Malta’s Population Keeps Growing And Nearly A Third Are Foreign
Malta’s population continues to climb, reaching around 574,250 people by the end of 2024, according to new stats from the National Statistics Office.
Migration Is the Main Driver
10,614 new residents were added last year, mostly due to migration. Over 76% of these new arrivals came from outside the EU, continuing the growing trend of third-country nationals becoming a big part of life in Malta.
In total, 70.6% of the population are Maltese citizens while 29.4% are foreigners.
The country’s natural population growth (meaning births minus deaths) dropped by over 55%. With fewer births and more deaths, only 193 people were added naturally to the population.
Children under 18 make up 14.5% of the population, while 18.4% are aged 65 or older. Women outnumber men in the older brackets, especially those aged 85 and above.
Men Outnumber Women (Just Slightly)
Men now make up 53.1% of Malta’s population. Most of the incoming migrants are also male, with 57.7% of them being men.
Sliema is Malta’s most densely populated town with 17,539 residents, while Għasri in Gozo has just 103 people, making it the quietest locality. The Northern Harbour district remains the most crowded overall.
Malta’s changing population is influencing everything from housing and infrastructure to public services. Whether that shift brings more opportunities or challenges is something we’ll be watching closely.
What do you think this means for Malta’s future?