Malta Drops Eight Places in Global Happiness Index as Generosity Scores Decline
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Loading... - Chenzira Ayman
- 20 Mar 2025
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Malta has experienced a notable decline in its global happiness ranking, dropping eight spots to 48th place in the latest World Happiness Report, published on Thursday. This marks the lowest ranking for Malta since 2012, reflecting a decrease in feelings of freedom and a decline in volunteerism and helping behaviors among the Maltese population.
The World Happiness Report ranks 147 countries based on various factors, including life expectancy, generosity, perceptions of corruption, and social support. Malta's average score for 2024, based on data from the previous three years, stands at 6.316 out of 10, a slight decrease from 6.346 in 2023. The country now finds itself positioned between Vietnam and Nicaragua, with Thailand, Slovakia, and Latvia closely following.
Despite the drop in ranking, the report indicates that Malta has become happier over the past decade, with its current score still higher than in 2012. The country had previously reached a high of 22nd place in 2019 but has seen a steady decline since 2020.
The report highlights that Nordic countries continue to dominate the happiness rankings, with Finland retaining its title as the world’s happiest country, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. These countries benefit from low levels of inequality, robust social support systems, and greater personal freedoms.
While Malta has historically scored well in generosity, the latest report shows a decline in this area. The country remains one of the most generous in terms of monetary donations, ranking 15th globally, down from 3rd place in 2023. However, its performance in volunteering has significantly worsened, with Malta ranking 53rd for volunteering (a drop of 16 places) and 103rd for helping strangers.
Despite these declines, Malta scores strongly for social support, indicating that residents can rely on friends and family in times of need. Additionally, Malta boasts an impressive life expectancy, ranking 11th in the world at nearly 71 years.
Malta's economic indicators remain robust, with GDP per capita now ranking 17th globally. This economic strength has contributed to an improvement in the country’s inequality ranking, which has risen from 113th in 2010 to 43rd in 2024.
However, perceptions of corruption have worsened, with Malta dropping from a high of 21st in 2018 to 67th in 2024, showing a slight improvement from the previous year’s 72nd ranking. Furthermore, the perception of personal freedom has struggled to recover from a significant decline, with rankings dropping from 15th in 2020 to 52nd in 2022, and remaining stagnant since then.
Malta's drop in the global happiness index highlights the complex interplay between economic performance, social support, and individual well-being. While the country continues to show strengths in generosity and life expectancy, the decline in volunteerism, perceptions of freedom, and increasing corruption concerns present challenges that need to be addressed. As Malta navigates these issues, fostering a sense of community and enhancing personal freedoms may be key to improving overall happiness in the future.
