Economic Insights

Malta's economy
in numbers

A data-driven look at Malta's economic transformation. All figures sourced from Eurostat official statistics.

83.6%

Employment Rate

from 63.9% (2025 vs 2012)

3.1%

Unemployment

from 6.2% (2025 vs 2012)

4.0%

GDP Growth

from 1.5% EU avg (2025)

01

Employment transformation

Malta's employment rate (ages 20-64) has risen from 63.9% in 2012 to 83.6% in 2025, a near-20 percentage point increase that significantly outpaces the EU trajectory. This reflects structural shifts toward services, technology, and financial sectors.

Simultaneously, unemployment halved from 6.2% to 3.1%, placing Malta among the lowest in the EU. Labour shortages have replaced joblessness as the primary market challenge.

Employment rate (20-64), Malta vs EU average

65%70%75%80%85%201220152018202020222025Malta 83.6%EU 75.8%

Source: Eurostat [lfsi_emp_a]

02

Growth in context

At 4.0%, Malta's GDP growth rate is nearly three times the EU average of 1.5%. As a small open economy, Malta has leveraged regulatory frameworks, strategic positioning, and investment in human capital to outperform larger European economies consistently.

Real GDP growth rate, 2025 (%)

Malta
4%
Ireland
3.2%
Spain
2.3%
EU Average
1.5%
France
1.1%
Italy
0.7%
Germany
0.4%

Source: Eurostat [nama_10_gdp]

03

Sector diversification

Malta's economy has undergone significant structural transformation, reducing dependence on any single sector. ICT and iGaming grew by 813%, professional services by 594%, and tourism by 295% between 2010 and 2025.

ICT & iGaming

3.0B

GVA 2025

from 323M in 2010

+813%

5.3%
13.1%

Share of GDP

Professional Services

3.9B

GVA 2025

from 557M in 2010

+594%

9.2%
17.1%

Share of GDP

Financial Services

1.8B

GVA 2025

from 480M in 2010

+279%

7.9%
8.1%

Share of GDP

Tourism

1.2B

GVA 2025

from 292M in 2010

+295%

4.8%
5.1%

Share of GDP

Source: Eurostat [nama_10_a10 / nama_10_a64]

Methodology

Data sources

All economic indicators presented on this page are sourced from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Employment data uses the Labour Force Survey (LFS) series. GDP growth rates reflect real GDP at market prices. Sector GVA figures are from national accounts (current prices, EUR millions). Figures for 2025 reflect the latest available estimates.