Malta - a tiny, staunchly Catholic country - has voted in favour of legalising divorce in a national referendum.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who campaigned against the introduction of divorce ahead of Saturday's non-binding referendum, said it was now up the Mediterranean archipelago's parliament to legalise the dissolution of marriage.

"This is not the result that I wished for, but the will of the people has to be respected and parliament should enact a law for the introduction of divorce," the conservative prime minister said on Sunday.

The divorce measure was passed by more than 50 per cent of voters, with Agence France-Presse reporting that election officials put the number at 53.2 per cent, while the Times of Malta said the Election Commission put it at 52.67.

Voter turnout stood at about 72 per cent - a high figure by Western standards but among the lowest in Maltese voting.