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Population in Malta compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malta was 579,704 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 586,345 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 88 times bigger than Malta's.
  • Malta is ranked the 167th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 586K (44.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Malta vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Malta
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malta South Korea
2100 385,935 22,001,649
2099 389,134 22,324,514
2098 392,349 22,657,541
2097 395,676 22,998,315
2096 399,078 23,348,632
2095 402,765 23,711,049
2094 406,545 24,081,510
2093 410,348 24,460,970
2092 414,228 24,848,715
2091 418,324 25,242,926
2090 422,539 25,642,926
2089 426,802 26,048,094
2088 431,058 26,457,020
2087 435,593 26,871,556
2086 440,311 27,288,450
2085 444,985 27,710,065
2084 449,785 28,133,600
2083 454,721 28,564,090
2082 459,549 28,998,646
2081 464,574 29,441,497
2080 469,503 29,887,135
2079 474,408 30,337,095
2078 479,266 30,793,984
2077 484,147 31,258,278
2076 489,066 31,728,826
2075 493,650 32,205,338
2074 498,129 32,689,892
2073 502,551 33,180,187
2072 506,905 33,679,874
2071 511,168 34,187,068
2070 515,276 34,702,204
2069 519,370 35,224,472
2068 523,386 35,745,164
2067 527,196 36,274,411
2066 530,842 36,808,495
2065 534,346 37,349,660
2064 537,672 37,897,742
2063 540,800 38,450,082
2062 543,938 39,009,227
2061 546,831 39,565,102
2060 549,661 40,130,032
2059 552,414 40,692,438
2058 554,917 41,256,780
2057 557,274 41,813,259
2056 559,707 42,356,530
2055 562,109 42,888,143
2054 564,244 43,405,840
2053 566,461 43,917,075
2052 568,738 44,419,192
2051 571,060 44,901,452
2050 573,186 45,362,931
2049 575,026 45,809,553
2048 576,946 46,235,718
2047 579,015 46,645,885
2046 580,778 47,033,200
2045 582,504 47,409,815
2044 584,119 47,773,842
2043 585,724 48,120,989
2042 587,136 48,455,085
2041 588,589 48,782,206
2040 589,860 49,091,438
2039 591,157 49,388,464
2038 592,353 49,669,835
2037 593,277 49,932,869
2036 594,028 50,175,947
2035 594,615 50,401,135
2034 595,017 50,607,994
2033 594,907 50,796,030
2032 594,310 50,961,878
2031 593,505 51,109,725
2030 592,412 51,242,628
2029 591,100 51,360,529
2028 589,420 51,461,403
2027 587,406 51,551,313
2026 585,225 51,624,449
2025 579,704 51,684,564
2024 568,847 51,751,065
2023 552,747 51,712,619
2022 531,113 51,672,569
2021 518,150 51,769,539
2020 515,490 51,836,239
2019 503,912 51,764,822
2018 483,903 51,585,058
2017 467,106 51,361,911
2016 454,505 51,217,803
2015 444,220 51,014,947
2014 433,481 50,746,659
2013 424,810 50,428,893
2012 420,028 50,199,853
2011 416,268 49,936,638
2010 414,508 49,554,112
2009 412,477 49,307,835
2008 409,379 49,054,708
2007 406,724 48,683,638
2006 405,308 48,438,292
2005 403,834 48,184,561
2004 401,268 48,082,519
2003 398,582 47,892,330
2002 395,969 47,644,736
2001 393,028 47,370,164
2000 390,087 47,008,111
1999 387,578 46,616,677
1998 385,287 46,286,503
1997 382,791 45,953,580
1996 379,905 45,524,681
1995 377,419 45,092,991
1994 374,797 44,641,540
1993 371,308 44,194,628
1992 367,618 43,747,962
1991 363,845 43,295,704
1990 354,170 42,869,283
1989 350,722 42,449,038
1988 347,325 42,031,247
1987 344,485 41,621,690
1986 342,121 41,213,674
1985 336,452 40,805,744
1984 330,593 40,405,956
1983 330,524 39,910,403
1982 325,898 39,326,352
1981 318,982 38,723,248
1980 316,645 38,123,775
1979 313,342 37,534,236
