Malta Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Malta
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Normal Precautions
Updated May 28, 2025
Malta recorded 0.6 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2023, a rate that is among the lowest in the world. That places Malta #181 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Europe average of 1.6 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have fallen 66% over the past decade (from 1.6 in 2013). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Malta at Level 1 of 4: Exercise Normal Precautions.
Homicide Rate
0.6 /100k
Safety Rank
#15 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 1 of 4
Data Year
2023
Homicide Rate Trend (1990-2023)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 66% over the past decade (from 1.6 in 2013). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Malta Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Malta, the homicide rate for men is 0.5× that of the rate for women — 0.4 vs 0.8 per 100,000 (2023).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Malta:
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Exercise normal precautions in Malta. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Malta. If you decide to travel to Malta: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Malta. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist . Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Safety Guidance for Malta
Practical safety information for visitors, from US State Department country information (last updated July 01, 2019).
CRIME
The most commonly reported crimes are simple assault , pick-pocketing , and petty theft . While armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides are not as common as in some major U.S. cities, they do occur. Criminals focus on areas and establishments frequented by tourists. Secure your valuables, and be aware of pick-pockets and purse snatchers. Theft of unattended property is a very common problem. See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.
Nightclubs
You should be careful in the Paceville nightclub area, where excessive drinking, large crowds, and interaction with heavy-handed bouncers can lead to violence , including some that appears to be racially-motivated . Criminals have drugged some travelers at bars and robbed and assaulted them.
Victims of Crime
Report crimes to the local police by dialing 112 and contact the U.S. Embassy at (+356) 2561-4000.
Domestic Violence
U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence should contact the Embassy for assistance. Malta’s crime victim assistance agency, Appogg , can be reached by calling its support line (dial 179) or by visiting its website . The local equivalent to the 911 emergency line in Malta is 112 .
Tourism
The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not occur on a regular basis. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance .
About This Data
Homicide figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 people, compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published by the World Bank (indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5). Homicide is the most reliably comparable crime statistic across countries because definitions of other offences (assault, theft, robbery) vary widely between national legal systems and reporting practices.
Travel advisory levels are issued by the US Department of State and updated continuously. They reflect risks to travelers including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and natural disasters — not only crime rates. Countries report crime data with different lags; the most recent available year is shown for each metric.
Malta Population & Demographics
Population of 568,847, growth trends, economy, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malta safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Malta at Level 1 of 4 (Exercise Normal Precautions). The homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 is among the lowest in the world.
What is the crime rate in Malta?
Malta has an intentional homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people (2023, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #181 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Malta?
Malta is currently at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Malta compare to other countries?
Malta's homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and below the Europe average of 1.6.