Austria Austria vs Malta Malta development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Austria
Austria, Value
Malta
Malta, Value
Austria
Austria, Rank
Malta
Malta, Rank
Austria Austria as % of
Malta Malta
Current account balance (% of GDP) 2.42 5.69 36 19 42.6 %
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 56.9 123 31 6 46.1 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 1.78 175 62 1 1.02 %
GDP per capita (current US$) 56,833 42,347 15 27 134 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 71,618 67,364 20 24 106 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 53.6 106 48 6 50.5 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 2.94 1.65 82 123 178 %
Net migration 8,813 6,323 47 52 139 %
Population, total 9,178,482 574,346 98 170 1,598 %

Demography and Health

Austria and Malta exhibit differences in key demographic indicators and health metrics. In 2023, Austria's crude birth rate stands at 8.5 per 1,000 people, slightly higher than Malta's 8.1 (50th rank vs. Malta's 59th). However, Austria has a higher crude death rate at 9.8 compared to Malta's lower rate of 7.3, with ranks of 54 and 73, respectively. Life expectancy at birth reflects a contrasting picture, with Austrians living on average 81.5 years, while Maltese enjoy a longer life expectancy of 83.5 years, placing Malta 3rd in the world and Austria 34th. Furthermore, the under-5 mortality rate indicates better child health in Austria (3.1 deaths per 1,000 live births) compared to Malta's 5.5, ranked 56th and 12th respectively. Additionally, net migration statistics show Austria experiencing a positive net migration of 8,813 people compared to Malta’s 6,323.

Economy

Superior economic performance is a distinguishing factor for Austria in comparison to Malta. In 2024, Austria's GDP per capita is projected at $56,833, significantly outperforming Malta's $42,347, ranking 19th versus 40th globally. When adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), Austria still leads with $71,618 compared to Malta's $67,364. The exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP reveal a striking contrast: Austria at 56.9% ranks 66th, while Malta's remarkable 123% positions it at 11th, highlighting Malta’s strong export-driven economy. Conversely, Austria's inflation rate is higher at 2.9% compared to Malta's lower rate of 1.7%, a factor that can influence purchasing power and economic stability. Employment statistics also show Austria with an unemployment rate of 5.3%, whereas Malta boasts a lower rate of 3.1%, indicating a more favorable labor market for Maltese citizens.

Trade and Investment

Malta demonstrates an impressive edge in trade metrics, particularly in net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, with an astonishing figure of 175% of GDP, in stark contrast to Austria's modest 1.8%. This remarkable FDI inflow positions Malta at a favorable 2nd rank, revealing its attractiveness as a destination for international investors. On the other hand, Austria registers a current account balance of 2.4% of GDP while Malta’s balance stands at 5.7%, indicating a stronger trade surplus for Malta. Austria does lead in high-technology exports, with $27.3 billion compared to Malta's $1.2 billion, ranking 26th against 75th, showcasing its advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.

Governance and Institutions

Austria displays robust governance and institutional quality in comparison to Malta. In the 2023 Control of Corruption index, Austria scored 1.1 against Malta’s 0.1, placing it 33rd globally compared to 69th for Malta. Similarly, Austria outranks Malta in Government Effectiveness (1.3 vs. 0.4) and the Rule of Law (1.7 vs. 0.7), reflecting a stronger institutional framework and public service delivery in Austria. The Regulatory Quality index also favors Austria with a score of 1.4 compared to Malta's 0.7. However, Malta shows an impressive measure of Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism with a score of 0.9, outperforming Austria's score of 0.7, suggesting a more stable political environment.

Infrastructure and Technology

In terms of infrastructure and technological capabilities, Austria showcases its strengths in logistics and research. The Logistics Performance Index records Austria at 3.9, indicating high-quality trade and transport-related infrastructure, whereas Malta scores slightly lower at 3.7. Furthermore, Austria heavily invests in research and development, tying 6th globally with 3.2% of GDP, vastly outperforming Malta’s 0.6%, ranked 52nd. The patent application figures further emphasize Austria’s innovative capacity, with 1,872 applications filed in 2021 compared to Malta's mere 5, affirming Austria's leadership in technology development.

Environment and Sustainability

When examining sustainability and environmental factors, Austria takes the lead with a 36% share of renewable energy consumption, significantly higher than Malta's 8.6%, ranking 6th versus 27th. Austria also manages its water resources effectively, with a low level of water stress at 8.7%, contrasting sharply with Malta’s critical figure of 78.3%, which ranks 1st in severity of water stress. Carbon emissions tell a comparative story as well; Austria's emissions per capita stand at 8 tons, whereas Malta's are notably lower at 3.7 tons, ranking 38th against 81st. Lastly, both nations report a prevalence of undernourishment holding steady at 2.5%, demonstrating a commitment to food security.