1978 310,182 36,969,185
1977 306,970 36,411,795
1976 305,774 35,848,523
1975 304,222 35,280,725
1974 301,996 34,692,266
1973 302,200 34,103,149
1972 302,450 33,505,406
1971 302,700 32,882,704
1970 302,650 32,240,827
1969 304,300 31,544,266
1968 307,900 30,838,302
1967 311,550 30,130,983
1966 315,200 29,435,571
1965 318,800 28,704,674
1964 321,250 27,984,155
1963 322,550 27,261,747
1962 323,900 26,513,030
1961 325,250 25,765,673
1960 326,550 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malta increased by 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malta gained 131,840 people (a 29% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Malta was ranked 168th most populous country in 2006 and is 167th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 595K people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malta
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malta South Korea
2100 -0.82% -1.45%
2099 -0.82% -1.47%
2098 -0.84% -1.48%
2097 -0.85% -1.5%
2096 -0.92% -1.53%
2095 -0.93% -1.54%
2094 -0.93% -1.55%
2093 -0.94% -1.56%
2092 -0.98% -1.56%
2091 -1% -1.56%
2090 -1% -1.56%
2089 -0.99% -1.55%
2088 -1.04% -1.54%
2087 -1.07% -1.53%
2086 -1.05% -1.52%
2085 -1.07% -1.51%
2084 -1.09% -1.51%
2083 -1.05% -1.5%
2082 -1.08% -1.5%
2081 -1.05% -1.49%
2080 -1.03% -1.48%
2079 -1.01% -1.48%
2078 -1.01% -1.49%
2077 -1.01% -1.48%
2076 -0.93% -1.48%
2075 -0.9% -1.48%
2074 -0.88% -1.48%
2073 -0.86% -1.48%
2072 -0.83% -1.48%
2071 -0.8% -1.48%
2070 -0.79% -1.48%
2069 -0.77% -1.46%
2068 -0.72% -1.46%
2067 -0.69% -1.45%
2066 -0.66% -1.45%
2065 -0.62% -1.45%
2064 -0.58% -1.44%
2063 -0.58% -1.43%
2062 -0.53% -1.4%
2061 -0.51% -1.41%
2060 -0.5% -1.38%
2059 -0.45% -1.37%
2058 -0.42% -1.33%
2057 -0.43% -1.28%
2056 -0.43% -1.24%
2055 -0.38% -1.19%
2054 -0.39% -1.16%
2053 -0.4% -1.13%
2052 -0.41% -1.07%
2051 -0.37% -1.02%
2050 -0.32% -0.97%
2049 -0.33% -0.92%
2048 -0.36% -0.88%
2047 -0.3% -0.82%
2046 -0.3% -0.79%
2045 -0.28% -0.76%
2044 -0.27% -0.72%
2043 -0.24% -0.69%
2042 -0.25% -0.67%
2041 -0.22% -0.63%
2040 -0.22% -0.6%
2039 -0.2% -0.57%
2038 -0.16% -0.53%
2037 -0.13% -0.48%
2036 -0.1% -0.45%
2035 -0.07% -0.41%
2034 0.02% -0.37%
2033 0.1% -0.33%
2032 0.14% -0.29%
2031 0.18% -0.26%
2030 0.22% -0.23%
2029 0.29% -0.2%
2028 0.34% -0.17%
2027 0.37% -0.14%
2026 0.95% -0.12%
2025 1.91% -0.13%
2024 2.91% 0.07%
2023 4.07% 0.08%
2022 2.5% -0.19%
2021 0.52% -0.13%
2020 2.3% 0.14%
2019 4.13% 0.35%
2018 3.6% 0.43%
2017 2.77% 0.28%
2016 2.32% 0.4%
2015 2.48% 0.53%
2014 2.04% 0.63%
2013 1.14% 0.46%
2012 0.9% 0.53%
2011 0.42% 0.77%
2010 0.49% 0.5%
2009 0.76% 0.52%
2008 0.65% 0.76%
2007 0.35% 0.51%
2006 0.37% 0.53%
2005 0.64% 0.21%
2004 0.67% 0.4%
2003 0.66% 0.52%
2002 0.75% 0.58%
2001 0.75% 0.77%
2000 0.65% 0.84%
1999 0.59% 0.71%
1998 0.65% 0.72%
1997 0.76% 0.94%
1996 0.66% 0.96%
1995 0.7% 1.01%
1994 0.94% 1.01%
1993 1% 1.02%
1992 1.04% 1.04%
1991 2.73% 0.99%
1990 0.98% 0.99%
1989 0.98% 0.99%
1988 0.82% 0.98%
1987 0.69% 0.99%
1986 1.68% 1%
1985 1.77% 0.99%
1984 0.02% 1.24%
1983 1.42% 1.49%
1982 2.17% 1.56%
1981 0.74% 1.57%
1980 1.05% 1.57%
1979 1.02% 1.53%
1978 1.05% 1.53%
1977 0.39% 1.57%
1976 0.51% 1.61%
1975 0.74% 1.7%
1974 -0.07% 1.73%
1973 -0.08% 1.78%
1972 -0.08% 1.89%
1971 0.02% 1.99%
1970 -0.54% 2.21%
1969 -1.17% 2.29%
1968 -1.17% 2.35%
1967 -1.16% 2.36%
1966 -1.13% 2.55%
1965 -0.76% 2.57%
1964 -0.4% 2.65%
1963 -0.42% 2.82%
1962 -0.42% 2.9%
1961 -0.4% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malta grew by 1.91%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Malta South Korea
