Malta

Republic of Malta

Europe Valletta

Population

521.8K

Area

316 km²

GDP

$24.32B

GDP Per Capita

$60,500

Pop. Density

1,651/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

€euro(EUR)

Calling Code

+356

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Languages

English, Maltese

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Maltese

Background

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑270.0% since 2006

$7B (2006)$25B (2024)

Population

↑40.3% since 2006

405,308 (2006)568,847 (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 83.5 years

2006: 79.4 years2023: 83.5 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

Location

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Geographic coordinates

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm

Climate

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain

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

Elevation

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

Natural resources

limestone, salt, arable land

Land use

agricultural land

25.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

1.5% (2023 est.)

other

66.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

39 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

occasional droughts

Geography - note

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

People & Society34

Population

total: 521,828 (2025 est.)
male: 271,180
female: 250,648

Nationality

noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Languages

Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)

Age structure

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)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 54.1 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 32.9 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 42.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 42.4 years
female: 44.7 years

Population growth rate

0.65% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

7.67 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

7.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

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.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.3 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 81.5 years
female: 85.8 years

Total fertility rate

1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.57 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

7.86 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

4.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Tobacco use

total: 22.1% (2025 est.)
male: 23.9% (2025 est.)
female: 20.2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.7% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52% (2021 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.5% national budget (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2023 est.)
male: 15 years (2023 est.)
female: 17 years (2023 est.)

Government24

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
etymology: the origin is unclear; the name may come from the ancient term mel, meaning "high" and probably referring to the island's rocks; the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite," possibly from the Greek word meli, meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

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 Parizot de la VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who founded the city in 1566

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
amendment process: 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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal

Executive branch

chief of state

President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)

head of government

Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

most recent election date

27 March 2024

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

expected date of next election

by March 2029

Legislative branch

legislature name

House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

65 (all directly elected)

electoral system

proportional representation

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

3/26/2022

parties elected and seats per party

Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)

percentage of women in chamber

29.1%

expected date of next election

March 2027

Judicial branch

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 on 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)

Political parties

AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD)
Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL
Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (771) 213-4050
FAX: [1] (202) 530-9753
email address and website:
[email protected]

The Embassy (gov.mt)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Somers FARKAS (since 26 November 2025)
embassy: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC 20521-5800
telephone: [356] 2561-4000
email address and website:
[email protected]

https://mt.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

21 September 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)

Flag

description: two equal vertical bands of white (left side) and red; in the upper-left corner is the George Cross, edged in red

history: according to legend, the colors come from the red-and-white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily, who removed a bicolored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091, but the colors more likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, Britain's King George VI awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II, and the George Cross bordered in red was added to the flag after independence in 1964

National symbol(s)

Maltese eight-pointed cross

National color(s)

red, white

National coat of arms

Adopted in 1988, Malta’s coat of arms has a shield displaying the national flag, with olive and palm branches on each side symbolizing peace. On top of the shield is a golden crown in the shape of a fortification with five turrets, representing Malta's forts. The white ribbon below the shield displays the name Repubblika ta' Malta (Republic of Malta).

National anthem(s)

title: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta)
lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
history: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta

Economy30

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $34.731 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $32.774 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.689 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $60,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $59,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $57,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$24.322 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.)
industry: 11.4% (2024 est.)
services: 80.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

46.6% (2024 est.)

government consumption

17.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.9% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.9% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

123.5% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-106.1% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, cauliflower/broccoli, cabbages, pork, pumpkins/squash, watermelons (2023)

Industries

tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services

Industrial production growth rate

5.6% (2024 est.)

Labor force

318,200 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 7.8% (2024 est.)
male: 9.6% (2024 est.)
female: 5.7% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.7% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 34.6 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 27.7% (2022 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $6.95 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $7.966 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017: 50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: $1.383 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $1.425 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$167.611 million (2022 est.)

Exports

Exports 2024: $29.245 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $26.647 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $23.566 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Nigeria 28%, Germany 10%, China 6%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023)

Imports

Imports 2024: $24.505 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $22.637 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $21.406 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

Italy 18%, China 10%, Germany 8%, France 7%, Turkey 7% (2023)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.418 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.223 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.199 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Energy7

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 829,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.766 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 28 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 648 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 199.086 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 8.4 metric tons (2021 est.)
imports: 3.9 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 234.698 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 259,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 767,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta and 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 country code

.mt

Internet users

percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 236,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

Transportation5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

1 (2025)

Heliports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 1,957 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613

Ports

total ports

2 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors

Military & Security6

Military and security forces

the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM): Land Component (combat, combat support, and combat service support divided into three regiments), Maritime Squadron, Air Wing; Volunteer Reserve Force (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces of Malta (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military has a small inventory of armaments from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)

Military - note

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, Organization for the Security and Cooperation (OSCE), 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 (2025)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 9,284 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 171 (2024 est.)

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