The latest officially reported population of Malta was 568,847 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 581,729 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.
Population statistics:
- Spain's population is 83.9 times bigger than Malta's.
- Malta is ranked the 167th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
- The countries together account for 0.6% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 0.59% for Spain.
- For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
- Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 582K (43.5% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).
Malta vs Spain: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Malta
|
Spain
|
|
| 2100 | 383,244 | 33,862,981 |
| 2099 | 386,421 | 34,039,965 |
| 2098 | 389,613 | 34,215,187 |
| 2097 | 392,917 | 34,387,116 |
| 2096 | 396,295 | 34,552,002 |
| 2095 | 399,956 | 34,719,411 |
| 2094 | 403,710 | 34,882,039 |
| 2093 | 407,487 | 35,044,043 |
| 2092 | 411,340 | 35,204,657 |
| 2091 | 415,407 | 35,366,895 |
| 2090 | 419,592 | 35,535,838 |
| 2089 | 423,826 | 35,707,942 |
| 2088 | 428,052 | 35,877,681 |
| 2087 | 432,556 | 36,043,209 |
| 2086 | 437,240 | 36,210,710 |
| 2085 | 441,882 | 36,386,207 |
| 2084 | 446,649 | 36,564,622 |
| 2083 | 451,551 | 36,749,680 |
| 2082 | 456,344 | 36,936,644 |
| 2081 | 461,335 | 37,133,976 |
| 2080 | 466,229 | 37,337,517 |
| 2079 | 471,100 | 37,551,557 |
| 2078 | 475,924 | 37,771,135 |
| 2077 | 480,771 | 38,002,963 |
| 2076 | 485,655 | 38,249,247 |
| 2075 | 490,208 | 38,506,040 |
| 2074 | 494,656 | 38,777,715 |
| 2073 | 499,046 | 39,056,249 |
| 2072 | 503,370 | 39,348,447 |
| 2071 | 507,604 | 39,642,346 |
| 2070 | 511,683 | 39,949,413 |
| 2069 | 515,748 | 40,256,590 |
| 2068 | 519,737 | 40,575,543 |
| 2067 | 523,520 | 40,893,798 |
| 2066 | 527,140 | 41,218,263 |
| 2065 | 530,620 | 41,543,254 |
| 2064 | 533,923 | 41,878,338 |
| 2063 | 537,029 | 42,208,320 |
| 2062 | 540,145 | 42,542,893 |
| 2061 | 543,018 | 42,874,096 |
| 2060 | 545,828 | 43,191,452 |
| 2059 | 548,562 | 43,506,737 |
| 2058 | 551,048 | 43,809,907 |
| 2057 | 553,389 | 44,112,668 |
| 2056 | 555,804 | 44,415,689 |
| 2055 | 558,190 | 44,691,749 |
| 2054 | 560,309 | 44,958,971 |
| 2053 | 562,511 | 45,223,225 |
| 2052 | 564,772 | 45,470,541 |
| 2051 | 567,078 | 45,695,307 |
| 2050 | 569,189 | 45,911,520 |
| 2049 | 571,016 | 46,127,777 |
| 2048 | 572,923 | 46,322,244 |
| 2047 | 574,977 | 46,510,152 |
| 2046 | 576,728 | 46,687,914 |
| 2045 | 578,442 | 46,858,778 |
| 2044 | 580,046 | 47,016,278 |
| 2043 | 581,639 | 47,158,325 |
| 2042 | 583,042 | 47,301,091 |
| 2041 | 584,485 | 47,434,593 |
| 2040 | 585,747 | 47,563,236 |
| 2039 | 587,035 | 47,685,343 |
| 2038 | 588,223 | 47,798,797 |
| 2037 | 589,140 | 47,910,899 |
| 2036 | 589,886 | 48,020,350 |
