Malta Population Pyramid (2026)
Malta has a population of 549,011 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 166th-largest population in the world and 0.01% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 12.8% of the population and people aged 65 and over 20.9%, with 108.2 males for every 100 females.
Malta Demographics
Malta has 549,011 people in 2026, up 68.4% from 326,011 in 1970.
Deaths outnumber births by 115 (UN projection for 2026).
Under-15 share 12.8% — the 11th-lowest of 194 countries.
65+ share 20.9% — the 29th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Millennials — 27.7% (152,142)
All generations in Malta →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Malta's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Malta has 108.2 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 21,501 (3.9% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:285,256
- Percentage:52.0%
Female Statistics
- Population:263,755
- Percentage:48.0%
- Ratio Format:1:0.925
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Malta indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 4,222 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,345 | 8.3 | 1.11 | estimate |
| 2022 | 4,285 | 8.1 | 1.10 | estimate |
| 2023 | 4,213 | 7.9 | 1.10 | estimate |
| 2024 | 4,212 | 7.8 | 1.11 | projection |
| 2025 | 4,231 | 7.8 | 1.11 | projection |
| 2026 | 4,222 | 7.7 | 1.12 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (4,222 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Malta's median age is 41.5 years
Half the population is younger than 41.5 years, half is older — indicating a middle-aged society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 21,690 | 4.0% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 23,903 | 4.4% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 24,502 | 4.5% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 24,083 | 4.4% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 26,067 | 4.7% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 33,542 | 6.1% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 46,769 | 8.5% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 50,932 | 9.3% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 46,083 | 8.4% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 41,171 | 7.5% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 35,693 | 6.5% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 29,791 | 5.4% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 30,001 | 5.5% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 31,124 | 5.7% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 27,583 | 5.0% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 25,919 | 4.7% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 16,304 | 3.0% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 8,471 | 1.5% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 4,121 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 1,048 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 100+ | 208 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 5 (natural decrease): deaths outnumber births — 7.7 births and 7.9 deaths per 1,000 people in 2026. Read more about Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Malta Total Fertility Rate: 1.12 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.11 | 8.3 | |
| 2022 | 1.10 | 8.1 | ↓0.01 |
| 2023 | 1.10 | 7.9 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 1.11 | 7.8 | ↑0.01 |
| 2025 | 1.11 | 7.8 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | 1.12 | 7.7 | ↑0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.15
Malta's total fertility rate is 1.12 children per woman in 2026 (very low (lowest-low) fertility), below the replacement level of 2.1. Malta ranks 189 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −73.5% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Malta's population has increased by 86.3%.
The median age has increased from 23.6 in 1950 to 41.5 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Malta's Demographics
Malta has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 12.8% of the population and people aged 65 and over 20.9%.
The largest five-year age band is 35–39, at 9.3% of the population, compared with 4.0% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Malta's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Malta's working-age share peaked in 2008 at 70.2% and is 66.3% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Malta is in a period of very low (lowest-low) fertility, with a total fertility rate of 1.12 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Malta's median age changed by +1.9 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 549,011 |
| Male Population | 285,256(52.0%) |
| Female Population | 263,755(48.0%) |
| Median Age | 41.5 years |
| Sex Ratio | 108.2 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 70,095(12.8%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 364,138(66.3%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 114,778(20.9%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 50.8 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 19.2 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 31.5 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Malta
How long the average person in Malta is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Malta is projected to shrink to 535,721 people by 2050 (−2.4% from 2026).
The median age rises from 41.5 in 2026 to 53.0 by 2050.
Malta's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 5.2%, growing from 0.3 million in 1970 to 0.3 million by 1980
The median age increased by 4.3 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 4.2 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 1.0 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 326K to 343K
- • Growth rate of 5.2% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 24.7 to 29.0 years (+4.3y)
- • 65+ share changed by +1.0 points; under-15 share by −4.2 points
Frequently Asked Questions About Malta
How does Malta rank globally by population?
Malta ranks 166th in the world by population with 549,011 people as of 2026.
What does Malta's age structure reveal about its development?
Malta's age structure — 12.8% under 15, 66.3% working-age (15–64) and 20.9% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 5 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 41.5 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Malta?
Malta has 50.8 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Malta experiencing a demographic dividend?
Malta has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Malta's working-age share peaked in 2008 at 70.2% and is 66.3% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Malta's population?
Malta has more males than females, with 108.2 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Malta Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/malta
View UN World Population Prospects Data →