The latest officially reported population of Malta was 568,847 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 581,729 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.
Population statistics:
- Papua New Guinea's population is 18.9 times bigger than Malta's.
- Malta is ranked the 167th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
- The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
- For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
- Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 582K (43.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).
Malta vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Malta
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | 383,244 | 18,802,138 |
| 2099 | 386,421 | 18,790,040 |
| 2098 | 389,613 | 18,776,265 |
| 2097 | 392,917 | 18,758,897 |
| 2096 | 396,295 | 18,737,707 |
| 2095 | 399,956 | 18,714,219 |
| 2094 | 403,710 | 18,687,257 |
| 2093 | 407,487 | 18,658,233 |
| 2092 | 411,340 | 18,625,772 |
| 2091 | 415,407 | 18,590,001 |
| 2090 | 419,592 | 18,549,501 |
| 2089 | 423,826 | 18,510,463 |
| 2088 | 428,052 | 18,468,827 |
| 2087 | 432,556 | 18,424,378 |
| 2086 | 437,240 | 18,376,043 |
| 2085 | 441,882 | 18,325,641 |
| 2084 | 446,649 | 18,274,394 |
| 2083 | 451,551 | 18,218,709 |
| 2082 | 456,344 | 18,163,177 |
| 2081 | 461,335 | 18,104,285 |
| 2080 | 466,229 | 18,039,008 |
| 2079 | 471,100 | 17,975,778 |
| 2078 | 475,924 | 17,908,670 |
| 2077 | 480,771 | 17,840,781 |
| 2076 | 485,655 | 17,771,791 |
| 2075 | 490,208 | 17,699,428 |
| 2074 | 494,656 | 17,625,044 |
| 2073 | 499,046 | 17,548,128 |
| 2072 | 503,370 | 17,466,649 |
| 2071 | 507,604 | 17,381,598 |
| 2070 | 511,683 | 17,295,105 |
| 2069 | 515,748 | 17,205,503 |
| 2068 | 519,737 | 17,112,154 |
| 2067 | 523,520 | 17,015,090 |
| 2066 | 527,140 | 16,915,436 |
| 2065 | 530,620 | 16,812,946 |
| 2064 | 533,923 | 16,708,669 |
| 2063 | 537,029 | 16,604,296 |
| 2062 | 540,145 | 16,497,292 |
| 2061 | 543,018 | 16,386,905 |
| 2060 | 545,828 | 16,270,535 |
| 2059 | 548,562 | 16,152,614 |
| 2058 | 551,048 | 16,032,684 |
| 2057 | 553,389 | 15,909,649 |
| 2056 | 555,804 | 15,784,519 |
| 2055 | 558,190 | 15,656,542 |
| 2054 | 560,309 | 15,523,143 |
| 2053 | 562,511 | 15,389,244 |
| 2052 | 564,772 | 15,250,715 |
| 2051 | 567,078 | 15,110,389 |
| 2050 | 569,189 | 14,968,530 |
| 2049 | 571,016 | 14,821,865 |
| 2048 | 572,923 | 14,673,459 |
| 2047 | 574,977 | 14,522,926 |
| 2046 | 576,728 | 14,370,120 |
| 2045 | 578,442 | 14,213,585 |
| 2044 | 580,046 | 14,056,036 |
| 2043 | 581,639 | 13,897,765 |
| 2042 | 583,042 | 13,738,690 |
| 2041 | 584,485 | 13,577,382 |
| 2040 | 585,747 | 13,413,396 |
| 2039 | 587,035 | 13,247,486 |
| 2038 | 588,223 | 13,079,352 |
| 2037 | 589,140 | 12,909,735 |
