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Population in Malta compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malta was 579,704 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 586,345 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 37.4 times bigger than Malta's.
  • Malta is ranked the 167th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.007% for Malta vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 586K (44.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Malta vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Malta
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malta Sri Lanka
2100 385,935 20,009,380
2099 389,134 20,121,095
2098 392,349 20,234,513
2097 395,676 20,345,619
2096 399,078 20,456,607
2095 402,765 20,566,246
2094 406,545 20,674,019
2093 410,348 20,780,946
2092 414,228 20,886,274
2091 418,324 20,990,047
2090 422,539 21,095,968
2089 426,802 21,198,788
2088 431,058 21,299,229
2087 435,593 21,398,269
2086 440,311 21,496,892
2085 444,985 21,594,661
2084 449,785 21,687,323
2083 454,721 21,778,597
2082 459,549 21,866,395
2081 464,574 21,954,337
2080 469,503 22,038,953
2079 474,408 22,122,744
2078 479,266 22,200,069
2077 484,147 22,274,355
2076 489,066 22,345,857
2075 493,650 22,414,609
2074 498,129 22,485,066
2073 502,551 22,550,427
2072 506,905 22,610,645
2071 511,168 22,669,042
2070 515,276 22,725,948
2069 519,370 22,779,050
2068 523,386 22,831,596
2067 527,196 22,885,941
2066 530,842 22,935,123
2065 534,346 22,985,942
2064 537,672 23,030,844
2063 540,800 23,071,114
2062 543,938 23,107,970
2061 546,831 23,139,924
2060 549,661 23,171,649
2059 552,414 23,199,387
2058 554,917 23,224,997
2057 557,274 23,247,211
2056 559,707 23,267,292
2055 562,109 23,278,653
2054 564,244 23,287,520
2053 566,461 23,297,347
2052 568,738 23,301,287
2051 571,060 23,302,108
2050 573,186 23,299,282
2049 575,026 23,293,630
2048 576,946 23,283,465
2047 579,015 23,267,251
2046 580,778 23,244,081
2045 582,504 23,212,221
2044 584,119 23,181,041
2043 585,724 23,144,217
2042 587,136 23,103,489
2041 588,589 23,056,478
2040 589,860 23,005,928
2039 591,157 22,948,866
2038 592,353 22,888,821
2037 593,277 22,822,943
2036 594,028 22,756,462
2035 594,615 22,685,766
2034 595,017 22,611,514
2033 594,907 22,532,374
2032 594,310 22,449,310
2031 593,505 22,364,063
2030 592,412 22,273,377
2029 591,100 22,181,300
2028 589,420 22,082,826
2027 587,406 21,979,196
2026 585,225 21,870,145
2025 579,704 21,756,000
2024 568,847 21,916,000
2023 552,747 22,037,000
2022 531,113 22,181,000
2021 518,150 22,156,000
2020 515,490 21,919,000
2019 503,912 21,803,000
2018 483,903 21,670,000
2017 467,106 21,453,000
2016 454,505 21,209,000
2015 444,220 20,970,000
2014 433,481 20,778,000
2013 424,810 20,585,000
2012 420,028 21,169,458
2011 416,268 21,009,048
2010 414,508 20,879,089
2009 412,477 20,756,435
2008 409,379 20,629,378
2007 406,724 20,492,545
2006 405,308 20,352,411
2005 403,834 20,216,524
2004 401,268 20,087,605
2003 398,582 19,951,521
2002 395,969 19,805,752
2001 393,028 19,600,362
2000 390,087 19,293,054
1999 387,578 18,944,731
1998 385,287 18,596,003
1997 382,791 18,248,200
1996 379,905 17,905,018
1995 377,419 17,564,068
1994 374,797 17,275,773
1993 371,308 17,025,918
1992 367,618 16,739,284
1991 363,845 16,475,354
1990 354,170 16,352,458
1989 350,722 16,248,557
1988 347,325 16,078,621
1987 344,485 15,916,576
1986 342,121 15,731,256
1985 336,452 15,544,154
1984 330,593 15,441,860
1983 330,524 15,388,794
1982 325,898 15,286,567