| 2035 | 590,469 | 48,124,430 |
| 2034 | 590,868 | 48,220,051 |
| 2033 | 590,759 | 48,311,842 |
| 2032 | 590,166 | 48,402,470 |
| 2031 | 589,366 | 48,495,278 |
| 2030 | 588,281 | 48,579,920 |
| 2029 | 586,978 | 48,648,699 |
| 2028 | 585,310 | 48,707,969 |
| 2027 | 583,310 | 48,758,200 |
| 2026 | 581,144 | 48,806,901 |
| 2025 | 575,661 | 48,838,057 |
| 2024 | 568,847 | 48,848,840 |
| 2023 | 552,747 | 48,352,528 |
| 2022 | 531,113 | 47,786,102 |
| 2021 | 518,150 | 47,443,821 |
| 2020 | 515,490 | 47,359,424 |
| 2019 | 503,912 | 47,118,501 |
| 2018 | 483,903 | 46,782,011 |
| 2017 | 467,106 | 46,571,232 |
| 2016 | 454,505 | 46,458,139 |
| 2015 | 444,220 | 46,422,303 |
| 2014 | 433,481 | 46,460,733 |
| 2013 | 424,810 | 46,604,197 |
| 2012 | 420,028 | 46,773,055 |
| 2011 | 416,268 | 46,742,697 |
| 2010 | 414,508 | 46,576,897 |
| 2009 | 412,477 | 46,362,946 |
| 2008 | 409,379 | 45,954,106 |
| 2007 | 406,724 | 45,226,803 |
| 2006 | 405,308 | 44,397,319 |
| 2005 | 403,834 | 43,653,155 |
| 2004 | 401,268 | 42,921,895 |
| 2003 | 398,582 | 42,187,645 |
| 2002 | 395,969 | 41,431,558 |
| 2001 | 393,028 | 40,850,412 |
| 2000 | 390,087 | 40,567,864 |
| 1999 | 387,578 | 40,386,875 |
| 1998 | 385,287 | 40,223,509 |
| 1997 | 382,791 | 40,057,389 |
| 1996 | 379,905 | 39,889,852 |
| 1995 | 377,419 | 39,724,050 |
| 1994 | 374,797 | 39,549,108 |
| 1993 | 371,308 | 39,361,262 |
| 1992 | 367,618 | 39,157,685 |
| 1991 | 363,845 | 38,966,376 |
| 1990 | 354,170 | 38,867,322 |
| 1989 | 350,722 | 38,827,764 |
| 1988 | 347,325 | 38,766,939 |
| 1987 | 344,485 | 38,684,815 |
| 1986 | 342,121 | 38,584,624 |
| 1985 | 336,452 | 38,469,512 |
| 1984 | 330,593 | 38,330,364 |
| 1983 | 330,524 | 38,171,525 |
| 1982 | 325,898 | 37,986,012 |
| 1981 | 318,982 | 37,758,631 |
| 1980 | 316,645 | 37,491,165 |
| 1979 | 313,342 | 37,191,330 |
| 1978 | 310,182 | 36,864,898 |
| 1977 | 306,970 | 36,511,638 |
| 1976 | 305,774 | 36,137,812 |
| 1975 | 304,222 | 35,757,900 |
| 1974 | 301,996 | 35,373,335 |
| 1973 | 302,200 | 34,988,947 |
| 1972 | 302,450 | 34,604,469 |
| 1971 | 302,700 | 34,224,490 |
| 1970 | 302,650 | 33,814,531 |
| 1969 | 304,300 | 33,441,054 |
| 1968 | 307,900 | 33,113,134 |
| 1967 | 311,550 | 32,682,947 |
| 1966 | 315,200 | 32,283,194 |
| 1965 | 318,800 | 31,954,292 |
| 1964 | 321,250 | 31,609,195 |
| 1963 | 322,550 | 31,296,651 |
| 1962 | 323,900 | 31,023,366 |
| 1961 | 325,250 | 30,739,250 |
| 1960 | 326,550 | 30,455,000 |
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/spain | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malta increased by 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malta gained 127,224 people (a 28% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).
Malta was ranked 168th most populous country in 2006 and is 167th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.
Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 591K people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
Spain
|
|
| 2100 | -0.82% | -0.52% |
| 2099 | -0.82% | -0.51% |
| 2098 | -0.84% | -0.5% |
| 2097 | -0.85% | -0.48% |
| 2096 | -0.92% | -0.48% |
| 2095 | -0.93% | -0.47% |
| 2094 | -0.93% | -0.46% |
| 2093 | -0.94% | -0.46% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | -0.46% |
| 2091 | -1% | -0.48% |
| 2090 | -1% | -0.48% |
| 2089 | -0.99% | -0.47% |
| 2088 | -1.04% | -0.46% |
| 2087 | -1.07% | -0.46% |
| 2086 | -1.05% | -0.48% |
| 2085 | -1.07% | -0.49% |
| 2084 | -1.09% | -0.5% |
| 2083 | -1.05% | -0.51% |
| 2082 | -1.08% | -0.53% |
| 2081 | -1.05% | -0.55% |
| 2080 | -1.03% | -0.57% |
| 2079 | -1.01% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | -1.01% | -0.61% |
| 2077 | -1.01% | -0.64% |
| 2076 | -0.93% | -0.67% |
| 2075 | -0.9% | -0.7% |
| 2074 | -0.88% | -0.71% |
| 2073 | -0.86% | -0.74% |
| 2072 | -0.83% | -0.74% |
| 2071 | -0.8% | -0.77% |
| 2070 | -0.79% | -0.76% |
| 2069 | -0.77% | -0.79% |
| 2068 | -0.72% | -0.78% |
| 2067 | -0.69% | -0.79% |
| 2066 | -0.66% | -0.78% |
| 2065 | -0.62% | -0.8% |
| 2064 | -0.58% | -0.78% |
| 2063 | -0.58% | -0.79% |
| 2062 | -0.53% | -0.77% |
| 2061 | -0.51% | -0.73% |
| 2060 | -0.5% | -0.72% |
| 2059 | -0.45% | -0.69% |
| 2058 | -0.42% | -0.69% |
| 2057 | -0.43% | -0.68% |
| 2056 | -0.43% | -0.62% |
| 2055 | -0.38% | -0.59% |
| 2054 | -0.39% | -0.58% |
| 2053 | -0.4% | -0.54% |
| 2052 | -0.41% | -0.49% |
| 2051 | -0.37% | -0.47% |
| 2050 | -0.32% | -0.47% |
| 2049 | -0.33% | -0.42% |
| 2048 | -0.36% | -0.4% |
| 2047 | -0.3% | -0.38% |
| 2046 | -0.3% | -0.36% |
| 2045 | -0.28% | -0.33% |
| 2044 | -0.27% | -0.3% |
| 2043 | -0.24% | -0.3% |
| 2042 | -0.25% | -0.28% |
| 2041 | -0.22% | -0.27% |
| 2040 | -0.22% | -0.26% |
| 2039 | -0.2% | -0.24% |
| 2038 | -0.16% | -0.23% |
| 2037 | -0.13% | -0.23% |
| 2036 | -0.1% | -0.22% |
| 2035 | -0.07% | -0.2% |
| 2034 | 0.02% | -0.19% |
| 2033 | 0.1% | -0.19% |
| 2032 | 0.14% | -0.19% |
| 2031 | 0.18% | -0.17% |
| 2030 | 0.22% | -0.14% |
| 2029 | 0.29% | -0.12% |
| 2028 | 0.34% | -0.1% |
| 2027 | 0.37% | -0.1% |
| 2026 | 0.95% | -0.06% |
| 2025 | 1.2% | -0.02% |
| 2024 | 2.91% | 1.03% |
| 2023 | 4.07% | 1.19% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | 0.72% |
| 2021 | 0.52% | 0.18% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | 0.51% |
| 2019 | 4.13% | 0.72% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | 0.45% |
| 2017 | 2.77% | 0.24% |
| 2016 | 2.32% | 0.08% |
| 2015 | 2.48% | -0.08% |
| 2014 | 2.04% | -0.31% |
| 2013 | 1.14% | -0.36% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | 0.06% |
| 2011 | 0.42% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 0.49% | 0.46% |
| 2009 | 0.76% | 0.89% |
| 2008 | 0.65% | 1.61% |
| 2007 | 0.35% | 1.87% |
| 2006 | 0.37% | 1.7% |
| 2005 | 0.64% | 1.7% |
| 2004 | 0.67% | 1.74% |
| 2003 | 0.66% | 1.82% |
| 2002 | 0.75% | 1.42% |
| 2001 | 0.75% | 0.7% |
| 2000 | 0.65% | 0.45% |
| 1999 | 0.59% | 0.41% |
| 1998 | 0.65% | 0.41% |
| 1997 | 0.76% | 0.42% |
