The latest officially reported population of Malta was 579,704 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 586,345 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 112.3 times bigger than Malta's.
- Malta is ranked the 167th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 586K (44.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).
Malta vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Malta
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 385,935 | 94,734,082 |
| 2099 | 389,134 | 94,523,360 |
| 2098 | 392,349 | 94,316,049 |
| 2097 | 395,676 | 94,125,043 |
| 2096 | 399,078 | 93,927,246 |
| 2095 | 402,765 | 93,719,451 |
| 2094 | 406,545 | 93,494,697 |
| 2093 | 410,348 | 93,267,274 |
| 2092 | 414,228 | 93,041,793 |
| 2091 | 418,324 | 92,793,249 |
| 2090 | 422,539 | 92,561,159 |
| 2089 | 426,802 | 92,322,396 |
| 2088 | 431,058 | 92,080,212 |
| 2087 | 435,593 | 91,833,409 |
| 2086 | 440,311 | 91,581,639 |
| 2085 | 444,985 | 91,352,906 |
| 2084 | 449,785 | 91,106,961 |
| 2083 | 454,721 | 90,845,161 |
| 2082 | 459,549 | 90,583,188 |
| 2081 | 464,574 | 90,313,417 |
| 2080 | 469,503 | 90,039,857 |
| 2079 | 474,408 | 89,770,116 |
| 2078 | 479,266 | 89,494,440 |
| 2077 | 484,147 | 89,217,520 |
| 2076 | 489,066 | 88,954,522 |
| 2075 | 493,650 | 88,681,719 |
| 2074 | 498,129 | 88,397,221 |
| 2073 | 502,551 | 88,118,589 |
| 2072 | 506,905 | 87,835,051 |
| 2071 | 511,168 | 87,509,098 |
| 2070 | 515,276 | 87,178,463 |
| 2069 | 519,370 | 86,870,660 |
| 2068 | 523,386 | 86,558,000 |
| 2067 | 527,196 | 86,237,764 |
| 2066 | 530,842 | 85,904,801 |
| 2065 | 534,346 | 85,573,984 |
| 2064 | 537,672 | 85,214,686 |
| 2063 | 540,800 | 84,845,370 |
| 2062 | 543,938 | 84,473,236 |
| 2061 | 546,831 | 84,103,016 |
| 2060 | 549,661 | 83,719,266 |
| 2059 | 552,414 | 83,325,330 |
| 2058 | 554,917 | 82,918,226 |
| 2057 | 557,274 | 82,508,742 |
| 2056 | 559,707 | 82,098,320 |
| 2055 | 562,109 | 81,669,191 |
| 2054 | 564,244 | 81,227,019 |
| 2053 | 566,461 | 80,789,939 |
| 2052 | 568,738 | 80,338,877 |
| 2051 | 571,060 | 79,858,310 |
| 2050 | 573,186 | 79,383,784 |
| 2049 | 575,026 | 78,897,472 |
| 2048 | 576,946 | 78,409,829 |
| 2047 | 579,015 | 77,894,547 |
| 2046 | 580,778 | 77,369,819 |
| 2045 | 582,504 | 76,852,544 |
| 2044 | 584,119 | 76,330,046 |
| 2043 | 585,724 | 75,800,788 |
| 2042 | 587,136 | 75,264,885 |
| 2041 | 588,589 | 74,721,871 |
| 2040 | 589,860 | 74,179,185 |
| 2039 | 591,157 | 73,636,894 |
| 2038 | 592,353 | 73,079,976 |
| 2037 | 593,277 | 72,506,991 |
| 2036 | 594,028 | 71,930,701 |
| 2035 | 594,615 | 71,337,219 |
| 2034 | 595,017 | 70,737,692 |
| 2033 | 594,907 | 70,128,299 |
| 2032 | 594,310 | 69,502,726 |
| 2031 | 593,505 | 68,865,544 |
| 2030 | 592,412 | 68,221,143 |
| 2029 | 591,100 | 67,549,189 |
| 2028 | 589,420 | 66,860,631 |
| 2027 | 587,406 | 66,166,759 |
| 2026 | 585,225 | 65,473,024 |
| 2025 | 579,704 | 64,747,319 |
| 2024 | 568,847 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 552,747 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 531,113 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 518,150 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 515,490 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 503,912 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 483,903 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 467,106 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 454,505 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 444,220 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 433,481 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 424,810 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 420,028 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 416,268 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 414,508 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 412,477 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 409,379 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 406,724 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 405,308 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 403,834 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 401,268 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 398,582 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 395,969 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 393,028 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 390,087 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 387,578 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 385,287 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 382,791 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 379,905 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 377,419 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 374,797 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 371,308 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 367,618 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 363,845 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 354,170 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 350,722 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 347,325 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 344,485 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 342,121 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 336,452 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 330,593 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 330,524 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 325,898 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 318,982 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 316,645 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 313,342 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 310,182 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 306,970 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 305,774 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 304,222 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 301,996 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 302,200 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 302,450 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 302,700 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 302,650 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 304,300 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 307,900 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 311,550 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 315,200 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 318,800 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 321,250 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 322,550 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 323,900 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 325,250 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 326,550 | 16,440,172 |
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/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malta increased by 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malta gained 131,840 people (a 29% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).
