Malta recorded more births than deaths during the first six months of 2026, producing a positive natural population balance for the period.
The result covers registrations between January and June and reflects the difference between births and deaths before migration is taken into account.
What A Positive Natural Balance Means
Natural population change is calculated by subtracting the number of deaths from the number of live births.
When births are higher, the result is described as a natural increase. When deaths exceed births, it becomes a natural decrease.
This calculation is separate from total population growth, which also includes immigration and emigration.
Malta Also Recorded An Increase In 2025
Identità registered 4,368 births and 4,176 deaths across Malta and Gozo during 2025.
That produced a difference of 192 more births than deaths. The births included 2,243 boys and 2,125 girls.
The agency’s figures are based on events registered by the Public Registry.
Migration Remains A Major Part Of The Picture
NSO Malta’s resident-population statistics offer a wider view of how the country is changing.
Malta and Gozo’s estimated population reached 588,254 at the end of 2025, representing an annual increase of 2.4%. Net migration of 13,906 people was the main contributor to that growth.
Resident births fell by 0.8% compared with 2024, while resident deaths increased by 1.4%.
These statistics use different population definitions from Public Registry registrations, but together they show why birth and death figures form only one part of Malta’s demographic story.
Why The First-Half Result Matters
A positive balance during the first six months means births remained slightly ahead of deaths as 2026 began.
Longer-term trends will become clearer once complete annual figures are available, particularly when combined with age, nationality and migration data.
