Living together in Malta

Malta had 588,254 inhabitants at the end of 2025, and foreign nationals accounted for 29.4% of the population at the end of 2024. Net migration reached 13,906 in 2025. Dense, urban and tourism-shaped localities can therefore face different pressures involving noise, waste, public space, language, discrimination and access to local activities. Malta has no single authority for everyday coexistence. The 68 Local Councils, including 54 on Malta and 14 on Gozo, manage local upkeep, public gardens and facilities, domestic waste and many resident activities. They may also be consulted on development permits, planning schemes and traffic, and may issue local bye-laws. Regional Councils have supported more uniform domestic-waste collection since January 2023. Servizz.gov brings together information, applications, complaints and suggestions for many public services. Local waste schedules and separation rules apply to households and businesses. Illegal dumping can lead to enforcement. Bulky refuse is normally arranged through the relevant Local Council, which provides the collection appointment directly. Local fees and service times vary, so the responsible Council should confirm the current arrangements. Local Councils also manage many gardens, open spaces, recreation areas, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and some libraries. Malta's Local Government Vision includes accessibility and inclusion. Antisocial behaviour or an ongoing danger in public space belongs with the Malta Police Force; an emergency should be reported through 112. A remote non-emergency police report normally requires a callback, identification or residence details, a passport where relevant and supporting evidence, after which a report number is issued, often within about one day. Noise complaints depend on the source. Neighbour, bar and restaurant noise is handled through the Local District Police. The Environment and Resources Authority deals with the Environmental Noise Directive, while neighbourhood noise, construction, entertainment, nuisance noise, fireworks and dwelling-to-dwelling noise can also involve the Environment and Health Directorate or the Police. Record the location, date, time and repeated pattern, and keep recordings or photographs where lawful. The Malta Mediation Centre, accessible through Servizz.gov, handles civil, family, social, commercial and industrial disputes. Mediation can be voluntary or result from a court or authority referral, and it seeks a voluntary agreement without a fixed completion period. A police or court response remains appropriate where there is danger, a suspected offence or no workable agreement. The Human Rights Directorate's Anti-Racism Strategy 2025–2030 promotes equality, diversity, interaction and participation. Its Anti-Racism Platform brings together minority groups, civil society, Local Councils, academic institutions and social partners. A Local Integration Charter and addendum provide a framework for cooperation with Local Councils. The National Integration Support Centre is intended as a one-stop service for non-Maltese nationals living in Malta; its pilot began in July 2026 and its rollout is gradual. The I Belong programme includes English, Maltese and Cultural Orientation, with Stage 1 at MQF Level 1 and Stage 2 at MQF Level 2. Stage 2 is relevant to long-term-residence integration criteria. The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality accepts confidential written complaints within its remit, including discrimination based on sex or family responsibilities, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, racial or ethnic origin, and gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics in specified sectors. Racial or ethnic origin and gender are also covered for goods and services within that remit. A respondent is generally given at least 10 working days to report, and mediation requires consent. The Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability handles disability discrimination, with indicative stages of 10 days for vetting, 30 days for assessment and up to 180 days for an outcome. Hate crime or hate speech should be reported to the Police. People can participate through Local Council consultations and activities, public consultations on gov.mt and volunteering. The National Volunteering Strategy 2025–2030 covers capacity building, stakeholder engagement, civic participation and sector visibility. The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector and Volunteer Centre support volunteering and networking through centres in Valletta, Rabat and Xewkija. Access often involves an enrolled voluntary organisation. The Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations regulates enrolled organisations and accepts confidential complaints. A Community Sponsorship Programme and an all-Councils application are planned elements of the Local Government Vision, so their availability should be checked before relying on them. Shared housing is primarily a housing matter, but coexistence issues can arise there. Primary-residence leases must be written, and the owner must register the lease within 10 days. The Housing Authority Arbitration Panel handles lease disputes, including deposits and maintenance, up to €5,000. Short-let rules introduced in 2026 include an entrance sign, a licence, a designated 24-hour complaint contact, notice to the condominium administrator and a waste-management plan. Online conduct follows the same basic standards as offline conduct. Hate speech and cyberbullying can be criminal offences. Preserve screenshots, block or report the account and contact the Police where there is a threat or suspected offence. BeSmartOnline and the FSWS Maltese Internet Safety Centre support children, teenagers, parents and educators with cyberbullying, grooming, sexting and excessive technology use; helpline 179 is available for support. Childwebalert accepts anonymous and confidential reports about child sexual-abuse material. Schools address safe browsing, privacy, misinformation and netiquette, while privacy breaches can be reported to the Information and Data Protection Commissioner.