| 2036 | 589,886 | 12,738,223 |
| 2035 | 590,469 | 12,566,543 |
| 2034 | 590,868 | 12,392,476 |
| 2033 | 590,759 | 12,218,246 |
| 2032 | 590,166 | 12,042,345 |
| 2031 | 589,366 | 11,865,316 |
| 2030 | 588,281 | 11,685,599 |
| 2029 | 586,978 | 11,504,890 |
| 2028 | 585,310 | 11,322,573 |
| 2027 | 583,310 | 11,138,409 |
| 2026 | 581,144 | 10,952,454 |
| 2025 | 575,661 | 10,765,048 |
| 2024 | 568,847 | 10,576,502 |
| 2023 | 552,747 | 10,389,635 |
| 2022 | 531,113 | 10,203,169 |
| 2021 | 518,150 | 10,012,896 |
| 2020 | 515,490 | 9,815,746 |
| 2019 | 503,912 | 9,609,010 |
| 2018 | 483,903 | 9,394,513 |
| 2017 | 467,106 | 9,178,714 |
| 2016 | 454,505 | 8,961,718 |
| 2015 | 444,220 | 8,743,246 |
| 2014 | 433,481 | 8,523,441 |
| 2013 | 424,810 | 8,302,698 |
| 2012 | 420,028 | 8,081,390 |
| 2011 | 416,268 | 7,859,346 |
| 2010 | 414,508 | 7,633,523 |
| 2009 | 412,477 | 7,406,438 |
| 2008 | 409,379 | 7,183,002 |
| 2007 | 406,724 | 6,963,345 |
| 2006 | 405,308 | 6,747,720 |
| 2005 | 403,834 | 6,535,905 |
| 2004 | 401,268 | 6,328,041 |
| 2003 | 398,582 | 6,123,997 |
| 2002 | 395,969 | 5,924,003 |
| 2001 | 393,028 | 5,728,435 |
| 2000 | 390,087 | 5,537,064 |
| 1999 | 387,578 | 5,349,333 |
| 1998 | 385,287 | 5,166,390 |
| 1997 | 382,791 | 4,987,883 |
| 1996 | 379,905 | 4,813,361 |
| 1995 | 377,419 | 4,644,278 |
| 1994 | 374,797 | 4,480,208 |
| 1993 | 371,308 | 4,320,872 |
| 1992 | 367,618 | 4,166,699 |
| 1991 | 363,845 | 4,021,837 |
| 1990 | 354,170 | 3,896,481 |
| 1989 | 350,722 | 3,796,078 |
| 1988 | 347,325 | 3,711,880 |
| 1987 | 344,485 | 3,632,543 |
| 1986 | 342,121 | 3,554,793 |
| 1985 | 336,452 | 3,478,936 |
| 1984 | 330,593 | 3,405,198 |
| 1983 | 330,524 | 3,333,633 |
| 1982 | 325,898 | 3,264,291 |
| 1981 | 318,982 | 3,197,019 |
| 1980 | 316,645 | 3,131,512 |
| 1979 | 313,342 | 3,067,341 |
| 1978 | 310,182 | 3,003,714 |
| 1977 | 306,970 | 2,940,327 |
| 1976 | 305,774 | 2,877,327 |
| 1975 | 304,222 | 2,814,820 |
| 1974 | 301,996 | 2,752,671 |
| 1973 | 302,200 | 2,690,629 |
| 1972 | 302,450 | 2,628,432 |
| 1971 | 302,700 | 2,566,421 |
| 1970 | 302,650 | 2,505,628 |
| 1969 | 304,300 | 2,446,927 |
| 1968 | 307,900 | 2,390,803 |
| 1967 | 311,550 | 2,337,532 |
| 1966 | 315,200 | 2,285,774 |
| 1965 | 318,800 | 2,235,820 |
| 1964 | 321,250 | 2,188,325 |
| 1963 | 322,550 | 2,141,376 |
| 1962 | 323,900 | 2,093,919 |
| 1961 | 325,250 | 2,046,127 |
| 1960 | 326,550 | 1,995,110 |
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malta increased by 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malta gained 127,224 people (a 28% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).
Malta was ranked 168th most populous country in 2006 and is 167th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.
Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 591K people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.82% | 0.06% |
| 2099 | -0.82% | 0.07% |
| 2098 | -0.84% | 0.09% |
| 2097 | -0.85% | 0.11% |
| 2096 | -0.92% | 0.13% |
| 2095 | -0.93% | 0.14% |
| 2094 | -0.93% | 0.16% |
| 2093 | -0.94% | 0.17% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | 0.19% |
| 2091 | -1% | 0.22% |
| 2090 | -1% | 0.21% |
| 2089 | -0.99% | 0.23% |
| 2088 | -1.04% | 0.24% |
| 2087 | -1.07% | 0.26% |
| 2086 | -1.05% | 0.28% |
| 2085 | -1.07% | 0.28% |
| 2084 | -1.09% | 0.31% |
| 2083 | -1.05% | 0.31% |
| 2082 | -1.08% | 0.33% |
| 2081 | -1.05% | 0.36% |
| 2080 | -1.03% | 0.35% |
| 2079 | -1.01% | 0.37% |
| 2078 | -1.01% | 0.38% |
| 2077 | -1.01% | 0.39% |
| 2076 | -0.93% | 0.41% |
| 2075 | -0.9% | 0.42% |
| 2074 | -0.88% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | -0.86% | 0.47% |
| 2072 | -0.83% | 0.49% |
| 2071 | -0.8% | 0.5% |
| 2070 | -0.79% | 0.52% |
| 2069 | -0.77% | 0.55% |
| 2068 | -0.72% | 0.57% |
| 2067 | -0.69% | 0.59% |
| 2066 | -0.66% | 0.61% |
| 2065 | -0.62% | 0.62% |
| 2064 | -0.58% | 0.63% |
| 2063 | -0.58% | 0.65% |
| 2062 | -0.53% | 0.67% |
| 2061 | -0.51% | 0.72% |
| 2060 | -0.5% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | -0.45% | 0.75% |
| 2058 | -0.42% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | -0.43% | 0.79% |
| 2056 | -0.43% | 0.82% |
| 2055 | -0.38% | 0.86% |
| 2054 | -0.39% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | -0.4% | 0.91% |
| 2052 | -0.41% | 0.93% |
| 2051 | -0.37% | 0.95% |
| 2050 | -0.32% | 0.99% |
| 2049 | -0.33% | 1.01% |
| 2048 | -0.36% | 1.04% |
| 2047 | -0.3% | 1.06% |
| 2046 | -0.3% | 1.1% |
| 2045 | -0.28% | 1.12% |
| 2044 | -0.27% | 1.14% |
| 2043 | -0.24% | 1.16% |
| 2042 | -0.25% | 1.19% |
| 2041 | -0.22% | 1.22% |
| 2040 | -0.22% | 1.25% |
| 2039 | -0.2% | 1.29% |
| 2038 | -0.16% | 1.31% |
| 2037 | -0.13% | 1.35% |
| 2036 | -0.1% | 1.37% |
| 2035 | -0.07% | 1.4% |
| 2034 | 0.02% | 1.43% |
| 2033 | 0.1% | 1.46% |
| 2032 | 0.14% | 1.49% |
| 2031 | 0.18% | 1.54% |
| 2030 | 0.22% | 1.57% |
| 2029 | 0.29% | 1.61% |
| 2028 | 0.34% | 1.65% |
| 2027 | 0.37% | 1.7% |
| 2026 | 0.95% | 1.74% |
| 2025 | 1.2% | 1.78% |
| 2024 | 2.91% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 4.07% | 1.83% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | 1.9% |
| 2021 | 0.52% | 2.01% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | 2.15% |
| 2019 | 4.13% | 2.28% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | 2.35% |
| 2017 | 2.77% | 2.42% |
| 2016 | 2.32% | 2.5% |
| 2015 | 2.48% | 2.58% |
| 2014 | 2.04% | 2.66% |
| 2013 | 1.14% | 2.74% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | 2.83% |
| 2011 | 0.42% | 2.96% |
| 2010 | 0.49% | 3.07% |
| 2009 | 0.76% | 3.11% |
| 2008 | 0.65% | 3.15% |
| 2007 | 0.35% | 3.2% |
| 2006 | 0.37% | 3.24% |
| 2005 | 0.64% | 3.28% |
| 2004 | 0.67% | 3.33% |
| 2003 | 0.66% | 3.38% |
| 2002 | 0.75% | 3.41% |