Malta was ranked 168th most populous country in 2006 and is 167th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 595K people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.82% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.82% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.84% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.85% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.92% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.93% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.93% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.94% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -1% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -1% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.99% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -1.04% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -1.07% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -1.05% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -1.07% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | -1.09% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | -1.05% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | -1.08% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | -1.05% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | -1.03% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | -1.01% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -1.01% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | -1.01% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | -0.93% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.9% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | -0.88% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | -0.86% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | -0.83% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | -0.8% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | -0.79% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | -0.77% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | -0.72% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | -0.69% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | -0.66% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.62% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.58% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.58% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.53% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.51% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.5% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.45% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | -0.42% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | -0.43% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | -0.43% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | -0.38% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | -0.39% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | -0.4% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | -0.41% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | -0.37% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | -0.32% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | -0.33% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | -0.36% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | -0.3% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | -0.3% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | -0.28% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | -0.27% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | -0.24% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | -0.25% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | -0.22% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | -0.22% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | -0.2% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | -0.16% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | -0.13% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | -0.1% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | -0.07% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 0.02% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 0.14% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 0.18% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 0.22% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 0.29% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 0.34% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 0.37% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 0.95% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 1.91% | 1.16% |
| 2024 | 2.91% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 4.07% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 0.52% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 4.13% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.77% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 2.32% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 2.48% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 2.04% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 1.14% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 0.42% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 0.49% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 0.76% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 0.65% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 0.35% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 0.37% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 0.64% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 0.67% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 0.66% | 1% |
| 2002 | 0.75% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 0.75% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 0.65% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 0.59% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 0.65% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 0.76% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 0.66% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 0.94% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 1% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 1.04% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 2.73% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 0.98% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 0.98% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 0.82% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 0.69% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 1.68% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 1.77% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 0.02% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 1.42% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 2.17% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 0.74% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 1.05% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 1.02% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 1.05% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 0.39% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 0.51% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 0.74% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | -0.07% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | -0.08% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | -0.08% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 0.02% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | -0.54% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | -1.17% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | -1.17% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | -1.16% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | -1.13% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | -0.76% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | -0.4% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | -0.42% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | -0.42% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | -0.4% | 2.85% |
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/south-africa | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Malta grew by 1.91%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.
Live population counters
|
Malta
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
586345
|
65829368
|
| Population rank | 167/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.007% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
48.5 minutes
|
42.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
2 hours
|
26.7 seconds
|
| One death every |
2.11 hours
|
53.3 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +30 | +2,028 |
| Annual growth/decline | +10,857 | +740,132 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.91% | +1.16% |
| Population growth rate rank | 52/197 | 91/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.7 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +5,161 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 52/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 199,466 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 112/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 37% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 15/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 5,161 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | 228 | 6,323 | 591,618 | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 442 | 6,591 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 54 | 2,480 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 259 | 4,638 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 361 | 6,904 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 655 | 20,302 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 774 | 16,961 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 747 | 14,372 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 1,091 | 8,624 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 888 | 9,588 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 910 | 9,192 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 807 | 861 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 714 | 911 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 916 | 999 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 871 | 741 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 825 | 836 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 777 | 869 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 691 | 926 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 568 | 997 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 727 | 1,626 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 883 | 1,662 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 917 | 1,626 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 911 | 1,821 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 1,061 | 1,678 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 1,482 | 1,591 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 1,357 | 1,463 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 1,656 | 1,260 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 1,991 | 1,003 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 2,279 | 1,142 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 1,887 | 1,306 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 2,136 | 1,136 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 2,451 | 1,006 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 2,573 | 737 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 2,438 | 763 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 2,621 | 568 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 2,981 | 248 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 2,813 | 164 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 2,412 | 295 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 2,395 | 464 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 2,590 | -428 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 2,678 | -558 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 2,512 | -740 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 2,835 | -1,059 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 2,233 | -548 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 2,375 | -886 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 2,852 | -1,311 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 2,389 | -1,302 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 2,916 | -1,598 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 2,721 | -1,641 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 2,829 | -1,742 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 2,687 | -1,597 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 2,327 | -1,549 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 2,480 | -1,316 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 2,482 | -1,327 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 2,270 | -1,123 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 2,069 | -827 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 2,247 | -753 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 2,306 | -4,073 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 2,458 | -4,318 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 2,646 | -4,329 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 3,630 | -4,768 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 3,709 | -4,773 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 4,664 | -5,360 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 4,748 | -5,099 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 5,747 | -5,540 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).
As of 2024, 199,466 residents or 37% of the population were not native-born in Malta, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
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 |
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Johannesburg | 4.8M |
| Cape Town | 3.78M |
| Soweto | 1.27M |
| Pretoria | 742K |
| Pietermaritzburg | 619K |
| Durban | 595K |
| Rustenburg | 550K |
| Randburg | 337K |
| Port Elizabeth | 312K |
| East London | 267K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Malta and South Africa
|
Malta
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.8 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 43.2 years | 31.3 years |
| Median age | 42.1 years | 29.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.9:48.1 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.01 births per woman | 2.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,737 ppl/mi² | 139.8 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/south-africa | 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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