It’s official! The Maltese population is one of the most positive nations in the EU, with 96 per cent of respondents in Malta stating that they are very satisfied with the life they lead and their future in a recent EU survey, which is 13 percentage points higher than the average for the whole of the EU. This places Malta at the same level as countries like Denmark, Luxembourg and Sweden.

It was recorded that 87 per cent of Maltese respondents indicated that the current situation is either very good or rather good, which is the highest positive opinion about one’s own county among all the 28 EU Member States, where the average is 50 per cent. So, why are the Maltese so happy to be living on these tiny islands, you ask? Here are five (good) guesses!

1. We’ve got 300 days of sunshine

It’s a known fact that weather affects our moods. So, with 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s no wonder we’re one of the happiest populations out there!

2. The food *drools*

I mean, our cuisine is next level delish. From pastizzi and timpana to stuffat tal-fenek and imqaret, we’ve got a dish for every occasion. Feeling hungry? Your nanna is bound to have something cooked up for lunch!

3. Free healthcare & education

We’ve got free healthcare, including routine checks, tests, scans and ops. When it comes to education, it’s free too, as early as primary school and right up to an undergrad degree. And that’s not all! From post-secondary (sixth form) to tertiary level, students are even paid to study. Not bad, right?

4. Party central

Our secret to being happy-go-lucky? Partying our stresses away at the clubs at Paceville or one of the parties around the island. Not to mention booze is as cheap as chips on our islands compared to many other countries.

5. We’re a tight-knit fam

For better or worse, and whether we like it or not, the Maltese are always close to their families. Proximity or not, our islands have strong family values which keep us grounded. We’ve also got pretty large families that are known to butt into each other’s business, but it’s all out of love!