| 1996 | 0.66% | 0.42% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | 0.44% |
| 1994 | 0.94% | 0.48% |
| 1993 | 1% | 0.52% |
| 1992 | 1.04% | 0.49% |
| 1991 | 2.73% | 0.25% |
| 1990 | 0.98% | 0.1% |
| 1989 | 0.98% | 0.16% |
| 1988 | 0.82% | 0.21% |
| 1987 | 0.69% | 0.26% |
| 1986 | 1.68% | 0.3% |
| 1985 | 1.77% | 0.36% |
| 1984 | 0.02% | 0.42% |
| 1983 | 1.42% | 0.49% |
| 1982 | 2.17% | 0.6% |
| 1981 | 0.74% | 0.71% |
| 1980 | 1.05% | 0.81% |
| 1979 | 1.02% | 0.89% |
| 1978 | 1.05% | 0.97% |
| 1977 | 0.39% | 1.03% |
| 1976 | 0.51% | 1.06% |
| 1975 | 0.74% | 1.09% |
| 1974 | -0.07% | 1.1% |
| 1973 | -0.08% | 1.11% |
| 1972 | -0.08% | 1.11% |
| 1971 | 0.02% | 1.21% |
| 1970 | -0.54% | 1.12% |
| 1969 | -1.17% | 0.99% |
| 1968 | -1.17% | 1.32% |
| 1967 | -1.16% | 1.24% |
| 1966 | -1.13% | 1.03% |
| 1965 | -0.76% | 1.09% |
| 1964 | -0.4% | 1% |
| 1963 | -0.42% | 0.88% |
| 1962 | -0.42% | 0.92% |
| 1961 | -0.4% | 0.93% |
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/spain | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Malta grew by 2.91%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.
Live population counters
|
Malta
|
Spain
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
581729
|
48806901
|
| Population rank | 167/197 | 32/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.007% | 0.59% |
| One net population change |
32.6 minutes
|
1.06 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.96 hours
|
1.62 minutes
|
| One death every |
2.17 hours
|
1.21 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +44 | +1,360 |
| Annual growth/decline | +16,100 | +496,312 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.91% | +1.03% |
| Population growth rate rank | 19/197 | 100/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.7 hours
|
5.45 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +5,161 | +96,630 |
| Net migration rank | 52/196 | 17/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 199,466 | 8,870,527 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 112/195 | 6/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 37% | 18.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 15/195 | 32/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Malta
|
Spain
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 5,161 | - | 96,630 |
| 2024 | - | 6,323 | - | 111,674 |
| 2023 | 442 | 6,591 | -111,211 | 119,099 |
| 2022 | 54 | 2,480 | -133,801 | 299,779 |
| 2021 | 259 | 4,638 | -113,865 | 144,385 |
| 2020 | 361 | 6,904 | -151,551 | 236,854 |
| 2019 | 655 | 20,302 | -56,542 | 464,783 |
| 2018 | 774 | 16,961 | -56,139 | 337,467 |
| 2017 | 747 | 14,372 | -32,600 | 201,135 |
| 2016 | 1,091 | 8,624 | 0 | 106,474 |
| 2015 | 888 | 9,588 | -4,642 | -1,979 |
| 2014 | 910 | 9,192 | 32,522 | -97,870 |
| 2013 | 807 | 861 | 37,284 | -250,741 |
| 2012 | 714 | 911 | 51,450 | -153,486 |
| 2011 | 916 | 999 | 84,137 | 60,761 |
| 2010 | 871 | 741 | 102,469 | 69,406 |
| 2009 | 825 | 836 | 106,635 | 129,557 |
| 2008 | 777 | 869 | 133,267 | 434,135 |
| 2007 | 691 | 926 | 108,545 | 772,317 |
| 2006 | 568 | 997 | 110,994 | 659,720 |