1981 318,982 15,099,414
1980 316,645 14,847,974
1979 313,342 14,579,614
1978 310,182 14,310,128
1977 306,970 14,049,371
1976 305,774 13,796,770
1975 304,222 13,548,984
1974 301,996 13,305,693
1973 302,200 13,060,916
1972 302,450 12,809,205
1971 302,700 12,551,910
1970 302,650 12,287,110
1969 304,300 12,013,858
1968 307,900 11,736,088
1967 311,550 11,457,328
1966 315,200 11,183,928
1965 318,800 10,916,965
1964 321,250 10,653,397
1963 322,550 10,395,040
1962 323,900 10,143,754
1961 325,250 9,899,372
1960 326,550 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malta increased by 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malta gained 131,840 people (a 29% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Malta was ranked 168th most populous country in 2006 and is 167th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 595K people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Malta
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malta Sri Lanka
2100 -0.82% -0.56%
2099 -0.82% -0.56%
2098 -0.84% -0.55%
2097 -0.85% -0.54%
2096 -0.92% -0.53%
2095 -0.93% -0.52%
2094 -0.93% -0.51%
2093 -0.94% -0.5%
2092 -0.98% -0.49%
2091 -1% -0.5%
2090 -1% -0.49%
2089 -0.99% -0.47%
2088 -1.04% -0.46%
2087 -1.07% -0.46%
2086 -1.05% -0.45%
2085 -1.07% -0.43%
2084 -1.09% -0.42%
2083 -1.05% -0.4%
2082 -1.08% -0.4%
2081 -1.05% -0.38%
2080 -1.03% -0.38%
2079 -1.01% -0.35%
2078 -1.01% -0.33%
2077 -1.01% -0.32%
2076 -0.93% -0.31%
2075 -0.9% -0.31%
2074 -0.88% -0.29%
2073 -0.86% -0.27%
2072 -0.83% -0.26%
2071 -0.8% -0.25%
2070 -0.79% -0.23%
2069 -0.77% -0.23%
2068 -0.72% -0.24%
2067 -0.69% -0.21%
2066 -0.66% -0.22%
2065 -0.62% -0.19%
2064 -0.58% -0.17%
2063 -0.58% -0.16%
2062 -0.53% -0.14%
2061 -0.51% -0.14%
2060 -0.5% -0.12%
2059 -0.45% -0.11%
2058 -0.42% -0.1%
2057 -0.43% -0.09%
2056 -0.43% -0.05%
2055 -0.38% -0.04%
2054 -0.39% -0.04%
2053 -0.4% -0.02%
2052 -0.41% -0.004%
2051 -0.37% 0.01%
2050 -0.32% 0.02%
2049 -0.33% 0.04%
2048 -0.36% 0.07%
2047 -0.3% 0.1%
2046 -0.3% 0.14%
2045 -0.28% 0.13%
2044 -0.27% 0.16%
2043 -0.24% 0.18%
2042 -0.25% 0.2%
2041 -0.22% 0.22%
2040 -0.22% 0.25%
2039 -0.2% 0.26%
2038 -0.16% 0.29%
2037 -0.13% 0.29%
2036 -0.1% 0.31%
2035 -0.07% 0.33%
2034 0.02% 0.35%
2033 0.1% 0.37%
2032 0.14% 0.38%
2031 0.18% 0.41%
2030 0.22% 0.42%
2029 0.29% 0.45%
2028 0.34% 0.47%
2027 0.37% 0.5%
2026 0.95% 0.52%
2025 1.91% -0.73%
2024 2.91% -0.55%
2023 4.07% -0.65%
2022 2.5% 0.11%
2021 0.52% 1.08%
2020 2.3% 0.53%
2019 4.13% 0.61%
2018 3.6% 1.01%
2017 2.77% 1.15%
2016 2.32% 1.14%
2015 2.48% 0.92%
2014 2.04% 0.94%
2013 1.14% -2.76%
2012 0.9% 0.76%
2011 0.42% 0.62%
2010 0.49% 0.59%
2009 0.76% 0.62%
2008 0.65% 0.67%
2007 0.35% 0.69%
2006 0.37% 0.67%
2005 0.64% 0.64%
2004 0.67% 0.68%
2003 0.66% 0.74%
2002 0.75% 1.05%
2001 0.75% 1.59%
2000 0.65% 1.84%
1999 0.59% 1.88%
1998 0.65% 1.91%
1997 0.76% 1.92%
1996 0.66% 1.94%
1995 0.7% 1.67%
1994 0.94% 1.47%
1993 1% 1.71%
1992 1.04% 1.6%
1991 2.73% 0.75%
1990 0.98% 0.64%
1989 0.98% 1.06%
1988 0.82% 1.02%
1987 0.69% 1.18%
1986 1.68% 1.2%
1985 1.77% 0.66%
1984 0.02% 0.34%
1983 1.42% 0.67%
1982 2.17% 1.24%
1981 0.74% 1.69%
1980 1.05% 1.84%
1979 1.02% 1.88%
1978 1.05% 1.86%
1977 0.39% 1.83%
1976 0.51% 1.83%
1975 0.74% 1.83%
1974 -0.07% 1.87%
1973 -0.08% 1.97%
1972 -0.08% 2.05%
1971 0.02% 2.16%
1970 -0.54% 2.27%
1969 -1.17% 2.37%
1968 -1.17% 2.43%
1967 -1.16% 2.44%
1966 -1.13% 2.45%
1965 -0.76% 2.47%
1964 -0.4% 2.49%
1963 -0.42% 2.48%
1962 -0.42% 2.47%
