Malta information hub
Family life in Malta
Living in Malta with children: family-oriented localities, schools and childcare, healthcare, parks and beaches, activities and sports, community, family costs, safety and transport, connected to the MPRP family rules and family-friendly property search.
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Family-friendly areas
Families tend to choose the central villages (Attard, Balzan, Lija, Naxxar, Mosta), Swieqi and Madliena behind St Julian's, Mellieħa and the north coast, or the quieter south-east, and Gozo for space and community. Each locality guide describes schools, healthcare, transport and the housing stock.
Key figures
Compulsory school age
5 to 16
Cap. 605, art. 2
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · verified 01 Oct 2026
Pupil–teacher ratio, primary education
13.7pupils per teacher
2024
Eurostat — European Commission · verified 01 Oct 2026
Life expectancy at birth
83.0years
2024
Eurostat — European Commission (data transmitted by NSO Malta) · verified 01 Oct 2026
Every figure shows the reference period and the publishing authority. Statistics are refreshed when the source publishes a new release; see the source register for document details.
Schools
Full directory →- Pembroke
- Birgu
- Swatar / Kappara
- L-Imselliet, Mġarr
- L-Imselliet, Mġarr
Beaches
All beaches →Malta · Sandy
Għadira Bay (Mellieħa Bay)
Mellieħa
The longest sandy beach in Malta, shallow and gently shelving, with the Għadira nature reserve behind it.
Kiosks · Sunbeds and umbrellas (season) · Toilets · Lifeguards (season)
Malta · Sandy
Golden Bay (Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa)
Mellieħa / Mġarr
A wide sandy bay on the north-west coast backed by a hotel and cliffs, with sunsets over the sea.
Kiosk · Sunbeds (season) · Toilets · Lifeguards (season)
Malta · Sandy
Għajn Tuffieħa Bay
Mġarr
A less developed sandy bay reached by a long flight of steps, next to Golden Bay, with red sand and clay slopes.
Seasonal kiosk · Limited toilets
Malta · Sandy
Paradise Bay
Mellieħa
A small sandy cove near Ċirkewwa with clear water and views to Comino.
Lido and restaurant (season)
Malta · Sandy
Armier Bay
Mellieħa
Two sandy coves at the northern tip of Malta facing Comino, with shallow water.
Kiosks · Sunbeds (season)
Malta · Sandy
St George's Bay
St Julian's
A small man-made sandy beach in the heart of the St Julian's hotel district.
Toilets · Showers · Cafés nearby
Schools and childcare
Education is free and compulsory from 5 to 16 in state schools; church schools ask a contribution; independent and international schools charge fees. Free childcare is available to working or studying parents at registered centres, and state schools run breakfast and after-school clubs. See Education.
Healthcare
Public paediatric and maternity care is provided at Mater Dei; children of entitled residents are covered; private paediatricians are widely available. See Healthcare.
Parks, beaches and activities
Ta' Qali National Park, San Anton Gardens, the Buskett woodland and seafront promenades are the main green and open spaces; sandy beaches with lifeguards in summer are listed in the beach database. Football, swimming, water polo, sailing, scouts and music schools are the common children's activities.
Community
Village festas, parish clubs and a large international community (parent groups, international school networks) make it easy to meet people; English is spoken everywhere.
Costs and safety
See the living-cost calculator for a family budget and Safety for road and sea safety. Malta has a low violent-crime rate.
MPRP for families
The MPRP covers spouses, children (including adult unmarried children who are principally dependent), parents and grandparents under conditions. See MPRP family and dependants.
Property discovery
Family-friendly property locations
Start from the localities with schools, parks and beaches described in this guide, then filter listings by bedrooms.
Sources & Verification
Verified 1 October 2026 against the sources below- Legislation
Education Act (Cap. 605), consolidated
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta
Chapter 605 of the Laws of Malta, consolidated as at 1 March 2022
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: CAP-605Official requirement - Legislation
Social Security Act (Cap. 318), consolidated
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta
Chapter 318 of the Laws of Malta, consolidated
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: CAP-318Official requirement - EU Institution
Eurostat — Society, education, health, digital and transport (isoc_ci_in_h, edat_lfse_03, educ_uoe_perp04, ilc_peps01n, isoc_sk_dskl_i21, road_eqs_carhab, hlth_rs_bds, reg_area3)
Eurostat — European Commission
Household internet access; tertiary attainment 30–34; pupil–teacher ratio; at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion; digital skills; passenger cars per 1,000; hospital beds; area
- Published
- 10 Sept 2026
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: EUROSTAT-SOCIETYOfficial requirement - Legislation
Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations (S.L. 217.26), consolidated
Government of Malta — Subsidiary Legislation under the Immigration Act (Cap. 217)
Subsidiary Legislation 217.26 — Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations, L.N. 121 of 2021 as amended by L.N. 57 and 310 of 2024 and L.N. 146 of 2025
- Published
- 29 Mar 2021
- Effective
- 22 Jul 2025
- Last checked
- 30 Sept 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: SL-217-26Official requirement
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Written by
Malta MPRP Guide Editorial Team
Research & editorial
The editorial team researches the Malta Permanent Residence Programme directly from the consolidated regulations (S.L. 217.26), the Legal Notices that amend them and the Residency Malta Agency's published material. Ever…
Reviewed by
Fact-check & source review
Responsible for reviewing published pages against the current text of S.L. 217.26 and the Agency's official pages, recording the verification date and flagging any page that needs an update after a legislative change. R…