diff --git src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php
index 5147139835..9e73490bb7 100644
--- src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class WP_MS_Sites_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 				? ' class="current" aria-current="page"'
 				: '';
 			if ( (int) $counts[ $status ] > 0 ) {
-				$label = sprintf( translate_nooped_plural( $label_count, $counts[ $status ] ), number_format_i18n( $counts[ $status ] ) );
+				$label    = sprintf( translate_nooped_plural( $label_count, $counts[ $status ] ), number_format_i18n( $counts[ $status ] ) );
 				$full_url = 'all' === $status ? $url : add_query_arg( 'status', $status, $url );
 
 				$view_links[ $status ] = sprintf(
diff --git src/wp-includes/meta.php src/wp-includes/meta.php
index bc6b05d953..c6659b3d4c 100644
--- src/wp-includes/meta.php
+++ src/wp-includes/meta.php
@@ -206,7 +206,9 @@ function update_metadata( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $meta_value, $prev_
 
 	// Compare existing value to new value if no prev value given and the key exists only once.
 	if ( empty( $prev_value ) ) {
+		remove_filter( "default_{$meta_type}_metadata", 'filter_default_metadata', 10, 5 );
 		$old_value = get_metadata( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key );
+		add_filter( "default_{$meta_type}_metadata", 'filter_default_metadata', 10, 5 );
 		if ( count( $old_value ) == 1 ) {
 			if ( $old_value[0] === $meta_value ) {
 				return false;
@@ -542,11 +544,46 @@ function get_metadata( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key = '', $single = false )
 		}
 	}
 
+	return get_metadata_default( $meta_type, $meta_key, $single, $object_id );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Retrieve metadata data default for the specified object.
+ *
+ * @since 5.3.0
+ *
+ * @param string $meta_type Type of object metadata is for (e.g., comment, post, term, or user).
+ * @param string $meta_key  Optional. Metadata key. If not specified, retrieve all metadata for
+ *                          the specified object.
+ * @param bool   $single    Optional, default is false.
+ *                          If true, return only the first value of the specified meta_key.
+ *                          This parameter has no effect if meta_key is not specified.
+ * @param int    $object_id Optional, default is 0.
+ *                          ID of the object metadata is for
+ * @return mixed Single metadata value, or array of values
+ */
+function get_metadata_default( $meta_type, $meta_key, $single = false, $object_id = 0 ) {
 	if ( $single ) {
-		return '';
+		$value = '';
 	} else {
-		return array();
+		$value = array();
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Filter the default value a specified object.
+	 *
+	 * @since 5.3.0
+	 *
+	 * @param array|string      $value     The value should return - a single metadata value,
+	 *                                     or an array of values.
+	 * @param string            $meta_type Type of object metadata is for (e.g., comment, post, term, or user).
+	 * @param string            $meta_key  Meta key.
+	 * @param bool              $single    Whether to return only the first value of the specified $meta_key.
+	 * @param int               $object_id Object ID.
+	 */
+	$value = apply_filters( "default_{$meta_type}_metadata", $value, $meta_type, $meta_key, $single, $object_id );
+
+	return $value;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1229,6 +1266,14 @@ function register_meta( $object_type, $meta_key, $args, $deprecated = null ) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if ( false === $args['single'] && ! wp_is_numeric_array( $args['default'] ) ) {
+		unset( $args['default'] );
+	}
+
+	if ( array_key_exists( 'default', $args ) ) {
+		add_filter( "default_{$object_type}_metadata", 'filter_default_metadata', 10, 5 );
+	}
+
 	// Global registry only contains meta keys registered with the array of arguments added in 4.6.0.
 	if ( ! $has_old_auth_cb && ! $has_old_sanitize_cb ) {
 		unset( $args['object_subtype'] );
@@ -1457,3 +1502,43 @@ function get_object_subtype( $object_type, $object_id ) {
 	 */
 	return apply_filters( "get_object_subtype_{$object_type}", $object_subtype, $object_id );
 }
+
+/**
+ * Filter into default_{$object_type}_metadata and add in default value.
+ *
+ * @since 5.3.0
+ *
+ * @param mixed  $value     Current value passed to filter.
+ * @param string $meta_type Type of object metadata is for (e.g., comment, post, term, or user).
+
+ * @param string $meta_key  Optional. Metadata key. If not specified, retrieve all metadata for
+ *                          the specified object.
+ * @param bool   $single    Optional, default is false.
+ *                          If true, return only the first value of the specified meta_key.
+ *                          This parameter has no effect if meta_key is not specified.
+ * @param int    $object_id ID of the object metadata is for
+ *
+ * @return mixed Single metadata default, or array of defaults
+ */
+function filter_default_metadata( $value, $meta_type, $meta_key, $single, $object_id ) {
+	$metadata = get_registered_meta_keys( $meta_type );
+	if ( ! isset( $metadata[ $meta_key ] ) ) {
+		$sub_type = get_object_subtype( $meta_type, $object_id );
+		$metadata = get_registered_meta_keys( $meta_type, $sub_type );
+		if ( ! isset( $metadata[ $meta_key ] ) ) {
+			return $value;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if ( $single ) {
+		if ( $metadata[ $meta_key ]['single'] ) {
+			$value = $metadata[ $meta_key ]['default'];
+		} else {
+			$value = $metadata[ $meta_key ]['default'][0];
+		}
+	} else {
+		$value = $metadata[ $meta_key ]['default'];
+	}
+
+	return $value;
+}
diff --git tests/phpunit/tests/meta/registerMeta.php tests/phpunit/tests/meta/registerMeta.php
index 334a2320d0..fcf6c1b449 100644
--- tests/phpunit/tests/meta/registerMeta.php
+++ tests/phpunit/tests/meta/registerMeta.php
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ class Tests_Meta_Register_Meta extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 						'description'       => '',
 						'single'            => false,
 						'sanitize_callback' => null,
+						'default'           => null,
 						'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
 						'show_in_rest'      => false,
 					),
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ class Tests_Meta_Register_Meta extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 						'description'       => '',
 						'single'            => false,
 						'sanitize_callback' => null,
+						'default'           => null,
 						'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
 						'show_in_rest'      => false,
 					),
@@ -172,6 +174,7 @@ class Tests_Meta_Register_Meta extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 						'type'              => 'string',
 						'description'       => '',
 						'single'            => false,
+						'default'           => null,
 						'sanitize_callback' => array( $this, '_new_sanitize_meta_cb' ),
 						'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
 						'show_in_rest'      => false,
@@ -340,6 +343,7 @@ class Tests_Meta_Register_Meta extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 						'description'       => '',
 						'single'            => false,
 						'sanitize_callback' => null,
+						'default'           => null,
 						'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
 						'show_in_rest'      => false,
 					),
@@ -393,6 +397,7 @@ class Tests_Meta_Register_Meta extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 						'description'       => '',
 						'single'            => false,
 						'sanitize_callback' => null,
+						'default'           => null,
 						'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
 						'show_in_rest'      => false,
 					),
@@ -504,6 +509,49 @@ class Tests_Meta_Register_Meta extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 		$this->assertSame( 'even', $subtype_for_4 );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @ticket 43941
+	 * @dataProvider data_get_default_data
+	 */
+	public function test_get_default_value( $args, $single, $expected ) {
+
+		$object_type = 'post';
+		$meta_key    = 'registered_key1';
+		register_meta(
+			$object_type,
+			$meta_key,
+			$args
+		);
+
+		$object_property_name = $object_type . '_id';
+		$object_id            = self::$$object_property_name;
+
+		// Check for default value.
+		$value = get_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $single );
+		$this->assertSame( $value, $expected );
+
+		// Set value to check default is not being returned by mistake.
+		$meta_value = 'dibble';
+		update_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $meta_value );
+		$value = get_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key, true );
+		$this->assertSame( $value, $meta_value );
+
+		// Delete meta, make sure the default is returned.
+		delete_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key );
+		$value = get_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $single );
+		$this->assertSame( $value, $expected );
+
+		// Set other meta key, to make sure other keys are not effects.
+		$meta_value = 'hibble';
+		$meta_key   = 'unregistered_key1';
+		$value      = get_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key, true );
+		$this->assertSame( $value, '' );
+		update_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $meta_value );
+		$value = get_metadata( $object_type, $object_id, $meta_key, true );
+		$this->assertSame( $value, $meta_value );
+
+	}
+
 	public function filter_get_object_subtype_for_customtype( $subtype, $object_id ) {
 		if ( 1 === ( $object_id % 2 ) ) {
 			return 'odd';
@@ -512,6 +560,147 @@ class Tests_Meta_Register_Meta extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 		return 'even';
 	}
 
