Safest cities in Malta
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in MaltaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Malta, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsCrime against tourists is rare, but there have been incidents of:
- Drink and food spikingCriminals have drugged people in some bars and gentlemen’s clubs in the Paceville district. They’ve forced them to spend large amounts of money or assaulted them. You should:
- AssaultThere have been assaults, including rape and sexual assault. Avoid splitting up from your friends and do not go off with people you do not know. If you drink, take sensible precautions including buying your own drinks and always keeping sight of them.
- ScamsScams targeting British nationals are increasing. These come in many forms (romance and friendship, business ventures, work and employment opportunities) and can pose financial risk to victims.
Laws and cultural differences
- Bird hunting seasonsBird hunting takes place in the spring and autumn. The Maltese government decides the dates at the start of each season. See local print and online media for the dates and times when hunting is allowed.
- Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties for tourists.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Swimming and beachesEvery year, people drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Malta.
- Swimming poolsAlways supervise children. Keep small children within arms-reach in and around swimming pools, even if they can swim or there is a lifeguard present.
- BeachesTake care when swimming in the sea. Always supervise children and keep small children within arms-reach. Some beaches may have strong undercurrents.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Malta, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in the RAC’s Malta guide. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Malta, updated 2026-08-11 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 0.93 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 31.82023
- Human development
- HDI 0.9242023
- Income
- $64,900/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 4.1 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 80/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 69/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 49/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 1.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.84GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 10.8 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 100%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 4.5 doctors /1k4.1 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Tsunami
- 5.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Malta (as of 2025).
How Malta compares
| Measure | Malta | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.9 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.4 /100k — better for Malta |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 31.8 | 35.2 | −3.4 — better for Malta |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.924 | 0.763 | +0.161 — better for Malta |
| Road deaths | 4.1 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −11.3 /100k — better for Malta |
| Rule of law | 69/100 | 52/100 | +17/100 — better for Malta |
| Corruption perceptions | 49/100 | 39/100 | +10/100 — better for Malta |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.8 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −8.9 µg/m³ — better for Malta |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.6/10 | 3.8/10 | −2.2/10 — better for Malta |
| Measure | Malta | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.9 /100k | 1.0 /100k | −0.1 /100k — better for Malta |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 31.8 | 30.6 | +1.2 — better for Europe median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.924 | 0.907 | +0.017 — better for Malta |
| Road deaths | 4.1 /100k | 5.8 /100k | −1.8 /100k — better for Malta |
| Rule of law | 69/100 | 74/100 | −5/100 — better for Europe median |
| Corruption perceptions | 49/100 | 57/100 | −8/100 — better for Europe median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.8 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | −1.0 µg/m³ — better for Malta |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.6/10 | 2.5/10 | −0.9/10 — better for Malta |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- Valletta87.8 · #129 worldwide