Malta’s population now stands above 560,000

The estimated total population of Malta and Gozo at the end of 2023 stood at 563,443, up by 3.9 per cent when compared to the previous year.

New statistics released by the National Statistics Office show that the population increase in 2023 was mainly driven by a total net migration (immigration less emigration) of 20,960 persons.

Migration

Non-EU citizens made up 93.1 per cent of the total net migrants in 2023.

Males accounted for 65.3 per cent.

While net migration decreased slightly when compared to 2022 (3.8 per cent), both immigration and emigration increased in 2023.

Natural population

The natural increase in population was 5.5 times higher when compared to the previous year, from 79 in 2022 to 432 in 2023 –the highest natural increase recorded since 2019.

This increase was due both to a decrease in resident deaths and an increase in resident live births.

Births

Resident live births in 2023 increased by 3.6 per cent when compared to the previous year.

Of the parents who gave birth in 2023, 40.3 per cent were aged 30 to 34 at the time of birth.

Deaths

Resident deaths in 2023 decreased by 4.7 per cent over the previous year.

Of the 4,030 resident deaths occurring during 2023, 69.4 per cent were persons aged 75 and over at the time of death (Table 7).

Demographics

As at end 2023, 53 per cent of the total resident population was male.

Persons under the age of 18 made up 14.7 per cent of the total population, while 18.4 per cent were aged 65 and over. Of these, 3,611 persons – 2,568 females and 1,043 males – were aged 90 and over.