| 2001 | 0.75% | 3.46% |
| 2000 | 0.65% | 3.51% |
| 1999 | 0.59% | 3.54% |
| 1998 | 0.65% | 3.58% |
| 1997 | 0.76% | 3.63% |
| 1996 | 0.66% | 3.64% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | 3.66% |
| 1994 | 0.94% | 3.69% |
| 1993 | 1% | 3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.04% | 3.6% |
| 1991 | 2.73% | 3.22% |
| 1990 | 0.98% | 2.64% |
| 1989 | 0.98% | 2.27% |
| 1988 | 0.82% | 2.18% |
| 1987 | 0.69% | 2.19% |
| 1986 | 1.68% | 2.18% |
| 1985 | 1.77% | 2.17% |
| 1984 | 0.02% | 2.15% |
| 1983 | 1.42% | 2.12% |
| 1982 | 2.17% | 2.1% |
| 1981 | 0.74% | 2.09% |
| 1980 | 1.05% | 2.09% |
| 1979 | 1.02% | 2.12% |
| 1978 | 1.05% | 2.16% |
| 1977 | 0.39% | 2.19% |
| 1976 | 0.51% | 2.22% |
| 1975 | 0.74% | 2.26% |
| 1974 | -0.07% | 2.31% |
| 1973 | -0.08% | 2.37% |
| 1972 | -0.08% | 2.42% |
| 1971 | 0.02% | 2.43% |
| 1970 | -0.54% | 2.4% |
| 1969 | -1.17% | 2.35% |
| 1968 | -1.17% | 2.28% |
| 1967 | -1.16% | 2.26% |
| 1966 | -1.13% | 2.23% |
| 1965 | -0.76% | 2.17% |
| 1964 | -0.4% | 2.19% |
| 1963 | -0.42% | 2.27% |
| 1962 | -0.42% | 2.34% |
| 1961 | -0.4% | 2.56% |
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Malta grew by 2.91%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.
Live population counters
|
Malta
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
581729
|
11002753
|
| Population rank | 167/197 | 89/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.007% | 0.13% |
| One net population change |
32.6 minutes
|
2.81 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.96 hours
|
2.06 minutes
|
| One death every |
2.17 hours
|
7.76 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +44 | +512 |
| Annual growth/decline | +16,100 | +186,867 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.91% | +1.8% |
| Population growth rate rank | 19/197 | 59/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.7 hours
|
1.29 days
|
| Annual migration change | +5,161 | -284 |
| Net migration rank | 52/196 | 87/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 199,466 | 31,171 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 112/195 | 163/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 37% | 0.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 15/195 | 183/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 5,161 | - | -284 |
| 2024 | - | 6,323 | - | -707 |
| 2023 | 442 | 6,591 | 187,637 | -787 |
| 2022 | 54 | 2,480 | 186,861 | -787 |
| 2021 | 259 | 4,638 | 183,766 | 10,703 |
| 2020 | 361 | 6,904 | 189,130 | 10,703 |
| 2019 | 655 | 20,302 | 190,662 | 22,978 |
| 2018 | 774 | 16,961 | 190,662 | 24,684 |
| 2017 | 747 | 14,372 | 189,715 | 26,513 |
| 2016 | 1,091 | 8,624 | 189,281 | 28,473 |
| 2015 | 888 | 9,588 | 188,600 | 30,580 |
| 2014 | 910 | 9,192 | 187,592 | 32,840 |
| 2013 | 807 | 861 | 185,790 | 35,280 |
| 2012 | 714 | 911 | 183,658 | 37,893 |
| 2011 | 916 | 999 | 181,842 | 40,690 |
| 2010 | 871 | 741 | 178,998 | 50,106 |
| 2009 | 825 | 836 | 175,421 | 49,647 |
| 2008 | 777 | 869 | 172,823 | 48,985 |
