Quality of Life 

Malta offers professionals an attractive lifestyle at the heart of the Mediterranean.

* Safe, secure living environment: Malta 13th of 193 countries on quality of life index.

* Mediterranean climate: average 300 days of sunshine a year.

* An open, friendly culture * Cosmopolitan city living in the Mediterranean

* Lower cost living expenses

* Excellent communications: regular scheduled national airline flights & low-cost carriers

* Negligible domestic commuting

* English an official language

* Education first class: tertiary level high standard; international baccalaureate as well

* Health care ranks highly internationally

The Maltese Islands are on the map as a sought-after location for those seeking a work-life balance or a place in which to combine investment opportunities with a more convivial lifestyle and climate.

Malta resembles a city culture; its compact size facilitates professional networking and provides ease of access to the islands’ many cultural venues. By virtue of its history, Malta is European in outlook and an English speaking nation, but it offers also the experience of a unique, Mediterranean culture all its own.

Its proximity to Europe at just two to three hours’ flying time from major European cities makes Malta ideal for those wishing to have a base on the Islands yet maintain regular overseas links. Malta’s size also means that inland communications are excellent and commuting time is negligible compared with many urban areas in Europe.

For millennia, Malta’s strategic location has attracted a mix of nationalities. Today, the Islands are cosmopolitan with a flow of professionals arriving not only from countries with traditional ties to Malta, such as the UK, Australia and Canada, but also from across other parts of the world.

The living standards in Malta are good and compare well with those of continental Europe. Annual living costs in Malta are substantially lower than the United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, France, Italy and Cyprus. Malta ranked 13th out of 193 countries in the most recent quality of life index compiled by International Living (2006).   It compared particularly well on health, aspects of risk and safety, climate and personal freedom. Purchasing power in Malta is on a par with that of Portugal, at 73.8% of the EU average (Feb. 2007 data).

The Human Development Index for Malta is 0.875, which ranks Malta 32nd out of 177 countries. Malta comes out on top of the human development index in respect of life expectancy which averages 78.6 years.

Education is excellent and offers a schooling system to tertiary level which is closely aligned with the qualifications and teaching practices of the British system. In fact, Malta can boast the oldest university in the Commonwealth outside the UK. The continental Baccalaureate is also offered at some institutions.

The Islands offer facilities for a wide range of sports and leisure pursuits from those traditionally associated with a sun and sea climate to adventure sports. Malta is on the international circuit for touring arts, music and theatrical groups, and also has an active, local programme of entertainment in English.