Share of students from abroad in Malta
Malta: Share of students from abroad was 29.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of students from abroad in Malta, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of students from abroad in Malta is 29.6%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.2% on the previous year and up 484.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students from abroad in Malta peaked at 29.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2011.
Malta ranks 13th of 134 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of students from abroad in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 4.4% | — |
| 2000 | 5.6% | +27.3% |
| 2001 | 4.6% | -17.6% |
| 2002 | 4.8% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 5.6% | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | +14.1% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | +11.8% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | -13.6% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -25.4% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | +18.2% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | +15.9% |
| 2015 | 6.2% | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | +35.7% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 9.8% | +17.9% |
| 2019 | 12.4% | +27.4% |
| 2020 | 14.2% | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | +16.3% |
| 2022 | 23.8% | +44.6% |
| 2023 | 29.6% | +24.2% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 29.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.6%, 2.8× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Malta's 29.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.6%, 8.3× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 4.3% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 4.1% | 12.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 21.0% | 14.2% | 29.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
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 share of students from abroad in Malta?
- Share of students from abroad in Malta was 29.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students from abroad recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 29.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of students from abroad recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2011.
- How does Malta rank for share of students from abroad?
- Malta ranks 13th out of 134 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of students from abroad rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 484.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of students from abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International students as a share of the country's overall tertiary enrollment. International students are those who move from their home countries for education, identified based on their past education, residence, or distinct immigration regulations.