MigrantoMaltese Diaspora
43.9K Maltese live abroad — 8% of the population of Malta
Maltese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 96% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Australia | 34451 |
| Canada | 5795 |
| Italy | 2127 |
| Luxembourg | 282 |
| Bulgaria | 227 |
| Hungary | 188 |
| South Africa | 174 |
| Denmark | 174 |
| Norway | 117 |
| Greece | 95 |
| Finland | 62 |
| Portugal | 53 |
| Slovakia | 49 |
| Cyprus | 33 |
| Dominican Republic | 27 |
| Latvia | 21 |
| Lithuania | 20 |
| Estonia | 14 |
| Iceland | 14 |
| Slovenia | 8 |
| Bolivia | 6 |
| Liechtenstein | 3 |
By region
78% of the diaspora lives in Oceania
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Key facts
The Maltese diaspora in numbers
Most Maltese abroad live in Australia
78% of the diaspora lives in Australia, while the next country accounts for just 13%.
1 in 13 people born in Malta lives abroad
43.9K people born in Malta now live in other countries — 7.7% of a population of 568.8K.
Maltese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 66353 |
| 1995 | 67484 |
| 2000 | 64124 |
| 2005 | 61981 |
| 2010 | 58858 |
| 2015 | 54505 |
| 2020 | 49061 |
| 2024 | 43940 |
Largest communities over time
Maltese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Australia | Canada | Italy | Luxembourg | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54087 | 10278 | 1318 | 13 | 1 |
| 1995 | 55588 | 9858 | 1442 | 12 | 9 |
| 2000 | 52561 | 9475 | 1532 | 12 | 16 |
| 2005 | 51360 | 8365 | 1575 | 93 | 25 |
| 2010 | 48650 | 7620 | 1731 | 177 | 33 |
| 2015 | 44062 | 7588 | 1765 | 270 | 63 |
| 2020 | 39249 | 6505 | 1941 | 244 | 165 |
| 2024 | 34451 | 5795 | 2127 | 282 | 227 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Maltese in each country has changed since the selected year
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Maltese live outside Malta?
Around 43.9K Maltese live abroad, the world's #167 largest diaspora.
Where do most Maltese abroad live?
Most Maltese live in Australia, Canada and Italy — these three countries account for about 96% of all Maltese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Maltese population outside Malta?
Australia is home to the largest Maltese community abroad — 34.5K people, about 78% of all Maltese living abroad.
What share of the population of Malta lives abroad?
About 8% of the population of Malta lives abroad — that's 43.9K out of a total population of 568.8K.
Is the Maltese diaspora growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of Maltese living abroad has fallen from 54.5K to 43.9K, about 19%.
Where does the data on the Maltese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Malta who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Malta
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