VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The number of Maltese citizens officially living in Sicily has almost doubled in the space of three years, as more people from Malta seek a quieter life across the Mediterranean.
According to Italy’s national statistics office ISTAT, 287 Maltese citizens were registered as living in Sicily in 2025, up from just 164 in 2022.
The figures may, however, underestimate the true size of the Maltese community, as they do not include those who own holiday homes or spend much of their time in Sicily without registering their property as their primary residence.
Most Maltese residents are concentrated in eastern Sicily, particularly around Catania and the province of Ragusa, close to ferry connections with Malta.
More than a third of all registered Maltese residents are based in the municipality of Catania, mostly in the towns and villages surrounding the city.
Several towns have seen particularly sharp increases. In Caltagirone, for example, there were no registered Maltese residents until 2023, when six were recorded. The community grew to 24 the following year and reached 31 in 2025.
Ispica, another baroque town in the Noto Valley, is now home to 19 Maltese citizens, while smaller communities have emerged in towns such as Chiaramonte Gulfi and San Giacomo.
For many, the attraction is a slower pace of life, more space and the chance to buy larger homes with gardens at relatively affordable prices.
The move is not without its drawbacks, with residents citing bureaucracy, higher electricity bills and taxes on homes and waste.
Nevertheless, Maltese residents have developed a close-knit community, regularly meeting for feasts, social events and trips around the island.
The influx has also caught the attention of locals, with some Maltese residents saying increased demand from buyers in Malta is contributing to higher property prices in parts of southern Sicily.
– Photo Pexels –
(ITALPRESS).
