Malta tops Mediterranean peers in public service satisfaction, EU survey finds

56% of citizens in Malta report being satisfied with their public administration, placing the country among the top performers in the European Union (EU) a survey by Eurobarometer shows.

The figure—made up of 17% “very satisfied” and 39% “satisfied”—not only puts Malta ahead of its Mediterranean peers but also secures it a joint fifth-place ranking among the member states included in the survey’s data annex, alongside Latvia.

The survey published this week was held in in August 2025 included 500 Maltese respondents.

Malta’s performance places it just behind frontrunners such as Luxembourg (75%), Denmark (70%), Estonia (68%) and Belgium (64%). At the same time, it significantly outpaces regional counterparts including Greece (40%), Cyprus (29%), Bulgaria (26%) and Italy (13%).

Notably, Malta also records one of the highest proportions of citizens who are “very satisfied,” ranking third in this category, while maintaining a relatively low overall dissatisfaction rate of 16%.

This comparative advantage suggests that Malta has succeeded in fostering a more responsive and citizen-oriented administrative culture than many of its peers. While satisfaction levels alone do not tell the full story, they are closely tied to efficiency, accessibility and trust in institutions.

One of the survey’s more revealing indicators concerns predictability in dealings with public services. Malta ranks first in the EU for citizens reporting that they only occasionally need more contact than initially expected when handling administrative procedures.

Some 65% of respondents said additional interaction was required only about a quarter of the time. This points to a system where processes are generally clear from the outset, reducing frustration and uncertainty.

The data also highlights strong citizen engagement with public administration. Only 3% of respondents in Malta reported having no interaction with public services over the past two years—less than half the EU average of 7%. This indicates not only accessibility but also the central role public services play in Maltese society.

Importantly, dissatisfaction remains limited. Just 5% of respondents said they were “very dissatisfied”, suggesting negative experiences are not widespread.

Malta also stands out for the flexibility of its data management systems. 60% of respondents say it is easy to update personal data held by public authorities—well above figures recorded in countries such as Netherlands (32%), Slovenia (25%) and Finland (20%). This positions Malta among the stronger performers in enabling citizens to keep their official records accurate and up to date.

Expectations for digital service delivery are also notably high. While 58% of Maltese respondents say easy-to-use digital services are “very important”—above the EU average—this reflects a population that increasingly sees digital access not as an added benefit but as a basic standard.

This demand is matched by strong uptake: 76% of citizens reported interacting with public administration to use a service, such as requesting documents or registering life events. This figure surpasses similarly high-performing countries like the Netherlands (72%) and Sweden (75%), underlining the centrality of public services in everyday life.

However, the survey also highlights a clear area for improvement. A significant 81% of Maltese respondents say they are asked to provide the same personal data repeatedly. While this issue is not unique to Malta—being even higher in countries like Poland (92%) and Romania (78%)—it points to the need for further progress towards a streamlined “once-only” principle in data handling.

At the same time, Malta’s administration appears to be successfully balancing digital and traditional channels.

Two main methods of interaction are used by 50% and 47% of citizens respectively, suggesting a hybrid model that accommodates different preferences while maintaining consistent service quality.