Malta
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 having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and the French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic ten years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

geography

location

35.50° N, 14. 35° E
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

area

316 sq km
land
316 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

196.8 km

climate

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

terrain

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

elevation

lowest point
Mediterranean Sea
0
highest point
Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs
253

natural resources

  • limestone
  • salt
  • arable land

land use

arable land
28.4 %
permanent crops
3.9 %
permanent pasture
0 %
forest
0.9 %
other
66.8 %

population distribution

most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands

people

population

  • 457,267
  • 175
    global rank

nationality

  • Maltese (singular and plural)
    noun
  • Maltese
    adjective

ethnic groups

  • Maltese

languages

  • Maltese
    official
  • English
    official
  • multilingual
  • other

religions

  • Roman Catholic

birth rate

  • 9.9
    per 1,000 population
  • 192
    global rank

death rate

  • 8.3
    per 1,000 population
  • 79
    global rank

urban population

94.7 %

major urban areas

  • Valletta
    pop. 213,000

life expectancy

  • 82.8
    total population
  • 12
    global rank
80.7
male
85
female

adult obesity rate

  • 28.9%
    percent of adults
  • 28
    global rank

government

country name

    conventional

  • Republic of Malta
    long form
  • Malta
    short form

    local

  • Repubblika ta' Malta
    long form
  • Malta
    short form

government type

parliamentary republic

capital

Valletta
35.53 N, 14.30 E

independence

national holidays

  • Independence Day
    21 September
  • Republic Day
    13 December

legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law

age of suffrage

18

flag description

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

national colors

  • red
  • white

national anthem

"L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)

economy

overview

Malta’s free market economy – the smallest economy in the euro-zone – relies heavily on trade in both goods and services, principally with Europe. Malta produces less than a quarter of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing, and tourism. Malta joined the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta has weathered the euro-zone crisis better than most EU member states due to a low debt-to-GDP ratio and financially sound banking sector. It maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, and growth has fully recovered since the 2009 recession. In 2014 through 2016, Malta led the euro zone in growth, expanding more than 4.5% per year. Malta’s services sector continues to grow, with sustained growth in the financial services and online gaming sectors. Advantageous tax schemes remained attractive to foreign investors, though EU discussions of anti-tax avoidance measures have raised concerns among Malta’s financial services and insurance providers, as the measures could have a significant impact on those sectors. The tourism sector also continued to grow, with 2016 showing record-breaking numbers of both air and cruise passenger arrivals. Malta’s GDP growth remains strong and is supported by a strong labor market. The government has implemented new programs, including free childcare, to encourage increased labor participation. The high cost of borrowing and small labor market remain potential constraints to future economic growth. Increasingly, other EU and European migrants are relocating to Malta for employment, though wages have remained low compared to other European countries. Inflation remains low.

GDP

19,260,000,000 USD
2017

agriculture products

  • potatoes
  • cauliflower
  • grapes
  • wheat
  • barley
  • tomatoes
  • citrus
  • cut flowers
  • green peppers
  • pork
  • milk
  • poultry
  • eggs

poverty level

16.3%
2015

budget

  • 5,076,000,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 4,583,000,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 255,437
    total subscriptions
  • 121
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 615,843
    total subscriptions
  • 167
    global rank

broadcast media

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)

internet

.mt
country code

    users

  • 365,521
    total
  • 81.4
    % of population
  • 161
    global rank

energy

electricity access

100%
2016

transportation

air transport

    national system

  • 9
    registered air carriers
  • 1,583,046
    annual passenger traffic

    airports

  • 1
    total
  • 1
    paved

roadways

2,254 km
total length

military

expenditures

expenditures here

service age

18