Editor | Xixi
In the heart of the Mediterranean, 87% of the population is Chinese!
The world's smallest developed country is unconsciously about to become a Chinese city.
But as a champagne in the immigrant circle, this country also has its unique advantages and disadvantages that have not been discovered.
So what is the charm of this small country with a population of less than 600,000 and an area of only 316 square kilometers?
01
"Miniature Nation"
In the middle of the Mediterranean, the country with the smallest developed country known as the “heart of the Mediterranean”, the Republic of Malta, is concerned by the large influx of Chinese immigrants.
Geographically, Malta is composed of five islands, and there are more than 300 sunny days throughout the year. It can be said that it is a tourist country with beautiful coastline scenery.
While possessing world heritage sites such as the ancient city of Valletta and the Great Stone Temple of Malta, it is also a member state of the European Union, the Schengen Area, the euro area and the United Kingdom, if you hold the status of Malta, you can visa-free 184 countries and territories.
Therefore, it is also based on tourism as a pillar industry, which has become the main economic source of its country.
However, it is this country, which holds a local passport and can get great convenience in tourism and business activities. Although it is almost crowded with Chinese people, it has also made many Chinese people who immigrated here taste the ups and downs.
As the only "mini island country" in Europe, Malta's land area is really not as big as that of Chaoyang District in Beijing. It is a small island country, but it is also forced to inhabit nearly 600,000 people of all kinds.
When it comes to all kinds of populations, it is also because of historical reasons that there are many people from all over the world in Malta, including Arabs, Italians and British, as well as a large number of Americans and Chinese.
It is such a small place that attracts a lot of people to immigrate, and even 87% of the Chinese immigrant population, which is as if nine out of ten immigrants are likely Chinese.
This high probability also makes people curious, is Malta so small so attractive?
Malta is a small country, but it is small. Long and ancient history.It is precisely for historical reasons that Malta has multi-racial characteristics and attracts immigrants.
Malta has a considerable wealth of ancient relics, covering almost all ages from the New Stone Age to the modern era, starting around 3850 BC, the island welcomed its first islands.
But the first islanders not only cut off most of the trees over the hundred years on the island, but also used unreasonable cultivation methods, damaging the local environment, which also caused the second islanders to come to the island.
When the second group of islanders arrived on the island, although they were the first to raise livestock in famine, but because of the large number of livestock reproduction, often new grass has not yet grown, the livestock has eaten them again, making it difficult for the island's vegetation to grow.
It was also the excessive use of the environment by these two groups of islanders that made the soil on Malta Island increasingly barren. Until later, it was threatened by foreign forces, and the living resources on the island became less and less.
With the influx and invasion of foreigners, the environment in Malta has also become worse and worse, not only has the climate changed in the early South China, but even the volcanoes on the island have started to move sharply. The island is no longer suitable for human habitation.。
It may be because of early historical reasons that Malta's soil is no longer suitable for crops, and agricultural development is also very backward, and most importantly the island's severe lack of edible water.
So some people after immigration also found that Malta although the external environment is beautiful, but it is seriously lacking water, so the water costs are also quite expensive, compared with our domestic water prices are more than three times higher.
This also leaves some migrants in the past to feel the inconvenience of life, after all, they have to spend almost 100 euros per month, which is about 700 yuan on water costs, which is really difficult for people who love to clean.
Some people who have been immigrants in the past can only rely on the regular purchase of barrels for water, and a barrel of water costs approximately 35 yuan, and a month has to spend approximately 60 euros or 450 yuan in huge water costs.
However, the disadvantage of life in Malta is not just the lack of water. Local life can be said to be in all aspects for Chinese people who like a convenient lifestyle Less friendly。
Just like in Malta, because of the island country, there are no high-speed railway transportation means such as subway and high-speed rail in the whole island, and the rare public transport buses always stop on weekends.
At night, there is no nightlife at all. For example, some entertainment places that are very popular in other countries, and there are no places on Maltese islands. It is so deserted that you can only sleep at some point.
There is also a convenience store like almost one in the country, and it is also difficult to find one in Malta, as far as proper jobs are concerned, which is also more favorable to local policies.
Also because the local foreigners are more, people everywhere speak different languages, which also makes the local language system in Malta for a while is Maltese, for a while is English, communication is not so convenient.
But it is such a small country with serious water shortage and various inconveniences, such a micro-country with imported materials and high prices, but it still attracts many people to emigrate. Why?
02
Why are there so many immigrants
Although Malta is a small archipelago country, it has also seen many "world-faced" colonial countries.
In history, Malta was ruled by colonists such as Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, Napoleon of France and Britain. That is to say, Malta has never had its own sovereignty for a long time in the past.
Therefore, in the local cultural style, all kinds of countries have picked a little.
For example, the languages are mostly English, Maltese and Arabic, while the architectural style is mostly Italian European style. As for the traffic rules in the streets and lanes, they follow the British "right-hand drive and left-hand drive" rule.
In Malta, all kinds of glass craft products are most common, which is one of the unique cultures of China. Not only have glass factories been built in Malta for a long time, but there are even Suzhou garden-style buildings with pavilions and waterside pavilions in the local area.
Within the country of Malta, there is indeed a different surprise, and it may be with Malta. Immigration policyIt has a crucial relationship, and it also makes people in many countries want to live here.
