Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Malta
Malta: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 4.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4.3%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
203rd
of 218 countries
All-time high
10.6%
in 1968
All-time low
4.3%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Malta, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Malta stood at 4.3%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Malta peaked at 10.6% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2025.
That places Malta 203rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Malta, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.9% | — |
| 1961 | 10.0% | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 10.1% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 10.3% | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 10.4% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 10.5% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 10.6% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 10.6% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 10.6% | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 10.6% | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 10.6% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 10.6% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 10.5% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 10.5% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 10.5% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 10.4% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 10.4% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 10.4% | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 10.3% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 10.3% | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 10.2% | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 10.2% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 10.1% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 9.9% | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 9.7% | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 9.3% | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 9.0% | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 8.6% | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 8.2% | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 7.8% | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 7.3% | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 7.0% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 6.9% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 6.8% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 6.6% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 6.6% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 6.3% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 6.0% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 5.4% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 4.3% | -0.6% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 4.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 23% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Malta's 4.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.5%, 21% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.4% | 9.9% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.6% | 10.4% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.1% | 9.3% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.6% | 6.8% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 5.9% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 200 Luxembourg 5.1% compare
- 201 United States Virgin Islands 4.6% compare
- 202 Uruguay 4.3% compare
- 204 Netherlands 4.1% compare
- 205 San Marino 2.8% compare
- 206 Qatar 0.6% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Malta
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -6.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0121 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -6.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.0121 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0047 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 224.75 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.3 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Malta?
- Rural population in Malta was 4.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 10.6% in 1968.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2025.
- How does Malta rank for rural population?
- Malta ranks 203rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.