Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Malta
Malta: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 27,337 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
27,337
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
179th
of 218 countries
All-time high
40,021
in 1971
All-time low
23,567
in 2012
Years of data
53
1971–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malta, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malta is 27,337, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malta peaked at 40,021 in 1971 and was at its lowest, 23,567, in 2012.
That places Malta 179th out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 53 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 40,021 | — |
| 1972 | 37,447 | -6.4% |
| 1973 | 34,644 | -7.5% |
| 1974 | 32,569 | -6.0% |
| 1975 | 30,322 | -6.9% |
| 1976 | 29,834 | -1.6% |
| 1977 | 30,863 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 31,363 | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 32,218 | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 32,448 | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 33,063 | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 33,187 | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 33,208 | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 33,987 | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 35,411 | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 36,240 | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 36,322 | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 36,564 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 36,726 | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 37,016 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 36,899 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 35,626 | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 35,488 | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 35,366 | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 35,051 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 35,273 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 35,374 | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 35,261 | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 34,914 | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 34,261 | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 33,530 | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 32,717 | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 31,710 | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 31,064 | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 29,596 | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 28,922 | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 27,805 | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 26,772 | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 24,674 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 24,985 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 24,075 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 23,567 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 23,655 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 24,072 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 24,624 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 25,177 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 25,796 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 26,532 | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 26,788 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 27,035 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 26,941 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 27,039 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 27,337 | +1.1% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 27,337 is below the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 12% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Malta's 27,337 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.12 million, 2% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33,253 | 29,834 | 40,021 | 9 |
| 1980s | 34,716 | 32,448 | 36,726 | 10 |
| 1990s | 35,627 | 34,914 | 37,016 | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,105 | 24,674 | 34,261 | 10 |
| 2010s | 24,927 | 23,567 | 26,788 | 10 |
| 2020s | 27,088 | 26,941 | 27,337 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 176 Martinique 34,559 compare
- 177 Iceland 32,314 compare
- 178 French Polynesia 29,415 compare
- 180 Bahamas 26,817 compare
- 181 New Caledonia 22,308 compare
- 182 Kiribati 17,457 compare
More education data for Malta
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4,664 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 70 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,949 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,626 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 32,424 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 27,337 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0495 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malta?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malta was 27,337 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 40,021 in 1971.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,567 in 2012.
- How does Malta rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Malta ranks 179th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release