| 2007 | 691 | 926 | 169,306 | 48,203 |
| 2006 | 568 | 997 | 166,540 | 47,191 |
| 2005 | 727 | 1,626 | 163,888 | 46,014 |
| 2004 | 883 | 1,662 | 161,023 | 44,811 |
| 2003 | 917 | 1,626 | 158,611 | 43,639 |
| 2002 | 911 | 1,821 | 155,091 | 42,657 |
| 2001 | 1,061 | 1,678 | 151,431 | 41,962 |
| 2000 | 1,482 | 1,591 | 147,496 | 41,855 |
| 1999 | 1,357 | 1,463 | 143,592 | 42,519 |
| 1998 | 1,656 | 1,260 | 136,677 | 43,091 |
| 1997 | 1,991 | 1,003 | 134,458 | 42,787 |
| 1996 | 2,279 | 1,142 | 129,802 | 41,994 |
| 1995 | 1,887 | 1,306 | 125,410 | 40,962 |
| 1994 | 2,136 | 1,136 | 122,113 | 39,669 |
| 1993 | 2,451 | 1,006 | 118,668 | 38,220 |
| 1992 | 2,573 | 737 | 114,818 | 36,622 |
| 1991 | 2,438 | 763 | 111,453 | 26,830 |
| 1990 | 2,621 | 568 | 110,033 | 2,398 |
| 1989 | 2,981 | 248 | 108,199 | -19,824 |
| 1988 | 2,813 | 164 | 106,256 | -26,232 |
| 1987 | 2,412 | 295 | 104,367 | -25,720 |
| 1986 | 2,395 | 464 | 102,346 | -25,495 |
| 1985 | 2,590 | -428 | 100,333 | -25,470 |
| 1984 | 2,678 | -558 | 98,103 | -25,487 |
| 1983 | 2,512 | -740 | 95,982 | -25,465 |
| 1982 | 2,835 | -1,059 | 93,522 | -25,355 |
| 1981 | 2,233 | -548 | 91,767 | -25,383 |
| 1980 | 2,375 | -886 | 90,266 | -25,638 |
| 1979 | 2,852 | -1,311 | 89,330 | -25,618 |
| 1978 | 2,389 | -1,302 | 88,747 | -25,208 |
| 1977 | 2,916 | -1,598 | 87,954 | -24,722 |
| 1976 | 2,721 | -1,641 | 86,965 | -24,198 |
| 1975 | 2,829 | -1,742 | 85,809 | -23,562 |
| 1974 | 2,687 | -1,597 | 84,829 | -22,771 |
| 1973 | 2,327 | -1,549 | 83,821 | -21,803 |
| 1972 | 2,480 | -1,316 | 82,672 | -20,303 |
| 1971 | 2,482 | -1,327 | 80,599 | -18,945 |
| 1970 | 2,270 | -1,123 | 78,712 | -18,773 |
| 1969 | 2,069 | -827 | 76,454 | -18,994 |
| 1968 | 2,247 | -753 | 73,983 | -19,188 |
| 1967 | 2,306 | -4,073 | 71,519 | -19,767 |
| 1966 | 2,458 | -4,318 | 69,206 | -17,454 |
| 1965 | 2,646 | -4,329 | 66,693 | -18,532 |
| 1964 | 3,630 | -4,768 | 64,558 | -17,730 |
| 1963 | 3,709 | -4,773 | 62,260 | -15,189 |
| 1962 | 4,664 | -5,360 | 59,974 | -12,141 |
| 1961 | 4,748 | -5,099 | 58,151 | -10,409 |
| 1960 | 5,747 | -5,540 | 56,326 | -2,034 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).
As of 2024, 199,466 residents or 37% of the population were not native-born in Malta, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.
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 |
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Moresby | 317K |
| Lae | 101K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Malta and Papua New Guinea
|
Malta
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.8 years | 66.5 years |
| Average age | 43 years | 26.7 years |
| Median age | 41.8 years | 23.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.9:48.1 | 51.4:48.6 |
| Fertility rate | 1.06 births per woman | 3.1 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,704 ppl/mi² | 62.6 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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