Residents in Malta aged 16 and over make an estimated 1.36 million trips every day, averaging 2.8 trips per person per day across all modes of transport, results of a survey published Tuesday show.

These trips span commuting to work, shopping, visiting family and friends, and leisure activities - a pattern comparable to other European countries.

Public buses now account for a larger share of daily trips than in previous years, as public transport's share reached 12.8% in 2025, up from 10.8% in 2023.

These insights are drawn from a large-scale research study on transport and mobility behaviour, conducted by 20/20 Strategy and commissioned by Malta Public Transport. The findings point to increased bus patronage, more frequent usage by commuters, and an upward trend in passenger satisfaction metrics, indicating that recent initiatives in Malta's public transport system are yielding results.

The study, conducted in March 2025, surveyed nearly 3,000 residents in Malta and is nationally representative by age, gender, nationality, and district. It builds on an annual tracking framework to reveal how mobility choices in Malta are evolving over time.

The top factors influencing the choice of mode of transport are 'punctuality', 'road safety & security', 'availability', 'journey time' and 'ease of use', the survey showed. In terms of usage occasions, the bus is mostly used for essential trips such as running errands and going to work

The growth in bus usage to 12.8% modal share has been driven by not only more people using the bus (particularly 16-45 year olds), but more people using it on a frequent daily basis.

More than half of Malta's population is using public transport, the study showed. In the last 12 months, an estimated 57% of residents (aged 16 and over) used a public bus, combined with continued population growth.

Daily bus usage has risen since 2023, with 24% of the resident population now riding a bus on a daily basis. This shift suggests that some previously 'occasional' users have become more regular bus commuters, boosting overall trip share, the study showed.

Higher choice of the Bus as the Main Mode of transport: The proportion of people citing the bus as their primary mode of transport has inched upward. In 2025, 26% of respondents identified the public bus as their main mode of travel, a slight increase from 25% in 2024. Conversely, the proportion using a personal car as their main mode fell to 53% (from 55% in 2024). This modest shift highlights the growing role for public transport among specific segments.

Several factors have contributed to the underlying growth in bus usage: The Free Public Transport for Residents initiative launched in October 2022, allowing free travel for Maltese residents in possession of a Tallinja card, combined with the continued investment in modernising the fleet, increased frequencies on busy routes, as well as continued population growth have all contributed to the growth in bus usage.

Strong appetite for a rapid transport solution: A notable 68% of residents expressed willingness to use a rapid transport solution if it meant reaching their destination faster, highlighting clear demand for a more efficient and well-connected network.