% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 582K (43.5% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Malta vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Malta
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malta Nigeria
2100 383,244 481,678,166
2099 386,421 481,494,914
2098 389,613 481,219,866
2097 392,917 480,876,108
2096 396,295 480,460,381
2095 399,956 479,976,454
2094 403,710 479,432,855
2093 407,487 478,807,152
2092 411,340 478,097,591
2091 415,407 477,274,569
2090 419,592 476,367,086
2089 423,826 475,363,859
2088 428,052 474,268,867
2087 432,556 473,072,894
2086 437,240 471,769,229
2085 441,882 470,365,292
2084 446,649 468,843,169
2083 451,551 467,224,322
2082 456,344 465,509,151
2081 461,335 463,679,779
2080 466,229 461,741,930
2079 471,100 459,680,797
2078 475,924 457,513,367
2077 480,771 455,254,796
2076 485,655 452,885,729
2075 490,208 450,402,898
2074 494,656 447,825,224
2073 499,046 445,152,156
2072 503,370 442,375,349
2071 507,604 439,499,004
2070 511,683 436,539,777
2069 515,748 433,472,204
2068 519,737 430,320,190
2067 523,520 427,066,199
2066 527,140 423,736,078
2065 530,620 420,318,527
2064 533,923 416,811,285
2063 537,029 413,231,409
2062 540,145 409,583,480
2061 543,018 405,859,509
2060 545,828 402,073,494
2059 548,562 398,228,736
2058 551,048 394,315,883
2057 553,389 390,341,867
2056 555,804 386,298,064
2055 558,190 382,193,151
2054 560,309 378,030,342
2053 562,511 373,799,276
2052 564,772 369,501,634
2051 567,078 365,149,555
2050 569,189 360,734,783
2049 571,016 356,271,401
2048 572,923 351,752,501
2047 574,977 347,169,674
2046 576,728 342,532,578
2045 578,442 337,834,528
2044 580,046 333,076,416
2043 581,639 328,256,555
2042 583,042 323,388,886
2041 584,485 318,469,120
2040 585,747 313,492,800
2039 587,035 308,474,350
2038 588,223 303,423,786
2037 589,140 298,351,344
2036 589,886 293,250,795
2035 590,469 288,138,368
2034 590,868 283,018,151
2033 590,759 277,897,810
2032 590,166 272,769,123
2031 589,366 267,666,779
2030 588,281 262,583,487
2029 586,978 257,504,936
2028 585,310 252,465,743
2027 583,310 247,457,208
2026 581,144 242,477,499
2025 575,661 237,546,527
2024 568,847 232,679,478
2023 552,747 227,882,945
2022 531,113 223,150,896
2021 518,150 218,529,286
2020 515,490 213,996,181
2019 503,912 209,485,641
2018 483,903 204,938,755
2017 467,106 200,254,579
2016 454,505 195,443,700
2015 444,220 190,671,878
2014 433,481 185,896,915
2013 424,810 181,049,443
2012 420,028 176,200,625
2011 416,268 171,379,598
2010 414,508 166,642,886
2009 412,477 162,049,464
2008 409,379 157,595,014
2007 406,724 153,267,261
2006 405,308 149,077,334
2005 403,834 145,017,253
2004 401,268 141,057,045
2003 398,582 137,202,644
2002 395,969 133,471,989
2001 393,028 129,862,595
2000 390,087 126,382,494
1999 387,578 123,047,320
1998 385,287 119,846,254
1997 382,791 116,754,792
1996 379,905 113,754,779
1995 377,419 110,819,428
1994 374,797 107,935,714
1993 371,308 105,122,069
1992 367,618 102,372,770
1991 363,845 99,720,162
1990 354,170 97,120,925
1989 350,722 94,531,014
1988 347,325 92,020,090
1987 344,485 89,591,716
1986 342,121 87,235,953
1985 336,452 84,897,973
1984 330,593 82,526,443
1983 330,524 80,438,260
1982 325,898 78,378,701
1981 318,982 76,068,103
1980 316,645 73,764,641
1979 313,342 71,498,242
1978 310,182 69,326,532
1977 306,970 67,234,590
1976 305,774 65,258,009
1975 304,222 63,410,815
1974 301,996 61,679,144
1973 302,200 60,082,139
1972 302,450 58,601,748
1971 302,700 57,214,684
1970 302,650 55,893,838
1969 304,300 54,631,914
1968 307,900 53,432,783
1967 311,550 52,293,065
1966 315,200 51,188,234
1965 318,800 50,086,764
1964 321,250 49,012,016
1963 322,550 47,973,575
1962 323,900 46,965,292
1961 325,250 45,989,310
1960 326,550 45,053,782

