Malta Records Fastest Population Growth In EU For 2024
Malta has recorded the highest population growth rate in the European Union, according to fresh figures from Eurostat. As of 1st January 2025, Malta’s population was estimated at just over 600,000 — a 1.9% rise over the previous year (19.0 per 1,000 people).
That puts the island ahead of Ireland (1.63%) and Luxembourg (1.47%) as the fastest-growing EU member by population. This follows recent data from Malta’s National Statistics Office showing the country’s population reached around 574,250 by the end of 2024.
Over 10,600 new residents were added last year — with more than 76% of them coming from outside the EU. Natural population growth, meanwhile, added just 193 people, as births dropped and deaths rose.
Foreigners now make up 29.4% of Malta’s total population, and 57.7% of recent arrivals were men. In fact, men now account for 53.1% of the island’s overall population. Across the EU, the population rose by over one million people in 2024, reaching 450.4 million — mostly due to migration.
Eight countries saw population declines, including Latvia (-0.99%) and Hungary (-0.47%). Eurostat’s figures confirm the demographic shifts that are already shaping life in Malta, from housing demand to infrastructure pressure.
What do you think Malta’s rapid population growth means for its future?