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Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Malta: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Malta is placed 43rd of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 2 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 31.78 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.19 (2023).
Poverty & Inequality
43rd
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 2 key statistics
01The evidence
The 2 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Malta on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 2
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: How evenly income or consumption is shared across a whole population — the distance between rich and poor that an average income cannot show.
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Malta’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
31.78
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Malta: 31.78. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Southern Europe
- 24.68 Slovenia
Each grey tick is one of 159 countries at its latest reading, 2013–2023.
Key 2 of 2
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: How far below the $3.00-a-day extreme poverty line people fall, averaged over the whole population — how many are poor and how poor they are, in one reading.
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Malta’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.19
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Malta: 0.19. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Southern Europe
- 0 Slovenia
Each grey tick is one of 159 countries at its latest reading, 2013–2023.
02Over time
Which way Malta is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
MaltaWorld median
Malta rose from 28.02 in 2006 to 31.78 in 2023; the world median went from 35.63 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Malta World median 2023 31.78 33.72 2022 34.59 33.91 2021 31.57 34.04 2020 31.40 34.18 2019 31.04 33.51 2018 28.67 35.25 2017 29.23 34.86 2016 29.09 34.47 2015 29.43 35.52 2014 29.02 34.79 2013 28.84 36.16 2012 29.36 35.40 2011 29.14 33.96 2010 29.03 33.71 2009 30.24 34.91 2008 29.00 34.60 2007 29.21 34.26 2006 28.02 35.63 2005 — 36.28 2004 — 34.29 2003 — 35.46 2002 — 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
MaltaWorld median
Malta fell from 0.26 in 2006 to 0.19 in 2023; the world median went from 0.465 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year Malta World median 2023 0.19 0.345 2022 0.06 0.420 2021 0.04 0.335 2020 0.16 0.280 2019 0.17 0.380 2018 0.07 0.460 2017 0.11 0.300 2016 0.08 0.440 2015 0.07 0.500 2014 0.00 0.635 2013 0.01 0.515 2012 0.07 0.640 2011 0.15 0.430 2010 0.14 0.530 2009 0.26 0.600 2008 0.08 0.350 2007 0.28 0.360 2006 0.26 0.465 2005 — 1.250 2004 — 0.790 2003 — 1.650 2002 — 3.010
03In context
Malta beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
1st159thNot placed · 65 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
Malta and Southern Europe
Malta has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. The standing is each country’s place among all 159 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
 Slovenia | 2nd | 24.68 | 0 |
 Albania | 16th | 29.42 | 0.04 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 26th | 30.31 | 0.07 |
 Croatia | 30th | 30.11 | 0.14 |
| Malta | 43rd | 31.78 | 0.19 |
 Greece | 51st | 33.44 | 0.23 |
 Portugal | 52nd | 33.85 | 0.2 |
 Serbia | =54th | 32.82 | 0.48 |
 Spain | =60th | 33.41 | 0.55 |
 Italy | 73rd | 34.34 | 0.66 |
 North Macedonia | 79th | 33.51 | 1.5 |
 Montenegro | 83rd | 34.3 | 1.22 |
 Kosovo | =122nd | 38.31 | 5.6 |
 Andorra | not placed | — | — |
 Gibraltar | not placed | — | — |
 San Marino | not placed | — | — |
 Vatican City | not placed | — | — |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Southern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Malta in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Malta is ahead of the world, and behind
11 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median10
Statistics on which Malta does better than the middle country measured.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.8430.609▲ Improved since 2013
Malta: 0.843 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 21st of 169 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7656.0322.76▲ Improved since 2013
Malta: 56.03 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 10th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7540.7111.754No real change since 2013
Malta: 0.711 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 51st of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.058.62617.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Malta: 8.626 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 135th of 169 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.821.087.82▼ Worsened since 2013
Malta: 1.08 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 47th of 59 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.212.3517.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Malta: 12.35 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 46th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1824.7126.18▼ Worsened since 2013
Malta: 24.71 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 41st of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.930.390.93▼ Worsened since 2013
Malta: 0.39 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 41st of 58 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3321.1971.332▼ Worsened since 2013
Malta: 1.197 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 40th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.127.637.12▼ Worsened since 2013
Malta: 7.63 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 25th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.816.721.8No earlier reading
Malta: 16.7 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
No current reading for Malta
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index and Working Poverty Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Malta’s 15 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Malta’s 12th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Peace & Security3rd of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience7th of 1923/3 keys
- Work & Labour20th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing24th of 2004/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture22nd of 1753/4 keys
- Digital & Technology32nd of 1982/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation30th of 1763/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 35th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade27th of 1473/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions42nd of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties46th of 1983/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequality43rd of 1592/2 keys
- Gender & Equality62nd of 1834/4 keys
- Energy92nd of 1933/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability156th of 1813/3 keys
No standing on Education & Knowledge: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Malta can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 2 of 2 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 2 of 2 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
3
CzechiaEastern Europe
3rd of 159 · 2 of 2 keys
Photo: john mcsporran from Trossachs, Scotland · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Belarus1st2/2 keysHighest in Southern Europe
Slovenia2nd2/2 keysThis page
Malta43rd2/2 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Malta on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Malta rank on poverty & inequality?
Malta is placed 43rd of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 2 key statistics (Gini Index and Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Malta?
31.78 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Malta?
0.19 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How have Malta’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index rose from 28.02 in 2006 to 31.78 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 0.26 in 2006 to 0.19 in 2023.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Malta?
No current reading is published for Malta on Global Multidimensional Poverty Index and Working Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Keep reading
Explore further
Malta, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions42nd of 194
- Economy & Innovation30th of 176
- Work & Labour20th of 182
- Health & Wellbeing24th of 200
- Development & Human Capital=35th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability156th of 181
- Gender & Equality62nd of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties46th of 198
- Peace & Security3rd of 177
- Risk & Resilience7th of 192
- Mobility & Trade27th of 147
- Food & Agriculture22nd of 175
- Energy92nd of 193
- Digital & Technology32nd of 198
- The full Malta profile
Nearby, on poverty & inequality
The key statistics, for every country
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 2 indicators on this topic are keys and 13 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. All of them describe 2023.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 2 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 159 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 2.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 11 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Malta’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Malta (banner) — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Czechia — john mcsporran from Trossachs, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Malta: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/malta/poverty