Malta has emerged as one of the countries with the lowest number of doctor visits per person, with residents averaging just two consultations annually, according to figures compiled by the OECD.
A new infographic published by Visual Capitalist places Malta near the bottom of an international ranking examining how frequently people visit their doctors.
According to the data, Malta records approximately two doctor consultations per person each year, putting it alongside Sweden, Costa Rica and Mexico among the countries with the lowest figures.
The contrast with other countries is striking!
South Korea tops the ranking with an average of 18 doctor visits per person annually, followed by Japan with 12 and Türkiye with 12.
Closer to home, Italy records approximately nine consultations per person each year, while Spain averages six and France five.
Even neighbouring European countries such as Greece and Finland, which both record around three annual visits per person, rank above Malta.
The figures highlight significant differences in how frequently people access medical consultations across the world.
However, fewer doctor visits do not necessarily mean that people are healthier or that healthcare services are less accessible.
Consultation rates can be influenced by several factors, including how healthcare systems are organised, whether patients visit specialists directly, and how medical appointments are recorded.
The infographic also notes that the figures come from the latest available data between 2022 and 2025, mostly from 2024, with reporting methods varying between countries.
Nevertheless, Malta’s position near the bottom of the ranking raises an interesting question about how frequently residents seek medical attention compared to people elsewhere in Europe.
Do you think Maltese residents visit the doctor less often than they should?
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Gabriel Falzon is a social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.