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Europe
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008.
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
35°50' N, 14°35' E
Europe
Total : 316 km²
Land: 316 km²
Water: 0 km²
Slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Area comparison map:
Total: 0 km
196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Highest point: Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m
Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Limestone, salt, arable land
Agricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 28.4% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 66.8% (2018 est.)
35 km² (2020)
Most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Occasional droughts
The country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
Total: 469,730
Male: 237,023
Female: 232,707 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 174; male 174; total 174
Noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Maltese
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248)
65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 47.1
Youth dependency ratio: 19.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 27.7
Potential support ratio: 3.6 (2021 est.)
Total: 43.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 42.4 years
Female: 44.7 years
0.51% (2024 est.)
9.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
29.3 years (2020 est.)
Note: data refers to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 81.5 years
Female: 85.8 years
1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.74 (2024 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
10.8% of GDP (2020)
2.86 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
4.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
28.9% (2016)
Total: 8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 24% (2020 est.)
Male: 26.4% (2020 est.)
Female: 21.6% (2020 est.)
NA
63.2% (2023 est.)
5.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94.9%
Male: 93.4%
Female: 96.4% (2021)
Total: 17 years
Male: 17 years
Female: 18 years (2020)
Limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination; deforestation; wildlife preservation
Party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Agricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 28.4% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 66.8% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.34 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.2 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 269,000 tons (2015 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 17,996 tons (2015 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.7% (2015 est.)
Municipal: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Conventional long form: Republic of Malta
Conventional short form: Malta
Local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
Local short form: Malta
Etymology: the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite" meaning "honey-sweet" from the Greek word "meli" meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production
Parliamentary republic
Name: Valletta
Geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Etymology: named in honor of Jean de VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who successfully led a defense of the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565
68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
History: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
Amendments: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2020
Mixed legal system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
Chief of state: President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (13 January 2020)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 27 March 2024 (next to be held by March 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Election results: 2024: Myriam SPITERI DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous
2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous
Description: unicameral House of Representatives or Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati, a component of the Parliament of Malta (65 seats statutory, 79 for 2022-2027 term; members directly elected in 5 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 26 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
Election results: percent of vote by party - PL 55.1%, PN 41.7%, other 3.2%; seats by party - PL 38, PN 29; composition as of February 2024 - men 57, women 22, percentage women 27.9%; note - due to underepresentation by women in the combined general on 26 March and two casual elections on 7 and 12 April (10 seats or 14.9%), an additional 12 seats were awarded because their percentage did not meet the 40% threshold required by the Malta Constitution or the General Elections Amendment Act 2021
Highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
Subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
AD+PD or ADPD [Carmel CACOPARDO] (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD)
Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL [Robert ABELA]
Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN [Bernard GRECH]
Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the UK awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field
Maltese eight-pointed cross; national colors: red, white
Name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)
Lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
Note: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta
High-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce
$31.661 billion (2023 est.)
$29.978 billion (2022 est.)
$27.738 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
5.61% (2023 est.)
8.08% (2022 est.)
12.51% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$57,200 (2023 est.)
$56,400 (2022 est.)
$53,500 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$20.957 billion (2023 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
5.09% (2023 est.)
6.15% (2022 est.)
1.5% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: A+ (2017)
Moody's rating: A2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2016)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.)
Industry: 10.2% (2017 est.)
Services: 88.7% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 11; industry 204; agriculture 195
Household consumption: 45.2% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 136.1% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -117.9% (2017 est.)
Milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cauliflower/broccoli, pork, chicken, cabbages, pumpkins/squash, grapes (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
4.3% (2014 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
313,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
3.13% (2023 est.)
2.93% (2022 est.)
3.4% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 9.8% (2021 est.)
Male: 13.6%
Female: 5.8%
16.7% (2021 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
31.4 (2020 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Lowest 10%: 3.1% (2020 est.)
Highest 10%: 25.1% (2020 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
1.11% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.23% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.49% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $5.661 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $5.586 billion (2019 est.)
3.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
56.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central, state, and local governments, and social security funds
23.37% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
-$1.02 billion (2022 est.)
$214.463 million (2021 est.)
$348.601 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$25.417 billion (2022 est.)
$25.533 billion (2021 est.)
$22.735 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Germany 12%, Italy 6%, France 6%, Japan 5%, Singapore 5% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Integrated circuits, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, fish, postage stamps/documents (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$23.883 billion (2022 est.)
$22.958 billion (2021 est.)
$20.164 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Italy 14%, China 11%, South Korea 11%, Germany 10%, Canada 5% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, integrated circuits, packaged medicine (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$1.223 billion (2023 est.)
$1.199 billion (2022 est.)
$1.149 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$98.179 billion (2019 est.)
$104.467 billion (2018 est.)
Euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 805,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 2.786 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 7 million kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 646 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 95.168 million kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 46; imports 88; exports 98; consumption 141; installed generating capacity 139
Fossil fuels: 86.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 12.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Consumption: 8.4 metric tons (2021 est.)
Exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton
Imports: 3.9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 46,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Consumption: 399.719 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Imports: 399.719 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
8.352 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 7.586 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 766,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
226.072 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 259,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 702,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)
General assessment: Malta’s small telecom sector is among the most advanced in Europe; this has been helped by the topography, which has made it relatively easy for operators to expand the reach of their fiber infrastructure; with high mobile and broadband penetration rates, the government and regulator have effective strategies in place to capitalize on these infrastructure developments to ensure that the population has among the fastest data rates in Europe, and is well positioned to take advantage of emerging e-commerce opportunities; the sector has also been stimulated by regulatory measures designed to reduce consumer prices; the incumbent telco is investing in a sub sea cable to connect the islands to France and Egypt; expected to be ready for service in 2022, the cable will further enhance Malta’s internet bandwidth and lead to reduced prices for end-users; there has also been some encouragement to increase market competition (2021)
Domestic: fixed-line approximately 49 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership 122 per 100 persons (2021)
International: country code - 356; landing points for the Malta-Gozo Cable, VMSCS, GO-1 Mediterranean Cable System, Malta Italy Interconnector, Melita-1, and the Italy-Malta submarine cable connections to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta broadcasting nationally plus an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2019)
.mt
Total: 461,100 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 87% (2021 est.)
Total: 213,419 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 13 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 180
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,576,898 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5.14 million (2018) mt-km
9H
1 (2024)
2 (2024)
Total: 2,855 km (2021)
Total: 1,957 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613
Total ports: 2 (2024)
Large: 0
Medium: 1
Small: 1
Very small: 0
Ports with oil terminals: 0
Key ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors
The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) is a joint force with land, maritime, and air elements, plus a Volunteer Reserve Force (2024)
Note: the Malta Police Force maintains internal security; both the Police and the AFM report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Security, and Law Enforcement
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022)
0.5% of GDP (2021)
0.6% of GDP (2020)
0.5% of GDP (2019)
Approximately 2,000 active-duty personnel (2023)
The military has a small inventory that consists of equipment from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy and the US (2024)
18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)
The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities; the AFM’s primary roles include maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, monitoring and policing its territorial waters, participating in overseas peacekeeping and stability operations, and providing search and rescue and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities; secondary missions include assisting civil authorities during emergencies, supporting the police and other security services, and providing ceremonial and other public support duties
Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality but contributes to EU and UN military missions and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2023)
Refugees (country of origin): 5,890 (Ukraine) (as of 16 July 2023)
Stateless persons: 11 (2022)
Note: 8,556 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (January 2015-November 2022)
Minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe