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What makes Malta a top retirement destination?
Year after year, Malta is ranked among the best retirement destinations across the world, with the number of foreign nationals relocating to Malta increasing each year:
- In 2015, The Times of Malta published an article entitled Malta seen among top places to retire for Americans.
- In 2016 Live and Invest Overseas published an article about Malta being the second best place in the world to retire.
- In 2017, Malta made it in the top 10 of The world’s best places to retire in 2017 in the International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index
So what keeps Malta at the top of the retirement list?
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Fabulous Weather, Sun, Sand and Sea
Malta has always been distinguished for its warm climate and sunny days. The island enjoys sunshine throughout most of the year and boasts beautiful beaches which are also ranked among the cleanest waters in the world.
The island makes for fantastic aquatic activities, from wind-surfing, canoeing and sailing to snorkeling and scuba diving.
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History
Malta has some of the oldest historical sites in the world – older than the ancient Pyramids! Being a small island, it was ruled by many different cultures, with the Order of The Knights of St John and the British leaving an indelible mark on the architectural gems.
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Feasts and Festivals
Celebrations are a common thing in Maltese Culture. The island is buzzing with activities, from religious feasts and cultural festivals, to highly-acclaimed international events like The Isle of MTV, the International Jazz Festival, the Malta International Fireworks Festival and The Malta International Air Show.
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Affordable cost of living
According to Numbeo, statistics for 2017 show that the cost of living in Malta is 15.26% lower than in United States whilst rent in Malta is 40.37% lower than in United States (average data for all cities).
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No language barrier
Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Children are introduced to both languages from the day they are born, so you will never find any problems communicating in English.
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Safety
Malta is also deemed as one of the safest countries in the world, with a relatively low crime rate.
In 2015, Malta was ranked 7th safest small country in the world and 15th overall in a study by US data analysis firm ValuePenguin.
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Excellent healthcare
Malta has a famed history of good healthcare services, with the first recorded functional hospital running in the 1300s! Today, Malta provides free healthcare services for all citizens.
In 2015 Malta ranked 5th placed in WHO study of The Best Healthcare Systems in The World and Second Best in Europe according to a survey by Numbeo.
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Short travelling time
Since the Island is quite small, it is very easy to get from one place to another in a very short time, and it may sometimes be more convenient to enjoy a pleasant walk to your destination.
This is especially the case if you live in towns like Sliema, where everywhere is literally a few minutes away from the endless coastline. But most towns and cities today offer all amenities within short distances, so you are never feeling stranded at any time of day or night.
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Cheap flights to nearby destinations
If you are looking to get away from the island for a few weeks, there are many cheap flights to places like London, Sicily or France.
You can fly to Sicily in 40 min, to Paris in less than 3 hours, to the UK in 3 hours, so you can get to your favourite European destination within a few hours.
Air Malta Flights to Catania start from only E66.
All in all, Malta is a paradise to live in and it is no wonder that Malta has also recently been classified as the 27th happiest country to live in in the world, moving up 3 places and beating France and Italy amongst other destinations.
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