SAFE MALTA: Lowest crime rate recorded in Malta in 2025 – Lowest theft rate in 25 years – All homicides solved – Largest drug seizures.
The annual academic report known as Crimemalta Observatory, confirmed in its annual publication for 2025 that Malta remained a safe and stable country, with the lowest crime rate ever recorded in Malta (excluding the COVID year). With the crime rate standing at 27 crimes per thousand people living in the country. This reflects another decrease compared to the year 2024 and a substantial decrease compared to the 46 reported cases per thousand people that Malta experienced in 2004.
In other words, crime per capita today is 40% lower than it was 20 years ago. It must be pointed out that the decrease in the crime rate was recorded against a backdrop of a larger population in an economically strong country. With the crime rate in Malta also being lower than the European average. A reflection also on the excellent result that Malta was once again given in an international report, the World Justice Project, which placed order and security in our country among the twelve safest in the world and the safest country in the Mediterranean.
The year 2025 also marked the lowest robbery rate that Malta has ever had in the last 25 years. If one looks at the numbers, the robbery rate in Malta decreased by 70%. A robbery rate that is also the lowest ever recorded in Gozo. It also marked another year, since 2018, in which all homicides were solved, while a record number of drug seizures were made. According to estimates made on the rates of 2005 and 2015, the rate of criminal reports this year was expected to exceed 26,419 reports. Instead, the reports during last year were much lower than that. In fact, the same report also shows that there was a decrease in the crime rate when comparing 2025 with the previous year. As in 2025, 15,594 cases were reported, i.e. a decrease of 6% over 2024.
The experts who worked on the report claim that while there are crimes that continued to register increases due to a more professional service as well as due to an increase in awareness, such as domestic violence, in other cases the reports of criminal crimes decreased due to the effectiveness of prevention work. The report also indicates the movement towards crime that is being committed “on the inside” where today this amounts to 34% of all criminal offences. Among others here we find fraud, money laundering and domestic violence.
Regarding these results, the Minister for the Interior, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri, stated that the fact that we have been keeping the crime rate low for years and now we have even recorded a year with the lowest crime rate was not a coincidence, but was an effort of clear strategies that we have implemented in recent years. With economic activity, tourism and more people living in our country one would have predicted that the crime rate would increase naturally, but because we worked on prevention, increased resources and worked with communities we managed to achieve these results.
The Minister explained that “there is no society where criminal offences are not committed, but we should be proud that Malta is placed among the twelve safest countries in the world and the safest in the Mediterranean. For the future, we will continue to work on more initiatives, invest in more technological tools and provide the best resources to our workers with the aim of continuing to protect Maltese society. We also intend to be tougher on those who break the law, with initiatives such as paying fines on the spot for those who are not residents of Malta and the return of foreigners who break the law.”
Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà, in comments on these results, said that he is proud of the results that the Police Force achieved during 2025. “Thanks to the professionalism and dedication of our officers, as well as to continuous investment in the operational and analytical capabilities of the Force, Malta today ranks among the twelve safest countries in the world. These results are even more significant when one considers the context of strong economic growth, population growth and record levels of tourism. Despite these challenges, per capita crime today is 40% lower than it was 20 years ago, while the theft rate has decreased by 70%, with the lowest levels recorded in our country.”
He explained that at the same time, the Force continued to adapt to the evolution of crime, particularly digital crime, where we have also seen a reduction in crimes related to hacking and online fraud. “These achievements are the result of a modern policing strategy built on intelligence-led policing, continuous investment in data analysis, and the essential work of Community Policing teams that strengthen our relationship with the community. Our work remains guided by the Safer Communities, Smarter Policing strategy, which by 2030 will continue to strengthen three main pillars: public safety, the legitimacy of the Force, and the continuous evolution of our operations.”
He concluded that in collaboration with our communities and strategic partners, we remain determined to continue building on these results and keep Malta among the safest countries in the world.
Criminologist Saviour Formosa explained that the year 2025 was characterised by a significant reduction. “A reduction that is due to the work of the Police, public awareness as well as collective work by the communities. This reduction was not a coincidence but is the result of strategic work including the introduction of the Police in the Community, the prevention strategy, the establishment of the Victim Support Agency and the introduction of new laws and systems, as well as other strengthening links to reduce crime.” The academic report was prepared by Professor Saviour Formosa and Professor Janice Formosa Pace. The full report is being published alongside this statement.
Photo: MHSE