Current population
586345
51624449
Population rank 167/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.007% 0.62%
One net population change
48.5 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
2 hours
2.16 minutes
One death every
2.11 hours
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +30 -182
Annual growth/decline +10,857 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +1.91% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 52/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.7 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +5,161 +65,731
Net migration rank 52/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 199,466 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 112/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 37% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 15/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malta
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malta South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 5,161 - 65,731
2024 228 6,323 -119,027 75,963
2023 442 6,591 -124,111 87,800
2022 54 2,480 -124,014 87,800
2021 259 4,638 -56,947 -16,778
2020 361 6,904 -31,101 112,631
2019 655 20,302 10,353 128,622
2018 774 16,961 30,951 118,220
2017 747 14,372 71,907 104,029
2016 1,091 8,624 122,923 91,568
2015 888 9,588 163,248 276,427
2014 910 9,192 167,464 308,037
2013 807 861 166,415 301,926
2012 714 911 215,859 281,866
2011 916 999 214,728 269,958
2010 871 741 213,083 52,042
2009 825 836 197,231 5,308
2008 777 869 215,841 -19,630
2007 691 926 248,286 -42,293
2006 568 997 203,441 -28,434
2005 727 1,626 187,920 -47,821
2004 883 1,662 225,988 -42,549
2003 917 1,626 244,251 -31,994
2002 911 1,821 247,752 -18,105
2001 1,061 1,678 312,643 -28,006
2000 1,482 1,591 390,167 -84,960
1999 1,357 1,463 368,272 -107,448
1998 1,656 1,260 393,436 -98,044
1997 1,991 1,003 422,773 -109,130
1996 2,279 1,142 446,142 -115,705
1995 1,887 1,306 468,967 -208,491
1994 2,136 1,136 473,200 -208,309
1993 2,451 1,006 477,302 -222,802
1992 2,573 737 494,352 -265,849
1991 2,438 763 467,594 -270,754
1990 2,621 568 411,546 79,294
1989 2,981 248 403,266 186,120
1988 2,813 164 399,297 192,534
1987 2,412 295 378,758 198,057
1986 2,395 464 395,651 189,782
1985 2,590 -428 416,219 97,949
1984 2,678 -558 436,384 101,394
1983 2,512 -740 514,844 102,167
1982 2,835 -1,059 605,626 48,638
1981 2,233 -548 631,189 18,442
1980 2,375 -886 583,294 -148,341
1979 2,852 -1,311 623,068 -139,566
1978 2,389 -1,302 499,084 -85,721
1977 2,916 -1,598 578,947 -90,737
1976 2,721 -1,641 530,558 -92,314
1975 2,829 -1,742 603,300 -52,332
1974 2,687 -1,597 673,030 27,005
1973 2,327 -1,549 699,115 35,779
1972 2,480 -1,316 740,469 25,382
1971 2,482 -1,327 789,185 -6,326
1970 2,270 -1,123 747,987 -27,999
1969 2,069 -827 694,227 -21,175
1968 2,247 -753 684,487 -16,868
1967 2,306 -4,073 692,169 -16,484
1966 2,458 -4,318 623,534 -16,688
1965 2,646 -4,329 641,090 -146,386
1964 3,630 -4,768 655,501 -102,284
1963 3,709 -4,773 685,824 -80,226
1962 4,664 -5,360 712,590 -94,606
1961 4,748 -5,099 730,173 -93,179
1960 5,747 -5,540 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malta/south-korea | 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 Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 199,466 residents or 37% of the population were not native-born in Malta, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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