Expats living in Malta are no longer a small minority. The 2021 Census counted 115,449 non-Maltese residents, 22.2% of the population, and by the end of 2023 the National Statistics Office put the foreign population at about 158,000, or 28.1%. Most live in the busy north-east harbour towns and St Paul’s Bay, and most came to work.
Numbers only tell part of the story. This guide looks at who the expats in Malta actually are, where and how they live, what tends to frustrate them, and how newcomers find their people, with each other and with Maltese neighbours.
How many expats live in Malta
Malta’s population has grown quickly, and almost all of that growth comes from people moving in. The official figures from the National Statistics Office (NSO) show the scale of the change:
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Maltese residents, Census 2021 | 115,449 (22.2% of the population) | NSO Census of Population and Housing 2021 |
| Foreign population, end of 2023 | About 158,400 (28.1%) | NSO demographic data |
| Total population, end of 2024 | About 574,000 | NSO demographic data |
Figures from NSO releases; last checked November 2026.
In practical terms, more than one in four people you pass in the street is likely to be foreign, and in some towns the share is much higher. If you have just arrived and feel like the only newcomer, you are not. The challenge is rarely a lack of other expats. It is turning a crowded island into a handful of real friendships.
Who the expats are
“Expat” covers very different lives in Malta. Most foreign residents fall into a few broad groups:
- EU professionals. People from across the EU working in iGaming, finance, tech and professional services, often in their twenties and thirties, many on their second or third international move.
- Workers from outside the EU. A large and growing group working in hospitality, care, construction, transport and delivery, as well as in skilled office roles. In recent years most net migration to Malta has come from outside the EU.
- Remote workers and digital nomads. Some live here on the Nomad Residence Permit, others are EU citizens who simply moved their laptop.
- Students. English language students, university students and Erasmus exchanges, especially in Msida, Sliema, St Julian’s and Gżira.
- Retirees. Mostly from northern Europe, drawn by the climate and English, often settled in quieter towns and in Gozo.
- Partners and families. People who followed a partner’s job and are building their own life here. Our guide for the trailing spouse in Malta covers that situation.
These groups overlap less than you might expect. An iGaming marketer in Sliema and a care worker in Qormi may both be expats, but their days, budgets and social circles are very different. When people say “the expat community”, they usually mean one slice of it.
Where expats live
The Census found the highest concentrations of foreign residents in St Paul’s Bay, Sliema and Msida, and the wider harbour area around Gżira, St Julian’s and Swieqi is also heavily international. A rough picture:
| Area | Typical residents | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Sliema, Gżira, St Julian’s | Office workers, students, young professionals | Busy, international, close to work and nightlife |
| Msida and Swieqi | Students, health workers, young professionals | Central, near the university and hospital |
| St Paul’s Bay, Buġibba, Qawra | Workers from many countries, retirees | More affordable, seaside, long bus rides to the centre |
| Central and southern towns | Families, long-term residents | More Maltese, quieter, more local life |
| Gozo | Retirees, remote workers, families | Slow pace, strong village life |
Last checked November 2026.
Our ranking of the best areas to live in Malta for expats compares these towns by what you need: commute, social life, family routine or budget.
What daily life looks like for expats living in Malta
Most expats describe a similar rhythm. Weekdays revolve around work and commuting, which can take longer than the distances suggest because of traffic. Evenings are social in summer and quieter in winter. Weekends mean the sea for half the year, and cafés, walks, Gozo trips and village festas the rest of the time.
English makes the practical side easy: contracts, doctors, banks and most shops all work in English. The harder parts are housing costs, bureaucracy that moves at its own speed, construction noise and a winter that feels colder indoors than the thermometer suggests. Our honest overview of expat life in Malta goes into the day-to-day detail.
The common frustrations
Talk to expats who have been here a few years and the same themes come up:
- Turnover. Many expats stay two or three years. You make a good friend, and then they leave. Long-term expats learn to keep building their circle rather than relying on one group.
- The bubble. It is easy to live entirely among other foreigners, especially in Sliema and St Julian’s, and never really get to know Malta.
- Rent and space. Housing takes a big share of income, and many people share flats for longer than they planned.
- Admin. Residence cards, appointments and paperwork take patience.
- Work-centred social life. When colleagues are your only friends, a job change can empty your calendar overnight.
None of this is unique to Malta, but the small size of the island makes it more visible. The good news is that the same small size makes it easy to meet people again once you know where to look.
Expats and Maltese people
Maltese people are generally warm and helpful, and most speak excellent English. Friendships with Maltese people often take longer to form, because many have close family networks and childhood friends who still live nearby. That is not unfriendliness; it is simply a full social life.
Expats who build Maltese friendships tend to join something local and keep showing up: a sports club, a band club, a parish activity, a volunteering group or a class in Maltese. Our guide on how to meet Maltese people has specific places to start, and our piece on whether Malta is friendly to foreigners looks honestly at the welcome newcomers receive.
How expats connect
The most reliable ways to meet other expats living in Malta:
- Expat networks and groups. Large networks hold regular events, and our guide to the expat community in Malta lists the main groups.
- Clubs and associations. Sports, cultural and service clubs mix Maltese and foreign members; see our guide to Malta clubs and associations.
- Sports and outdoor groups. Running, swimming, hiking, diving and team sports are some of the easiest ways to meet people regularly.
- Language exchanges and classes. Learning Maltese, or practising another language, brings together locals and foreigners.
- Volunteering. Animal shelters, environmental clean-ups and charities welcome newcomers and give you a shared purpose.
- Small, repeated plans. A weekly dinner, quiz or walk with the same few people builds friendships faster than big one-off events.
Making the most of turnover
Because so many expats come and go, the social map of Malta resets every September and every spring, when new jobs, courses and contracts begin. Those are the best moments to join a group or start one, because everybody is looking for people at the same time. Long-term residents often say their best friendships came from the second or third year, not the first, once they knew the island well enough to invite newcomers in. If your first circle drifts away, treat it as a sign that you are now one of the people others can lean on, and widen the net again.
Your first eight weeks
| Week | Do this |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Learn your neighbourhood: café, shop, bus stop. Say hello to neighbours. |
| 3 to 4 | Try two different groups: one expat event and one local activity. |
| 5 to 6 | Go back to the one you liked. Repetition is what turns faces into friends. |
| 7 to 8 | Host something small yourself: a coffee, a walk, a dinner for four. |
That last step is the one most people skip, and it is the one that changes things. Hosting puts you at the centre of a small group rather than at the edge of a big one.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? Open MeetNow and see the plans in Malta. It is free and works in your browser: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins from the short notes people send. MeetNow is live on the web, starting in Malta.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How many expats live in Malta?
The 2021 Census counted 115,449 non-Maltese residents, 22.2% of the population. By the end of 2023, NSO data put the foreign population at about 158,000, or 28.1% of residents.
Where do most expats live in Malta?
The highest concentrations are in St Paul’s Bay, Sliema and Msida, with Gżira, St Julian’s and Swieqi also very international. Retirees and remote workers also choose Gozo and quieter towns.
Is it easy for expats to make friends in Malta?
Meeting people is easy because the island is small and international. Building close friendships takes repetition: going back to the same group or activity, and hosting small plans yourself.
Do expats in Malta need to speak Maltese?
No. English is an official language and is used at work, in shops, banks and healthcare. Learning some Maltese is appreciated and helps you connect with neighbours.
Why do many expats leave Malta after a few years?
Common reasons are housing costs, career moves, family and the end of a fixed-term job or study. Turnover means long-term expats keep meeting new people rather than relying on one circle.