1961 -0.4% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malta grew by 1.91%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Malta Sri Lanka
Current population
586345
21926160
Population rank 167/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.007% 0.26%
One net population change
48.5 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
2 hours
2.37 minutes
One death every
2.11 hours
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +30 -438
Annual growth/decline +10,857 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.91% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 52/197 190/197
One migration net change every
1.7 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +5,161 -30,724
Net migration rank 52/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 199,466 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 112/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 37% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 15/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malta
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malta Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 5,161 - -30,724
2024 228 6,323 50,407 -27,245
2023 442 6,591 66,111 -28,011
2022 54 2,480 95,378 -27,435
2021 259 4,638 121,858 -29,586
2020 361 6,904 170,968 -29,875
2019 655 20,302 172,243 -28,426
2018 774 16,961 183,610 -28,607
2017 747 14,372 187,993 -22,324
2016 1,091 8,624 194,232 -18,388
2015 888 9,588 201,815 -29,797
2014 910 9,192 211,541 -33,672
2013 807 861 221,021 -37,754
2012 714 911 229,138 -41,955
2011 916 999 224,461 -90,839
2010 871 741 224,325 -98,060
2009 825 836 200,175 -81,130
2008 777 869 232,225 -97,144
2007 691 926 248,287 -109,695
2006 568 997 248,706 -107,045
2005 727 1,626 248,683 -118,594
2004 883 1,662 212,527 -84,795
2003 917 1,626 252,008 -107,573
2002 911 1,821 252,840 -105,718
2001 1,061 1,678 244,377 19,273
2000 1,482 1,591 227,060 123,894
1999 1,357 1,463 206,876 138,799
1998 1,656 1,260 201,059 150,724
1997 1,991 1,003 208,193 135,636
1996 2,279 1,142 215,290 127,236
1995 1,887 1,306 221,957 117,416
1994 2,136 1,136 228,904 8,323
1993 2,451 1,006 226,257 36,232
1992 2,573 737 222,230 88,542
1991 2,438 763 218,117 -1,047
1990 2,621 568 224,454 -195,736
1989 2,981 248 212,401 -33,305
1988 2,813 164 219,184 -58,415
1987 2,412 295 226,414 -63,105
1986 2,395 464 233,782 -26,460
1985 2,590 -428 247,836 -80,950
1984 2,678 -558 263,175 -225,450
1983 2,512 -740 277,768 -209,362
1982 2,835 -1,059 300,030 -163,987
1981 2,233 -548 328,096 -89,824
1980 2,375 -886 328,155 -63,541
1979 2,852 -1,311 329,791 -57,683
1978 2,389 -1,302 317,055 -50,189
1977 2,916 -1,598 300,038 -45,383
1976 2,721 -1,641 291,816 -41,258
1975 2,829 -1,742 282,496 -37,475
1974 2,687 -1,597 275,521 -33,979
1973 2,327 -1,549 278,577 -30,582
1972 2,480 -1,316 282,494 -27,071
1971 2,482 -1,327 281,200 -22,021
1970 2,270 -1,123 286,719 -16,299
1969 2,069 -827 286,218 -10,152
1968 2,247 -753 286,642 -7,163
1967 2,306 -4,073 284,738 -6,696
1966 2,458 -4,318 275,549 -6,794
1965 2,646 -4,329 272,422 -7,249
1964 3,630 -4,768 269,584 -7,614
1963 3,709 -4,773 262,880 -8,118
1962 4,664 -5,360 256,719 -8,909
1961 4,748 -5,099 251,087 -10,144
1960 5,747 -5,540 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/malta/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 199,466 residents or 37% of the population were not native-born in Malta, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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