The harbor with boats in Malta

Malta Economy

Malta's Macroeconomic Analysis:

Nominal GDP of USD 22.3 billion in 2023.

Nominal GDP of USD 18.3 billion in 2022.

GDP per capita of USD 35,206 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

GDP per capita of USD 41,193 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

Average real GDP growth of 6.7% over the last decade.

Average real GDP growth of 6.2% over the last decade.

Share of the region's population
Share of the region's GDP

Sector Analysis

In 2021, services accounted for 87% of overall GDP, manufacturing 7%, other industrial activity 6%, and agriculture 0%. Looking at GDP by expenditure, private consumption accounted for 43% of GDP in 2021, government consumption 21%, fixed investment 23%, and net exports 13%.

GDP by economic sector
GDP by type of expenditure

International trade

In 2020, manufactured products made up 86% of total merchandise exports, mineral fuels 3%, food 10%, ores and metals 0% and agricultural raw materials 0%, with other categories accounting for 1% of the total. In the same period, manufactured products made up 68% of total merchandise imports, mineral fuels 17%, food 13%, ores and metals 1% and agricultural raw materials 0%, with other goods accounting for 1% of the total. Total exports were worth USD 4 billion in 2022, while total imports were USD 7 billion.

Key exports
Key imports
Key export partners
Key import partners

Main Economic Indicators

Economic growth

The economy recorded average annual growth of 6.1% in the decade to 2022. To read more about GDP growth in Malta, go to our dedicated page.

Fiscal policy

Malta's fiscal deficit averaged 2.2% of GDP in the decade to 2022. Find out more on our dedicated page.

Unemployment

The unemployment rate averaged 4.6% in the decade to 2022. For more information on Malta's unemployment click here.

Inflation

Inflation averaged 1.7% in the decade to 2022. Go to our Malta inflation page for extra insight.

Monetary Policy

Euro Area monetary policy rate ended 2022 at 2.50%, up from 0.75% a decade earlier. See our Malta monetary policy page for additional details.

Exchange Rate

From end-2012 to end-2022 the euro weakened by 18.2% vs the U.S. dollar. For more info on the euro, click here.

Economic situation in Malta

Year-on-year GDP growth declined in Q2 on the heels of a broad-based slowdown. Shifting to Q3, the economy likely decelerated further. Both industrial output and retail sales grew at markedly slower rates compared to Q2. In addition, tourist arrivals expanded at a slightly softer clip in July–August than in Q2. More positively, goods exports accelerated in Q3 relative to Q2. Turning to Q4, early data signals that the economy started the quarter on a stronger footing: In October, economic sentiment turned optimistic for the first time since last December. In the fiscal arena, in late October, the government unveiled the 2025 budget. The draft envisages a fiscal deficit of 3.5%, down from 2024’s projection of 4.0% and broadly in line with our Consensus of 3.3%. Nonetheless, the deficit will remain above the EU’s 3.0% limit, which could lead to half-yearly fines of 0.05% of GDP.

Malta Economic Forecasts

Projections out to 2034.

42 indicators covered including both annual and quarterly frequencies.

Consensus Forecasts based on a panel of 12 expert analysts.

Want to get insight on the economic outlook for Malta in the coming years? FocusEconomics collects projections out to 2034 on 42 economic indicators for Malta from a panel of 12 analysts at the leading national, regional and global forecast institutions. These projections are then validated by our in-house team of economists and data analysts, and averaged to provide one Consensus Forecast you can rely on for each indicator. This means you avoid the risk of relying on out of date, biased or outlier forecasts. Our Consensus Forecasts can be visualized in whichever way best suits your needs, including via interactive online dashboards , direct data delivery and executive-style reports which combine analysts' projections with timely written analysis from our in-house team of economists on the latest developments in the Malta economy. To download a sample report on the Malta's economy, click here. To get in touch with our team for more information, fill in the form at the bottom of this page.

Malta Economic Data

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Population (million) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
GDP (EUR bn) 14.6 14.3 16.7 18.2 20.7
GDP per capita (EUR) 29,543 27,856 32,310 35,014 38,100
Economic Growth (Nominal GDP, ann. var. %) 6.7 -1.7 16.2 9.4 13.2
Economic Growth (GDP, ann. var. %) 4.1 -3.5 13.5 4.1 7.5
Private Consumption (ann. var. %) 5.6 -11.4 12.1 11.1 11.4
Government Consumption (ann. var. %) 9.1 12.5 5.9 0.4 2.9
Fixed Investment (ann. var. %) 9.5 1.0 20.5 9.7 -18.2
Exports (G&S, ann. var. %) 7.2 6.0 -0.4 13.7 4.7
Imports (G&S, ann. var. %) 10.6 8.0 -3.1 18.5 -0.4
Industrial Production (ann. var. %) 2.8 1.3 -0.9 1.5 7.3
Unemployment (% of active population, aop) 4.1 4.9 3.8 3.5 3.5
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP) 0.7 -8.7 -7.0 -5.2 -4.5
Public Debt (% of GDP) 39.2 48.7 49.6 49.4 47.4
Inflation (HICP, ann. var. %, eop) 1.3 0.2 2.6 7.3 3.7
Inflation (HICP, ann. var. %, aop) 1.5 0.8 0.7 6.1 5.6
ECB Refinancing Rate (%, eop) 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.50 4.50
ECB Overnight Deposit Rate (%, eop) -0.50 -0.50 -0.50 2.00 4.00
3-Month EURIBOR (%, eop) -0.38 -0.55 -0.57 2.13 3.91
Exchange Rate (USD per EUR, eop) 1.12 1.22 1.14 1.07 1.10
Exchange Rate (USD per EUR, aop) 1.12 1.14 1.18 1.05 1.08
Current Account Balance (EUR bn) 2.6 2.3 1.6 -0.1 1.3
Current Account Balance (% of GDP) 17.9 16.0 9.4 -0.8 6.4
Merchandise Trade Balance (EUR bn) -2.1 -1.1 -2.0 -3.2 -2.5
Foreign Direct Investment (EUR bn) 3.4 3.2 25.2 18.7 18.9

Free Sample Report

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