The most prominent point is Malta's immigration policy, which is unexpectedly low.
Not only would there be a lot of restrictions, but it would even encourage some wealthy people to travel to a local long-term life.
As long as people meet the age of 18, have no criminal records and buy a local security of not less than 100,000 euros and almost more than 800,000 yuan of insurance, they can immigrate here with proof of their assets.
In the local area, if you buy a real estate for more than 3 million yuan or rent a house for about 120,000 yuan a year, you can almost live and live in Malta. As long as you spend money on Malta, you can almost stay here.
As for its most attractive place, it may be If there is a successful application at home.Four generations of families, including their spouses and children, can live in Malta.
This kind of good condition for one person to apply for the whole family dispatch has also become the first choice for many families who don't want to separate.
In addition to the loose immigration policy and the conditions of buying one get more free, Malta's local Healthcare and educationIt is also a very attractive and attractive place to find.
Although Malta is a small country, there is an average of at least one school per square kilometer, and the ratio of teachers and students is higher than in many European Union countries.
Going to school in Malta can not only follow the EU credit system, but even children who have finished school according to the rules of the academic system can directly connect with European universities. If you want to return to China as an overseas Chinese to take the exam, you can also enter universities with low scores.
Per it is in view of this helicopter university shortcut, so that many Chinese parents in the face of domestic "poultry" education inability to work hard, otherwise for children seeking a good way out.
Although Malta's local economic development mainly relies on a highly industrialized service-oriented economy, it can only be listed as a developed economy by the International Monetary Fund. It is a Micro developed countries。
Especially judging from the indicators that Malta's local GDP will reach a level of about 19.382 billion euros in 2023, and the unemployment rate is only 2.6%, it can also be ranked among the top in Europe.
Its domestic tourism, financial services, film and video manufacturing, shipping and other pillar industries have also attracted tech giants such as Microsoft and Huawei to establish regional headquarters here over the years through the introduction of blockchain national strategy.
Malta’s tax policy, which is also an attractive and a key source of immigration to many countries, does not implement the rules of double taxation locally and has signed agreements with several countries to avoid double taxation.
This means that in Malta there are no taxes, such as inheritance tax, net wealth tax, asset tax, gift tax, even for those who have founded a business in Malta, the corporate income tax is less than about 5%.
And not only is a favorable tax policy support to guarantee tax relief, but also to enjoy the EU Customs Union and EU trade preferential subsidies, so it is also a real tax haven, which is also one of the reasons people are attracted to travel.
Some Americans are rich in their own country. taxes areWhen stressed, they also turn to accumulate their wealth in Malta, which, in addition to some of the above advantages, is also special in terms of healthcare and living environment.
Malta ranks fifth in the world in the World Health Organization’s Global Health System Assessment in 2000, making it one of the world’s most suitable countries to live or retire with its low criminal rate and high average life expectancy.
03
Origin with China
The relationship between Malta and China is also very deep, both in the last century and today.
Just like the A-stream activities on the "Malta-Chinese Culture Night" held on September 7th, in connecting the cultures of the two countries, it is also again to reconsider the historical and friendly relations between the two countries.
In the early 1970s after Malta, China built for local aid. The famous glass factory.。
Even hand-in-hand taught the local people the whole set of techniques of burning, so that today's Malta, in the process of glass products still Preserving the traditional Chinese characteristics.。
And some of the iconic chicken shapes, and the shape of the glass bottle is also the soul of our country's traditional crafts, although it has been passed on to two or three generations, but the old method is still the familiar recipe.
Even in the local area you can see a sign with the words "China aid", which records the 1997 year, from Jiangsu province's aid builders, left in the local full of ancient buildings in the style of Jiangsu.
And some residents who immigrated to Malta will have a different "home feeling" because they see the "hometown buildings" in this foreign country, and even their mood will become very good.
After Malta established ties with China in 1972, China also provided aid to Malta, including ports, hospitals and factories, including the construction of 10,000-ton dry dock, which remains the largest dock in the entire Mediterranean.
China is not only supporting Malta. Chinese gardens such as Jingyuan and Harmony GardenChinese medical centers have also been built in the Mediterranean region, and Chinese medicine is also widely popular in the local area, because the appointment is often required more than a month in advance.
Malta as One of the most popular destinations for millionaire immigrantsIts stable, preferential tax treatment and ideal lifestyles have driven the wealthy to use it as one of the options for seeking a new haven.
But in 2025, the Maltese Immigration Bureau began to adjust its policy. Its medical insurance coverage doubled, and the total cost under the rental model began to rise, which was twice as expensive as before. The pressure on ordinary families was not small.
So the cost is also increasing for those who want to immigrate.
When choosing Malta as a destination for immigrants, it is also necessary to comprehensively consider various factors and weigh the benefits and disadvantages in order to make the best decision for themselves.
This small country, although it has advantages, but also has a lot of life disadvantages, can not see that there are already a large number of national immigrants blindly follow, they are facing increasing cost of living, maybe they are also regret.
reference
Report: Britain becomes the most wealthy country lost, traditional immigration hot destinations lost, 2025-07-01
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — The Embassy in Malta to attend the “Malta-China Culture Night” 2025-09-08
Press Release — The History of China in Malta 2020-08-28
Interface News — Small Countries, Malta among the Top Immigrant Countries 2017-04-14