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malta/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malta increased by 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malta gained 127,224 people (a 28% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Malta was ranked 168th most populous country in 2006 and is 167th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Malta's population will shrink by 2.16% to 569,189 people and will still be ranked 167th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 591K people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Malta
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malta Nigeria
2100 -0.82% 0.04%
2099 -0.82% 0.06%
2098 -0.84% 0.07%
2097 -0.85% 0.09%
2096 -0.92% 0.1%
2095 -0.93% 0.11%
2094 -0.93% 0.13%
2093 -0.94% 0.15%
2092 -0.98% 0.17%
2091 -1% 0.19%
2090 -1% 0.21%
2089 -0.99% 0.23%
2088 -1.04% 0.25%
2087 -1.07% 0.28%
2086 -1.05% 0.3%
2085 -1.07% 0.32%
2084 -1.09% 0.35%
2083 -1.05% 0.37%
2082 -1.08% 0.39%
2081 -1.05% 0.42%
2080 -1.03% 0.45%
2079 -1.01% 0.47%
2078 -1.01% 0.5%
2077 -1.01% 0.52%
2076 -0.93% 0.55%
2075 -0.9% 0.58%
2074 -0.88% 0.6%
2073 -0.86% 0.63%
2072 -0.83% 0.65%
2071 -0.8% 0.68%
2070 -0.79% 0.71%
2069 -0.77% 0.73%
2068 -0.72% 0.76%
2067 -0.69% 0.79%
2066 -0.66% 0.81%
2065 -0.62% 0.84%
2064 -0.58% 0.87%
2063 -0.58% 0.89%
2062 -0.53% 0.92%
2061 -0.51% 0.94%
2060 -0.5% 0.97%
2059 -0.45% 0.99%
2058 -0.42% 1.02%
2057 -0.43% 1.05%
2056 -0.43% 1.07%
2055 -0.38% 1.1%
2054 -0.39% 1.13%
2053 -0.4% 1.16%
2052 -0.41% 1.19%
2051 -0.37% 1.22%
2050 -0.32% 1.25%
2049 -0.33% 1.28%
2048 -0.36% 1.32%
2047 -0.3% 1.35%
2046 -0.3% 1.39%
2045 -0.28% 1.43%
2044 -0.27% 1.47%
2043 -0.24% 1.51%
2042 -0.25% 1.54%
2041 -0.22% 1.59%
2040 -0.22% 1.63%
2039 -0.2% 1.66%
2038 -0.16% 1.7%
2037 -0.13% 1.74%
2036 -0.1% 1.77%
2035 -0.07% 1.81%
2034 0.02% 1.84%
2033 0.1% 1.88%
2032 0.14% 1.91%
2031 0.18% 1.94%
2030 0.22% 1.97%
2029 0.29% 2%
2028 0.34% 2.02%
2027 0.37% 2.05%
2026 0.95% 2.08%
2025 1.2% 2.09%
2024 2.91% 2.1%
2023 4.07% 2.12%
2022 2.5% 2.11%
2021 0.52% 2.12%
2020 2.3% 2.15%
2019 4.13% 2.22%
2018 3.6% 2.34%
2017 2.77% 2.46%
2016 2.32% 2.5%
2015 2.48% 2.57%
2014 2.04% 2.68%
2013 1.14% 2.75%
2012 0.9% 2.81%
2011 0.42% 2.84%
2010 0.49% 2.83%
2009 0.76% 2.83%
2008 0.65% 2.82%
2007 0.35% 2.81%
2006 0.37% 2.8%
2005 0.64% 2.81%
2004 0.67% 2.81%
2003 0.66% 2.8%
2002 0.75% 2.78%
2001 0.75% 2.75%
2000 0.65% 2.71%
1999 0.59% 2.67%
1998 0.65% 2.65%
1997 0.76% 2.64%
1996 0.66% 2.65%
1995 0.7% 2.67%
1994 0.94% 2.68%
1993 1% 2.69%
1992 1.04% 2.66%
1991 2.73% 2.68%
1990 0.98% 2.74%
1989 0.98% 2.73%
1988 0.82% 2.71%
1987 0.69% 2.7%
1986 1.68% 2.75%
1985 1.77% 2.87%
1984 0.02% 2.6%
1983 1.42% 2.63%
1982 2.17% 3.04%
1981 0.74% 3.12%
1980 1.05% 3.17%
1979 1.02% 3.13%
1978 1.05% 3.11%
1977 0.39% 3.03%
1976 0.51% 2.91%
1975 0.74% 2.81%
1974 -0.07% 2.66%
1973 -0.08% 2.53%
1972 -0.08% 2.42%
1971 0.02% 2.36%
1970 -0.54% 2.31%
1969 -1.17% 2.24%
1968 -1.17% 2.18%
1967 -1.16% 2.16%
1966 -1.13% 2.2%
1965 -0.76% 2.19%
1964 -0.4% 2.16%
1963 -0.42% 2.15%
1962 -0.42% 2.12%
1961 -0.4% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malta/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malta grew by 2.91%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Malta Nigeria
Current population
581729
243824469
Population rank 167/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.007% 2.94%
One net population change
32.6 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
1.96 hours
4.2 seconds
One death every
2.17 hours
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +44 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +16,100 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.91% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 19/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.7 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +5,161 -15,258
