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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malta was 579,704 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 586,345 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 418 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 2.96% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 586K (44.7% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Malta vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Malta
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malta Nigeria
2100 385,935 481,640,156
2099 389,134 481,456,918
2098 392,349 481,181,892
2097 395,676 480,838,161
2096 399,078 480,422,467
2095 402,765 479,938,579
2094 406,545 479,395,022
2093 410,348 478,769,369
2092 414,228 478,059,864
2091 418,324 477,236,907
2090 422,539 476,329,495
2089 426,802 475,326,347
2088 431,058 474,231,442
2087 435,593 473,035,563
2086 440,311 471,732,001
2085 444,985 470,328,175
2084 449,785 468,806,172
2083 454,721 467,187,453
2082 459,549 465,472,417
2081 464,574 463,643,190
2080 469,503 461,705,493
2079 474,408 459,644,523
2078 479,266 457,477,264
2077 484,147 455,218,871
2076 489,066 452,849,991
2075 493,650 450,367,356
2074 498,129 447,789,885
2073 502,551 445,117,028
2072 506,905 442,340,440
2071 511,168 439,464,323
2070 515,276 436,505,329
2069 519,370 433,437,998
2068 523,386 430,286,232
2067 527,196 427,032,499
2066 530,842 423,702,640
2065 534,346 420,285,359
2064 537,672 416,778,394
2063 540,800 413,198,800
2062 543,938 409,551,159
2061 546,831 405,827,482
2060 549,661 402,041,765
2059 552,414 398,197,311
2058 554,917 394,284,767
2057 557,274 390,311,065
2056 559,707 386,267,580
2055 562,109 382,162,992
2054 564,244 378,000,511
2053 566,461 373,769,779
2052 568,738 369,472,476
2051 571,060 365,120,741
2050 573,186 360,706,317
2049 575,026 356,243,287
2048 576,946 351,724,743
2047 579,015 347,142,279
2046 580,778 342,505,549
2045 582,504 337,807,869
2044 584,119 333,050,132
2043 585,724 328,230,652
2042 587,136 323,363,366
2041 588,589 318,443,989
2040 589,860 313,468,061
2039 591,157 308,450,008
2038 592,353 303,399,842
2037 593,277 298,327,800
2036 594,028 293,227,654
2035 594,615 288,115,630
2034 595,017 282,995,818
2033 594,907 277,875,880
2032 594,310 272,747,599
2031 593,505 267,645,657
2030 592,412 262,562,767
2029 591,100 257,484,616
2028 589,420 252,445,821
2027 587,406 247,437,680
2026 585,225 242,458,365
2025 579,704 237,527,782
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 131,840 people (a 29% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% 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 2.24% to 573,186 people and will still be ranked 167th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 595K 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 1.91% 2.08%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malta grew by 1.91%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Malta Nigeria
Current population
586345
245016045
Population rank 167/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.007% 2.95%
One net population change
48.5 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
2 hours
4.17 seconds
One death every
2.11 hours
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +30 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +10,857 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +1.91% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 52/197 45/197
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 228 6,323 4,851,833 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malta/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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