Air passengers in Malta
Malta: Air passengers was 2.39 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Malta, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, air passengers in Malta stood at 2.39 million.
That represents a change of up 21.5% on the previous year and up 48.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Malta peaked at 2.58 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 102,100, in 1972.
That places Malta 78th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 127,800 | — |
| 1971 | 110,800 | -13.3% |
| 1972 | 102,100 | -7.9% |
| 1973 | 140,600 | +37.7% |
| 1974 | 152,500 | +8.5% |
| 1975 | 205,200 | +34.6% |
| 1976 | 221,100 | +7.7% |
| 1977 | 255,300 | +15.5% |
| 1978 | 351,600 | +37.7% |
| 1979 | 382,000 | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 401,500 | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 397,900 | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 401,700 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 366,300 | -8.8% |
| 1984 | 364,100 | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 384,100 | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 411,300 | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 429,400 | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 480,600 | +11.9% |
| 1989 | 506,500 | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 597,800 | +18.0% |
| 1991 | 648,600 | +8.5% |
| 1992 | 692,500 | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 797,000 | +15.1% |
| 1994 | 1.00 million | +25.8% |
| 1995 | 1.07 million | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 1.04 million | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 1.05 million | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 1.16 million | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 1.42 million | +22.6% |
| 2000 | 1.36 million | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 1.34 million | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 1.40 million | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 1.31 million | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 1.37 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 1.37 million | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 1.50 million | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 1.67 million | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 1.71 million | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.99 million | +16.7% |
| 2010 | 1.70 million | -14.7% |
| 2011 | 1.67 million | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.54 million | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 1.60 million | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 1.59 million | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.58 million | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 1.50 million | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 1.58 million | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 2.58 million | +63.6% |
| 2019 | 2.38 million | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 549,319 | -76.9% |
| 2021 | 597,724 | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 1.96 million | +228.6% |
| 2023 | 2.39 million | +21.5% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 2.39 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 26% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Malta's 2.39 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.44 million, 37% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Malta changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +228.6% | 597,724 | 1.96 million |
| 2020 | -76.9% | 2.38 million | 549,319 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 204,900 | 102,100 | 382,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 414,340 | 364,100 | 506,500 | 10 |
| 1990s | 947,680 | 597,800 | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.50 million | 1.31 million | 1.99 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.77 million | 1.50 million | 2.58 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.37 million | 549,319 | 2.39 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More reference data data for Malta
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0042 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0008 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0404 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0227 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0043 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Malta?
- Air passengers in Malta was 2.39 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 2.58 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 102,100 in 1972.
- How does Malta rank for air passengers?
- Malta ranks 78th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.