Net migration rank 52/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 199,466 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 112/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 37% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 15/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malta
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malta Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 5,161 - -15,258
2024 - 6,323 - -35,202
2023 442 6,591 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 54 2,480 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 259 4,638 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 361 6,904 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 655 20,302 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 774 16,961 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 747 14,372 4,706,183 78,685
2016 1,091 8,624 4,761,594 75,265
2015 888 9,588 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 910 9,192 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 807 861 4,811,751 40,201
2012 714 911 4,774,508 71,138
2011 916 999 4,728,363 67,808
2010 871 741 4,629,173 47,966
2009 825 836 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 777 869 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 691 926 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 568 997 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 727 1,626 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 883 1,662 3,877,376 46,370
2003 917 1,626 3,751,120 33,857
2002 911 1,821 3,606,814 69,594
2001 1,061 1,678 3,478,370 64,163
2000 1,482 1,591 3,343,196 74,535
1999 1,357 1,463 3,155,425 97,195
1998 1,656 1,260 3,003,946 145,575
1997 1,991 1,003 2,936,500 96,885
1996 2,279 1,142 2,882,205 84,448
1995 1,887 1,306 2,830,771 73,243
1994 2,136 1,136 2,735,198 128,134
1993 2,451 1,006 2,673,675 90,200
1992 2,573 737 2,596,173 138,412
1991 2,438 763 2,527,807 42,760
1990 2,621 568 2,491,928 135,959
1989 2,981 248 2,452,324 99,588
1988 2,813 164 2,376,419 93,510
1987 2,412 295 2,322,397 64,418
1986 2,395 464 2,295,003 29,682
1985 2,590 -428 2,289,784 61,514
1984 2,678 -558 2,278,060 113,758
1983 2,512 -740 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 2,835 -1,059 2,233,401 101,116
1981 2,233 -548 2,179,884 106,723
1980 2,375 -886 2,121,618 198,672
1979 2,852 -1,311 2,074,807 137,721
1978 2,389 -1,302 2,019,621 111,258
1977 2,916 -1,598 1,923,917 129,075
1976 2,721 -1,641 1,827,289 72,889
1975 2,829 -1,742 1,718,623 75,603
1974 2,687 -1,597 1,624,813 44,281
1973 2,327 -1,549 1,525,485 -618
1972 2,480 -1,316 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 2,482 -1,327 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 2,270 -1,123 1,295,507 7,953
1969 2,069 -827 1,213,484 6,912
1968 2,247 -753 1,168,254 9,615
1967 2,306 -4,073 1,082,884 18,683
1966 2,458 -4,318 1,095,582 12,513
1965 2,646 -4,329 1,061,840 32,988
1964 3,630 -4,768 1,028,272 26,411
1963 3,709 -4,773 995,116 27,115
1962 4,664 -5,360 966,452 27,906
1961 4,748 -5,099 932,111 25,515
1960 5,747 -5,540 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malta/nigeria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 5.84% of the population change in Malta is from natural causes (a gain of 6,181 people) and 94.2% is from migration (a gain of 99,652 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 199,466 residents or 37% of the population were not native-born in Malta, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/malta/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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