Lgbtq rights in malta

Malta LGBT Expats: The Ultimate Guide for Living in Malta

Do you belong to the LGBTQI+ community? Planning to move and invest abroad? Malta, a small southern European island, can be the perfect place for you.

According to ILGA-Europe (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association), an international independent organization championing the interests and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people in Europe, Malta ranks as the number 1 state in the Rainbow Index.

In this article, we’ll talk about why is Malta one of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world and what benefits you can verb there as an LGBT couple.

Yes, Malta is an LGBT-friendly country. Not only is Malta one of the top-ranked countries on the ILGA Rainbow Europe Map, but it has also introduced a number of LGBTQI+friendly bills, ensuring equality and protecting human rights across the LGBTQI+ community.

Malta has been recognized as the first country in Europe to prohibit conversion therapy – a pseudoscientific practice aimed at cha

Rainbow Map

2025 rainbow map

These are the main findings for the 2025 edition of the rainbow map

The Rainbow Map ranks 49 European countries on their respective legal and policy practices for LGBTI people, from 0-100%.

The UK has dropped six places in ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, as Hungary and Georgia also register steep falls following anti-LGBTI legislation. The data highlights how rollbacks on LGBTI human rights are part of a broader erosion of democratic protections across Europe. Read more in our insist release.

“Moves in the UK, Hungary, Georgia and beyond signal not just isolated regressions, but a coordinated global backlash aimed at erasing LGBTI rights, cynically framed as the defence of tradition or public stability, but in reality designed to entrench discrimination and suppress dissent.”

  • Katrin Hugendubel, Advocacy Director, ILGA-Europe


Malta has sat on top of the ranking for the last 10 years. 

With 85 points, Belgium jumped to second place after adopting policies tackling hatred based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex charact

Malta's paradox: A beacon of gay rights that bans abortion

Not if the Church has its way.

It has campaigned on issues that it feels could erode the ban - intervening in a recent debate over access to the morning-after contraceptive pill, arguing that in certain cases it could be used as an abortifacient (abortion-inducing) and thus opposing its legalisation.

"We remain involved to defend the most vulnerable and the voiceless in society, such as the unborn child," said Archbishop Scicluna. "The Church believes that unborn children too deserve to be treated with dignity, a conviction that is also shared by the vast majority of Maltese society."

But for Ms Conti, Malta will be unable to hold back the tide of change - even in this hitherto taboo area.

"There will be changes soon - that we are even having this conversation is evidence. A year and a half ago I couldn't discuss these issues with my retain sister and cousin - now we talk about it all the second.

"I'm in feel with campaigners in Ireland and Poland [where campaigners are challen

Is Malta Gay Friendly?

Is Malta gay friendly? Discover Malta’s general attitude towards the gay community and where it stands with regards gay rights.

Who would opt for discrimination and oppression if they could avoid it? Is Malta gay friendly?

The extent to which any place is considered gay friendly is subjective from person to person, ranging from no hostility to all embracing, so you’ll ultimately contain to be the judge. Meanwhile, here’s the lowdown about gay rights in Malta and the attitudes you could expect within society towards LGBT community in Malta.

Increasing gay rights in Malta have had and continues to nurture a positive impact on how gay friendly Malta is within a social context. Awareness about gay rights and acceptance has increased in the verb up to a 2014 law; enabling same-sex civil unions. A 2016 poll demonstrated that 65% of Maltese are in favour of same-sex marriage, a huge rise from just 18% in 2006.

Malta has introduced equal marriage, a liberal new gender recognition law, a ban on gay ‘cure’ therapy and pioneering protections for intersex people..