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

Updated on by Georank team

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

Malta
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malta Sri Lanka
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

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 1.2% 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

Malta Sri Lanka
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

Malta
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malta Sri Lanka
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

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 (1960–2024, 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:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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