It is a question worth asking as new figures show a noticeable rise in the number of Maltese citizens officially making the neighbouring Italian island their home.
Data from Italy’s national statistics institute, ISTAT, shows that 287 Maltese citizens were registered as residents in Sicily at the start of 2025. In 2022, the figure stood at 164.
That represents an increase of around 75% in just three years. The number rose from 164 in 2022 to 191 in 2023, 232 in 2024 and 287 in 2025. (tuttitalia.it)
Eastern Sicily is attracting the largest numbers
The Maltese community is particularly concentrated in eastern Sicily. Of the 287 registered residents, 109 were living in the province of Catania, while 76 were registered in Ragusa and 49 in Syracuse. (tuttitalia.it)
Sicily also had more registered Maltese citizens than any other Italian region. Of the 1,022 Maltese citizens registered as residents across Italy in 2025, 287 were in Sicily. (tuttitalia.it)
The real number could be different
The statistics need some context. They concern people with Maltese citizenship who are officially registered as residents, rather than every Maltese person who owns property in Sicily or spends part of the year there.
That means the figures give us a useful indication of the trend, but they do not tell us exactly how many Maltese people regularly spend significant amounts of time on the island. (timesofmalta.com)
Would you move from Malta to Sicily?
The figures raise an interesting question about what Maltese people want from the place they call home.
Sicily’s proximity to Malta makes it a particularly interesting alternative. Recent reporting on the growing Maltese community has pointed towards factors including a slower pace of life, more space and the possibility of finding larger properties at relatively affordable prices. These are reported experiences and should not be taken as the reason behind every person’s decision to relocate. (italpress.com)
