Net migration in Malta
Malta: Net migration was 5,161 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Malta, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Malta is 5,161, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 18.4% on the previous year and down 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Malta peaked at 20,302 in 2019 and was at its lowest, -5,540, in 1960.
Malta ranks 53rd of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -5,540 | — |
| 1961 | -5,099 | -8.0% |
| 1962 | -5,360 | +5.1% |
| 1963 | -4,773 | -11.0% |
| 1964 | -4,768 | -0.1% |
| 1965 | -4,329 | -9.2% |
| 1966 | -4,318 | -0.3% |
| 1967 | -4,073 | -5.7% |
| 1968 | -753 | -81.5% |
| 1969 | -827 | +9.8% |
| 1970 | -1,123 | +35.8% |
| 1971 | -1,327 | +18.2% |
| 1972 | -1,316 | -0.8% |
| 1973 | -1,549 | +17.7% |
| 1974 | -1,597 | +3.1% |
| 1975 | -1,742 | +9.1% |
| 1976 | -1,641 | -5.8% |
| 1977 | -1,598 | -2.6% |
| 1978 | -1,302 | -18.5% |
| 1979 | -1,311 | +0.7% |
| 1980 | -886 | -32.4% |
| 1981 | -548 | -38.1% |
| 1982 | -1,059 | +93.2% |
| 1983 | -740 | -30.1% |
| 1984 | -558 | -24.6% |
| 1985 | -428 | -23.3% |
| 1986 | 464 | -208.4% |
| 1987 | 295 | -36.4% |
| 1988 | 164 | -44.4% |
| 1989 | 248 | +51.2% |
| 1990 | 568 | +129.0% |
| 1991 | 763 | +34.3% |
| 1992 | 737 | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 1,006 | +36.5% |
| 1994 | 1,136 | +12.9% |
| 1995 | 1,306 | +15.0% |
| 1996 | 1,142 | -12.6% |
| 1997 | 1,003 | -12.2% |
| 1998 | 1,260 | +25.6% |
| 1999 | 1,463 | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 1,591 | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 1,678 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 1,821 | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 1,626 | -10.7% |
| 2004 | 1,662 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 1,626 | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 997 | -38.7% |
| 2007 | 926 | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 869 | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 836 | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 741 | -11.4% |
| 2011 | 999 | +34.8% |
| 2012 | 911 | -8.8% |
| 2013 | 861 | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 9,192 | +967.6% |
| 2015 | 9,588 | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 8,624 | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 14,372 | +66.7% |
| 2018 | 16,961 | +18.0% |
| 2019 | 20,302 | +19.7% |
| 2020 | 6,904 | -66.0% |
| 2021 | 4,638 | -32.8% |
| 2022 | 2,480 | -46.5% |
| 2023 | 6,591 | +165.8% |
| 2024 | 6,323 | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 5,161 | -18.4% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 5,161 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 6.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Malta's 5,161 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -581. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Malta changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +967.6% | 861 | 9,192 |
| 1986 | +208.4% | -428 | 464 |
| 2023 | +165.8% | 2,480 | 6,591 |
| 1990 | +129.0% | 248 | 568 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3,984 | -5,540 | -753 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1,451 | -1,742 | -1,123 | 10 |
| 1980s | -304.8 | -1,059 | 464 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,038 | 568 | 1,463 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,363 | 836 | 1,821 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,255 | 741 | 20,302 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,350 | 2,480 | 6,904 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 50 South Sudan 6,145 compare
- 51 Puerto Rico 5,495 compare
- 52 Luxembourg 5,237 compare
- 54 Equatorial Guinea 3,812 compare
- 55 Argentina 2,859 compare
- 56 Slovenia 2,711 compare
More financial sector data for Malta
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 102.71 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.6075 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 75 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 102.71 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.6075 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Malta?
- Net migration in Malta was 5,161 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 20,302 in 2019.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was -5,540 in 1960.
- How does Malta rank for net migration?
- Malta ranks 53rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.