Gozo population topped 41,000 at end of 2024

Gozo’s population reached 41,253 by the end of 2024, according to new figures released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) ahead of World Population Day. This included 31,761 Maltese citizens and 9,492 foreign nationals.

The data revealed that Victoria, the capital of Gozo, was the most populous town with 7,524 residents, followed by Xagħra with 5,359, and Nadur with 4,630. The smallest town was Għasri, with just 517 residents, making it one of the island’s least densely populated localities.

Furthermore, Għasri had the lowest population density in Gozo, at 103.3 people per square kilometre, while Victoria had the highest, at 2,595.8 people per square kilometre.

Population density varied across Gozo in 2024. Fontana had the second-highest density on the island, with 2,423.5 people per square kilometre. In contrast, Għajnsielem and Comino had a much lower density of 524.5 people per square kilometre.

NSO data also showed a growing presence of foreign residents in Gozo. In Żebbuġ, the number of foreign residents (1,771) was close to that of Maltese residents (1,968).

In Munxar, foreign nationals made up 42.7% of the population, with 822 out of 1,923 residents holding non-Maltese citizenship.

Foreign populations were also present in smaller localities. San Lawrenz had 796 residents, and Ta’ Sannat had 2,260, both showing signs of increased foreign residency.

The average population density across Gozo and Comino was 600.9 people per square kilometre, significantly lower than urban areas in Malta. The data indicates that the region continues to maintain lower density and slower population growth compared to the main island.

The total population of Malta and Gozo at the end of 2024 reached 574,250, marking a 1.9% increase from the previous year. This growth was largely due to net migration, which accounted for 10,614 additional residents.

Of the total population, 70.6% were Maltese citizens, while 29.4% were foreign nationals. There were 304,947 men and 269,303 women.