People using at least a basic drinking water source in Malta
Malta: People using at least a basic drinking water source was 539,607 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least a basic drinking water source in Malta, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least a basic drinking water source in Malta is 539,607 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least a basic drinking water source in Malta peaked at 539,607 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 399,895 people, in 2000.
Malta ranks 169th of 231 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least a basic drinking water source in Malta, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 399,895 people | — |
| 2001 | 402,784 people | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 405,565 people | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 408,226 people | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 410,798 people | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 413,320 people | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 415,454 people | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 417,197 people | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 418,969 people | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 420,795 people | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 422,651 people | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 424,628 people | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 426,611 people | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 428,452 people | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 434,485 people | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 444,981 people | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 455,269 people | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 467,902 people | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 484,558 people | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 504,015 people | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 518,207 people | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 524,376 people | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 528,192 people | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 532,956 people | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 539,607 people | +1.2% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 539,607 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.05 million people, 18% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Malta's 539,607 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.47 million people, 5% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 411,300 people | 399,895 people | 420,795 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 449,355 people | 422,651 people | 504,015 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 528,668 people | 518,207 people | 539,607 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 166 Montenegro 633,883 people compare
- 167 Suriname 621,729 people compare
- 168 Solomon Islands 586,620 people compare
- 170 Maldives 526,524 people compare
- 171 Cape Verde 484,357 people compare
- 172 Brunei 462,721 people compare
More environment data for Malta
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.365 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.16 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least a basic drinking water source in Malta?
- People using at least a basic drinking water source in Malta was 539,607 people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people using at least a basic drinking water source recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 539,607 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least a basic drinking water source recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 399,895 people in 2000.
- How does Malta rank for people using at least a basic drinking water source?
- Malta ranks 169th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least a basic drinking water source rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People using at least a basic drinking water source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people using an improved drinking water source, which is either available on premises, or collection time is no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.