The latest officially reported population of Malta was 568,847 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malta's population is 581,729 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.
Population statistics:
- Sri Lanka's population is 38.1 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 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
- For the last 10 years, Malta has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
- Since 2006, the population of Malta has increased from 405K people to 582K (43.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).
Malta vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 2100 | 383,244 | 20,270,496 |
| 2099 | 386,421 | 20,383,669 |
| 2098 | 389,613 | 20,498,567 |
| 2097 | 392,917 | 20,611,123 |
| 2096 | 396,295 | 20,723,560 |
| 2095 | 399,956 | 20,834,629 |
| 2094 | 403,710 | 20,943,809 |
| 2093 | 407,487 | 21,052,131 |
| 2092 | 411,340 | 21,158,833 |
| 2091 | 415,407 | 21,263,961 |
| 2090 | 419,592 | 21,371,263 |
| 2089 | 423,826 | 21,475,426 |
| 2088 | 428,052 | 21,577,177 |
| 2087 | 432,556 | 21,677,510 |
| 2086 | 437,240 | 21,777,420 |
| 2085 | 441,882 | 21,876,464 |
| 2084 | 446,649 | 21,970,336 |
| 2083 | 451,551 | 22,062,801 |
| 2082 | 456,344 | 22,151,745 |
| 2081 | 461,335 | 22,240,834 |
| 2080 | 466,229 | 22,326,555 |
| 2079 | 471,100 | 22,411,438 |
| 2078 | 475,924 | 22,489,772 |
| 2077 | 480,771 | 22,565,028 |
| 2076 | 485,655 | 22,637,463 |
| 2075 | 490,208 | 22,707,112 |
| 2074 | 494,656 | 22,778,489 |
| 2073 | 499,046 | 22,844,703 |
| 2072 | 503,370 | 22,905,707 |
| 2071 | 507,604 | 22,964,866 |
| 2070 | 511,683 | 23,022,515 |
| 2069 | 515,748 | 23,076,310 |
| 2068 | 519,737 | 23,129,541 |
| 2067 | 523,520 | 23,184,596 |
| 2066 | 527,140 | 23,234,419 |
| 2065 | 530,620 | 23,285,901 |
| 2064 | 533,923 | 23,331,390 |
| 2063 | 537,029 | 23,372,184 |
| 2062 | 540,145 | 23,409,522 |
| 2061 | 543,018 | 23,441,893 |
| 2060 | 545,828 | 23,474,032 |
| 2059 | 548,562 | 23,502,132 |
| 2058 | 551,048 | 23,528,076 |
| 2057 | 553,389 | 23,550,580 |
| 2056 | 555,804 | 23,570,923 |
| 2055 | 558,190 | 23,582,432 |
| 2054 | 560,309 | 23,591,414 |
| 2053 | 562,511 | 23,601,371 |
| 2052 | 564,772 | 23,605,361 |
| 2051 | 567,078 | 23,606,194 |
| 2050 | 569,189 | 23,603,330 |
| 2049 | 571,016 | 23,597,604 |
| 2048 | 572,923 | 23,587,307 |
| 2047 | 574,977 | 23,570,881 |
| 2046 | 576,728 | 23,547,409 |
| 2045 | 578,442 | 23,515,133 |
| 2044 | 580,046 | 23,483,546 |
| 2043 | 581,639 | 23,446,242 |
| 2042 | 583,042 | 23,404,983 |
| 2041 | 584,485 | 23,357,358 |
| 2040 | 585,747 | 23,306,148 |
| 2039 | 587,035 | 23,248,341 |
| 2038 | 588,223 | 23,187,512 |
| 2037 | 589,140 | 23,120,775 |
| 2036 | 589,886 | 23,053,427 |
| 2035 | 590,469 | 22,981,808 |
| 2034 | 590,868 | 22,906,587 |
| 2033 | 590,759 | 22,826,414 |
| 2032 | 590,166 | 22,742,267 |
| 2031 | 589,366 | 22,655,907 |
| 2030 | 588,281 | 22,564,038 |
| 2029 | 586,978 | 22,470,759 |
| 2028 | 585,310 | 22,370,999 |
| 2027 | 583,310 | 22,266,017 |
| 2026 | 581,144 | 22,155,543 |
| 2025 | 575,661 | 22,039,908 |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
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 127,224 people (a 28% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% 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 2.16% to 569,189 people and will still be ranked 167th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.
Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 591K people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 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 | 1.2% | 0.57% |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/sri-lanka | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Malta grew by 2.91%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.
Live population counters
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
581729
|
22185425
|
| Population rank | 167/197 | 63/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.007% | 0.27% |
| One net population change |
32.6 minutes
|
4.34 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.96 hours
|
2.13 minutes
|
| One death every |
2.17 hours
|
2.91 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +44 | -332 |
| Annual growth/decline | +16,100 | -121,000 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.91% | -0.55% |
| Population growth rate rank | 19/197 | 188/197 |
| 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 5,161 | - | -30,724 |
| 2024 | - | 6,323 | - | -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 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malta/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 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
|
|
|
|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|---|---|
| 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 differences between Malta and Sri Lanka
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.8 years | 78 years |
| Average age | 43 years | 35.8 years |
| Median age | 41.8 years | 34.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.9:48.1 | 48.4:51.6 |
| Fertility rate | 1.06 births per woman | 1.97 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,704 ppl/mi² | 928 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/sri-lanka | 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.