Malta is a mixed picture. The island nation has one of the highest life expectancies in the European Union, some of the lowest cancer mortality rates in Europe, and a public healthcare system that reaches nearly everyone. But it also has the EU’s highest rates of adult and adolescent obesity, low physical activity levels, and a population steadily drifting away from the Mediterranean diet that once defined it. Whether Malta is “healthy” depends on which measure you’re looking at.
Life Expectancy and Disease Prevention
By the numbers that matter most, Malta performs well. Life expectancy at birth is among the highest in the EU as of 2024, and preventable mortality rates are among the lowest. Cancer death rates have dropped sharply over the past decade, reaching the lowest of any EU country in 2021. Nearly 79% of Maltese residents report being in good or very good health, compared to an EU average of 68%.
These figures reflect a combination of factors: strong healthcare access, a mild climate, and relatively low rates of extreme poverty. Malta is a small, densely connected country where hospitals and clinics are never far away, which helps catch problems early.
Obesity: The Biggest Health Problem
Malta’s most significant health challenge is weight. Overweight and obesity rates among both adults and adolescents were the highest in the entire EU in 2022. This isn’t a minor statistical quirk. High obesity rates drive up the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, and several cancers, and they help explain why Malta’s strong life expectancy numbers haven’t climbed even higher.
The roots of this problem are partly cultural. Centuries of foreign rule, most recently by the British, reshaped the Maltese food system. Traditional cooking shifted toward heavier, more processed meals. Fast food is widely available, and portions tend to be generous. The small island also limits certain outdoor activities, and car culture dominates despite the short distances involved.
The Mediterranean Diet Is Fading
Malta sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, but its population no longer eats a particularly Mediterranean diet. A study of nearly 4,000 Maltese adults found that adherence to Mediterranean diet principles, meaning high intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, and fish with limited red meat, was lower than in populations on other Mediterranean islands like Sardinia or Crete.
The average adherence score was 7.19 out of a possible range, with researchers noting a clear generational shift toward more Westernized eating patterns: more white bread instead of whole grains, more processed meat, more fast food, and less plant-based cooking. Women, non-smokers, and older adults tended to eat closer to Mediterranean patterns. Younger Maltese adults were the most likely to have drifted away.
People who did follow Mediterranean-style diets in Malta ate more rice, dark bread, vegetables, legumes, fish, and lighter dairy products. They consumed less pasta, white bread, fast food, and red meat. The ingredients for a healthy Maltese diet are readily available on the island, but the cultural pull toward convenience food is strong.
Physical Activity Is Remarkably Low
Malta has some of the lowest physical activity levels in Europe. A 2022 Eurobarometer survey found that 31% of Maltese adults never exercise or play sport, and another 37% rarely do. Only 7% reported exercising regularly. Outside of formal sport, the numbers are even worse: 35% of adults never engage in recreational physical activity like cycling, dancing, or gardening, and 39% rarely do. Just 4% said they were regularly active in this way, the lowest proportion in the EU.
Children aren’t faring much better. Fewer than 1 in 4 Maltese 11- to 15-year-olds meet the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. Malta’s hot summers, limited green space, and car-dependent infrastructure all work against an active lifestyle. The government released a new physical activity strategy for 2025 to 2030, acknowledging the severity of the problem.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Malta ranks 43rd globally in the World Happiness Report, with a life satisfaction score of 6.44 out of 10. That’s respectable but not remarkable. More concerning are recent trends: between 2023 and 2024, more Maltese residents reported fewer calm and happy days alongside more frequent nervousness, agitation, and feelings of depression and loneliness.
Problematic social media use is a particular concern. Malta ranks 9th globally for psychological complaints linked to excessive social media use, including feeling low, irritability, nervousness, and sleep difficulties. About 8% of adults reported unmet needs for mental healthcare in 2024, a rate that has been growing since 2021.
Healthcare Access Is Excellent
One area where Malta clearly excels is healthcare access. In 2024, only 0.5% of people who needed medical care were unable to get it due to cost, distance, or waiting times. The EU average is 3.6%. For dental care, the figure was even lower at 0.4%, the best in the EU. Even among people at risk of poverty, just 1% reported being unable to access care they needed.
Malta’s public healthcare system covers residents comprehensively. Foreign residents moving to Malta for work now need private health insurance with a minimum coverage of €100,000 for their first year. Students at Malta’s main educational institutions are exempt from this requirement. Once established, residents can access the public system, which includes hospital care, primary care, and specialist services.
Tap Water and Air Quality
Malta’s tap water is safe to drink and meets WHO, EU, and Maltese standards. The water supply is a blend of groundwater and desalinated seawater, disinfected with low levels of chlorine. It’s perfectly safe, though many residents and visitors notice a hard, mineral-heavy taste from the chloride content. Bottled water is widely available if you prefer it, but there’s no health reason to avoid the tap.
Air quality is a more nuanced issue. Malta’s small size and heavy traffic create pockets of pollution, particularly from particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. The Environment and Resources Authority identified particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide as the pollutants of greatest public health concern on the islands. Malta published a new air quality plan in 2025, recognizing that vehicle emissions and construction activity remain ongoing challenges in such a densely populated space.
Living in Malta vs. Visiting Malta
If you’re visiting Malta for a week or two, the health environment is excellent. The climate is warm and sunny, seafood and fresh produce are abundant, healthcare is accessible if you need it, and the water is safe. You can easily eat well and stay active exploring the islands on foot.
If you’re considering living in Malta long-term, the picture requires more intention. The default lifestyle on the island, with its car culture, heavy portions, limited exercise infrastructure, and Westernized food habits, trends toward weight gain and inactivity. But the building blocks of a healthy life are all there: fresh Mediterranean ingredients, mild weather for year-round outdoor activity, and a healthcare system that catches problems early. The difference comes down to whether you actively choose those options or drift toward the convenience-oriented patterns that most residents have adopted.