An overwhelming majority of adults in Malta believe household responsibilities should be shared equally between partners and reject traditional gender stereotypes, according to the latest National Statistics Office (NSO) omnibus survey. However, the findings also reveal that concerns about discrimination remain widespread, with 25% of respondents reporting they had personally experienced discrimination or harassment over the past five years.
The survey, conducted in September 2025 among a representative sample of residents aged 18 and over, explored public attitudes towards household roles, social tolerance and discrimination.
Strong backing for shared household responsibilities
The survey found broad agreement on gender equality within the home. Around 92% of respondents agreed that partners should share equal responsibility for household chores and raising children, while 88% believed both partners should contribute financially to the household.
Traditional gender stereotypes also received little support. 90% disagreed that tertiary education is more important for boys than girls, while 81% rejected the idea that men are generally better political leaders than women.
Women consistently expressed more egalitarian views than men. They were more likely to support equal sharing of domestic responsibilities and financial contributions, and were also more likely to reject stereotypes about education and political leadership.
Educational attainment also influenced opinions. Respondents with tertiary education were significantly more likely than those with lower levels of education to reject gender-based stereotypes.
High levels of social tolerance
The survey found generally high levels of comfort with neighbours from different social groups.
Respondents were most comfortable living next to someone with a disability, giving this group an average score of 4.9 out of 5. High levels of comfort were also reported towards neighbours of different ethnicities, religions, political opinions and those identifying as LGBTIQ+.
The lowest level of comfort was recorded for neighbours with a history of incarceration or criminality, although the average score of 3.2 still indicated a position above the midpoint of the scale.
Women were more likely than men to say they were completely comfortable having neighbours with disabilities or neighbours identifying as LGBTIQ+, while men were somewhat more likely to express complete comfort with neighbours who had previously been incarcerated or had a criminal history.
Differences across age groups were relatively modest, although respondents aged 35 to 64 generally reported higher levels of comfort than younger adults for several social groups.
Discrimination widely perceived as a reality
More than 4 in 5 respondents (83%) believed that at least one form of discrimination occurs with some frequency in Malta.
Discrimination based on ethnicity, skin colour or language was perceived as the most common form, with 25% saying it happens very often and a further 39% saying it occurs sometimes. Age discrimination was viewed as the least common, with 37% believing it never occurs.
Women were consistently less likely than men to believe discrimination never happens, particularly regarding discrimination based on sex and age. Meanwhile, respondents with higher levels of education were more likely to recognise the existence of discrimination across all categories examined.
One in four experienced discrimination or harassment
The survey also examined respondents' personal experiences of discrimination and harassment.
Overall, 25% reported experiencing some form of discrimination or harassment during the previous five years, while 16% said they had experienced such incidents within the last 12 months.
Experiences were slightly more common among women, younger adults aged 18 to 34, and respondents with tertiary education.
The most frequently reported form of discrimination was based on ethnicity, skin colour or language, affecting 8% of respondents over the past five years and 6% within the previous 12 months.
Despite these experiences, reporting rates remained relatively low. Among those who experienced discrimination or harassment in the previous year, only 39% reported the incident. Of those who did report it, 88% said they did so informally by confiding in a family member, relative or friend rather than through formal channels.
The findings suggest that while attitudes towards gender equality and social inclusion are generally positive among Malta's adult population, discrimination continues to be perceived as a significant issue, with many residents reporting personal experiences but relatively few pursuing formal reporting mechanisms.