Malta’s prevailing asthma rates remain above the European average as the country is currently covered by a substantial cloud of Saharan dust, pushing concentrations of PM10 particulate matter higher across the islands.
The latest published European Health Interview Survey for Malta found that 6% of people aged 15 and over had suffered from asthma during the previous 12 months, compared with an EU average of 5.7%. Lifetime asthma prevalence in Malta stood at 8%.
Finland registered the highest prevalence at 9.4%, followed by Germany at 8%, France at 7.8% and Sweden at 7.5%. Malta remained slightly above the EU average. Historically, Malta has also recorded particularly high asthma rates among children, with European comparisons showing asthma prevalence of around 14.9% among children aged six to seven.
Official Maltese surveys also show a long-term rise in reported adult asthma. The percentage of the population reporting asthma during the previous 12 months increased from 4% in 2002 to 5.5% in 2008, 5.8% in 2014/15 and 6% in 2019/20.
A new European Health Interview Survey was carried out in Malta in 2025, but its detailed results, including the latest asthma prevalence figures, have yet to be published. The new figures will provide the first comprehensive update on Malta’s asthma prevalence since the 2019/20 survey.
Separately, OECD data show that Malta has also recorded relatively high levels of hospitalisation for asthma. The latest available Maltese figure is 83 asthma hospital admissions per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, up sharply from 47 per 100,000 in 2021. These figures measure hospital admissions and should not be confused with asthma prevalence.
The current Saharan dust episode is particularly relevant to people suffering from asthma. The World Health Organisation says desert-dust events increase concentrations of particulate matter and represent a particular health concern for respiratory diseases. Dust and particulate pollution can aggravate asthma and other existing respiratory conditions.
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