Malta had steepest population growth in the EU despite lowest fertility rate

Malta experienced the most significant population increase in the EU over the past decade, despite having the bloc's lowest fertility rate, according to recent Eurostat figures. Between 2013 and 2023, Malta's population surged by nearly a third, primarily due to migration. This growth outpaced the EU's overall population increase of 1.7%, driven mainly by net inward migration.

The rate of population increase during this period was highest in Malta and Luxembourg, with respective increases of 28.3% and 23%. Conversely, population numbers declined in 10 EU countries, with Bulgaria and Croatia experiencing the most substantial decreases of 11.5% and 9.6%, respectively.

Data from Malta's National Statistics Office (NSO) revealed that the country's population reached 563,000 by the end of 2023, growing by nearly 21,000 in a year. Despite this growth, Malta recorded low asylum application rates, with around 100 applications per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the EU average of 240 per 100,000.

Malta's fertility rate stands at 1.08, the lowest in the EU, while France has the highest at 1.79 live births per woman. Additionally, Malta's unemployment rate in 2023 was 3.1%, significantly lower than the EU average of 6.1%.

The figures also highlight that almost none of Malta's crops are organic, with only 0.6% of fields designated for organic farming, the lowest in the EU. Moreover, Malta has the least forest coverage among EU states, with only 1.5% of the country covered in forest.