Malta

Country profile

CO2 emissions per person
3.20
t CO2/person/year · 2024
107th of 213 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
11.1
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
154th of 241 countries

Climate

CO2 emissions

1.73 Mt CO2/year · 2024
-35% since 1994158th highest of 215 · 2024
01231960198020002020high 2003low 1953

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

3.20 t CO2/person/year · 2024
-54% since 1994107th highest of 213 · 2024
051960198020002020high 1993low 1953

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

0.17 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+1.2% since 1994173rd highest of 199 · 2024
00.10.21850190019502000high 2011

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

1.91 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-33% since 1994168th highest of 199 · 2024
01231850190019502000high 2003low 1868

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

0.04 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-32% since 1994176th highest of 201 · 2024
00.020.040.061850190019502000high 1993

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Consumption-based CO2

14.3 Mt CO2/year · 2023
+305% since 199394th highest of 120 · 2023
0510151990200020102020high 2018low 1991

CO2 counted where goods are used rather than where they are made. Compare with production emissions to see who imports their footprint. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Energy

Energy use per person

71,108 kWh/person/year · 2023
+184% since 199315th highest of 216 · 2023
050k19801990200020102020high 2019low 1985

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

15.5 % of electricity · 2025
+16 pp since 199520th highest of 90 · 2025
0510151990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2025
+0.0 pp since 199579th highest of 88 · 2025
-1011990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2025
-5.5 pp since 199561st highest of 89 · 2025
02040601990200020102020low 1996

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

0.91 % of electricity · 2025
-94 pp since 199561st highest of 90 · 2025
0501001990200020102020high 1996low 2024

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

83.1 % of electricity · 2025
+83 pp since 19958th highest of 87 · 2025
0501990200020102020high 2018

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

0.00 ha/year · 2024
-100% since 2001184th highest of 197 · 2024
00.512005201020152020high 2004low 2002

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

1.47 % of land · 2025
+0.4 pp since 1995191st highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
-10120002005201020152020

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.92 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-3.2% since 199465th highest of 244 · 2024
00.51200020102020low 2003

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

28.9 % of land area · 2024
+5.9 pp since 201342nd highest of 213 · 2024
0102030201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

71.8 kg/person/year · 2023
-1.3% since 199356th highest of 176 · 2023
050100198020002020Worldhigh 2014low 1962

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

70.7 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
+87% since 199349th highest of 198 · 2023
050100198020002020high 1998low 1982

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

7.80 % of territorial waters · 2024
+7.5 pp since 201356th highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

95.7 % living in cities · 2025
+3.0 pp since 199522nd highest of 236 · 2025
0501001960198020002020World

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

72.6 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
+11 pp since 200024th highest of 179 · 2022
05020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2013

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

95.1 m³/person/year · 2022
-31% since 1992170th highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k198020002020Worldhigh 1974

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Safely managed drinking water

99.8 % of population · 2024
-0.2 pp since 200018th highest of 159 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020World

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Safely managed sanitation

100.0 % of population · 2024
+98 pp since 20001st highest of 145 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2021

The share of people whose toilet waste is safely treated rather than left to contaminate water and soil. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

11.1 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-9.0% since 1998154th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2007low 2020

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.