+	public function data_get_default_data() {
+		return array(
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => true,
+					'default' => 'wibble',
+				),
+				true,
+				'wibble',
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => true,
+					'default' => 'wibble',
+				),
+				false,
+				array( 'wibble' ),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => true,
+					'default' => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				true,
+				array( 'wibble' ),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => true,
+					'default' => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				false,
+				array( array( 'wibble' ) ),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => false,
+					'default' => 'wibble',
+				),
+				true,
+				'',
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => false,
+					'default' => 'wibble',
+				),
+				false,
+				array(),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => false,
+					'default' => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				true,
+				'wibble',
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'  => false,
+					'default' => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				false,
+				array( 'wibble' ),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'page',
+					'default'        => 'wibble',
+				),
+				true,
+				'wibble',
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'page',
+					'default'        => 'wibble',
+				),
+				false,
+				array( 'wibble' ),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'page',
+					'default'        => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				true,
+				array( 'wibble' ),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'page',
+					'default'        => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				false,
+				array( array( 'wibble' ) ),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'post',
+					'default'        => 'wibble',
+				),
+				true,
+				'',
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'post',
+					'default'        => 'wibble',
+				),
+				false,
+				array(),
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'post',
+					'default'        => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				true,
+				'',
+			),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'single'         => true,
+					'object_subtype' => 'post',
+					'default'        => array( 'wibble' ),
+				),
+				false,
+				array(),
+			),
+		);
+	}
+
 	public function data_get_types_and_subtypes() {
 		return array(
 			array( 'post', 'page' ),