| 2005 | 727 | 1,626 | 78,576 | 629,803 |
| 2004 | 883 | 1,662 | 85,844 | 661,158 |
| 2003 | 917 | 1,626 | 54,844 | 658,428 |
| 2002 | 911 | 1,821 | 53,861 | 737,880 |
| 2001 | 1,061 | 1,678 | 44,936 | 181,307 |
| 2000 | 1,482 | 1,591 | 36,512 | 176,269 |
| 1999 | 1,357 | 1,463 | 8,077 | 178,559 |
| 1998 | 1,656 | 1,260 | 4,022 | 182,926 |
| 1997 | 1,991 | 1,003 | 20,028 | 165,345 |
| 1996 | 2,279 | 1,142 | 11,967 | 162,704 |
| 1995 | 1,887 | 1,306 | 15,889 | 162,434 |
| 1994 | 2,136 | 1,136 | 31,639 | 160,407 |
| 1993 | 2,451 | 1,006 | 47,234 | 160,907 |
| 1992 | 2,573 | 737 | 62,652 | 177,544 |
| 1991 | 2,438 | 763 | 58,450 | 122,841 |
| 1990 | 2,621 | 568 | 66,075 | -30,684 |
| 1989 | 2,981 | 248 | 81,538 | -25,892 |
| 1988 | 2,813 | 164 | 100,794 | -17,663 |
| 1987 | 2,412 | 295 | 116,054 | -12,681 |
| 1986 | 2,395 | 464 | 131,188 | -13,540 |
| 1985 | 2,590 | -428 | 146,184 | -589 |
| 1984 | 2,678 | -558 | 172,487 | 2,754 |
| 1983 | 2,512 | -740 | 183,223 | 1,241 |
| 1982 | 2,835 | -1,059 | 231,714 | -7,384 |
| 1981 | 2,233 | -548 | 237,879 | 2,563 |
| 1980 | 2,375 | -886 | 281,184 | 20,166 |
| 1979 | 2,852 | -1,311 | 312,407 | -5,929 |
| 1978 | 2,389 | -1,302 | 339,157 | -2,504 |
| 1977 | 2,916 | -1,598 | 361,465 | -1,332 |
| 1976 | 2,721 | -1,641 | 375,834 | 2,804 |
| 1975 | 2,829 | -1,742 | 371,882 | -218 |
| 1974 | 2,687 | -1,597 | 396,182 | 105,838 |
| 1973 | 2,327 | -1,549 | 374,381 | 8,624 |
| 1972 | 2,480 | -1,316 | 391,030 | 7,935 |
| 1971 | 2,482 | -1,327 | 369,625 | 7,363 |
| 1970 | 2,270 | -1,123 | 378,723 | -60,580 |
| 1969 | 2,069 | -827 | 367,851 | -49,956 |
| 1968 | 2,247 | -753 | 387,423 | -46,088 |
| 1967 | 2,306 | -4,073 | 402,001 | -42,344 |
| 1966 | 2,458 | -4,318 | 397,084 | -41,467 |
| 1965 | 2,646 | -4,329 | 405,819 | -42,476 |
| 1964 | 3,630 | -4,768 | 429,885 | -41,461 |
| 1963 | 3,709 | -4,773 | 394,338 | -44,446 |
| 1962 | 4,664 | -5,360 | 384,690 | -45,211 |
| 1961 | 4,748 | -5,099 | 396,537 | -46,517 |
| 1960 | 5,747 | -5,540 | 398,960 | -154,869 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).
As of 2024, 199,466 residents or 37% of the population were not native-born in Malta, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.
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 |
|
Spain
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Madrid | 3.51M |
| Barcelona | 1.73M |
| Tenerife | 955K |
| Valencia | 841K |
| Zaragoza | 693K |
| Seville | 689K |
| Malaga | 599K |
| Palma de Mallorca | 435K |
| Las Palmas | 382K |
| Alicante | 366K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Malta and Spain
|
Malta
|
Spain
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.8 years | 84.1 years |
| Average age | 43 years | 44.7 years |
| Median age | 41.8 years | 46.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.9:48.1 | 49.1:50.9 |
| Fertility rate | 1.06 births per woman | 1.12 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,704 ppl/mi² | 253 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/spain | 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)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.