Country Overview
Malta is an island republic in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. It comprises the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino and smaller islets. After long periods of Mediterranean and European rule, Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974. The capital, Valletta, is a historic fortified port. Malta is an EU member and uses the euro. [6]
Identity and State Formation
- Official and common names
- Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta’ Malta); Malta (Malta)
- Capital
- Valletta
- UN M49 classification
- Europe / Southern Europe [3]
- Historic context
- Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine and Arab rule; rule by the Order of St John from 1530; British rule after 1800, confirmed 1814
- Independence
- 21 September 1964, from the United Kingdom
- Republic established
- 13 December 1974
- Modern constitutional framework
- Constitution of 1964, amended upon the 1974 republic transition and thereafter
- National days
- 21 September (Independence Day); 13 December (Republic Day); 31 March (Freedom Day), among other public holidays
- ISO 3166-1 identifiers
- MT, MLT, 470
- Country-code top-level domain
- .mt
Historical context: The Maltese archipelago preserves prehistoric temple complexes and long maritime histories. The Knights Hospitaller (Order of St John) ruled from 1530 until the French invasion of 1798. After local resistance to French rule, Malta came under British authority. It became independent on 21 September 1964, a republic on 13 December 1974, joined the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. [11]
Geography and Population
- Total geographical area
- 316 km² (EU/Eurostat, 2026 reference) [6]
- Land area
- 315.1 km² (World Bank/FAO, 2024) [2]
- Population
- 579,704 (World Bank, 2025) [1]
- Annual population growth
- 1.9% (World Bank, 2025) [1]
- National population cross-check
- 588,254 residents at end of 2025 (NSO Malta, published July 2026)
- Location
- Central Mediterranean, south of Sicily; no land borders
- Physical geography
- Limestone islands, coastal cliffs, bays, terraced landscapes, and limited natural freshwater
- Principal islands
- Malta, Gozo and Comino
- Urban centers
- Valletta, Birkirkara, Mosta, Sliema, St Paul’s Bay, Qormi and Żabbar
- Local councils
- 68 local councils
Data interpretation: The World Bank annual 2025 population (579,704) and Malta NSO 31 December 2025 resident estimate (588,254) differ by timing and statistical methodology; they are not interchangeable. The EU geographic area is 316 km² and World Bank/FAO land area is 315.1 km². [1]
Economy and International Trade
- Economic structure
- Services-led economy: tourism, financial and professional services, online gaming and digital services, maritime logistics, construction, manufacturing and trade
- Nominal GDP
- Approximately US$27.77 billion (World Bank, 2025 current dollars) [1]
- Nominal GDP per capita
- Approximately US$47,907 (World Bank, 2025 current dollars) [1]
- Real GDP growth
- 4.0% (World Bank, 2025) [1]
- Currency
- Euro (EUR), adopted 1 January 2008 [6]
- Merchandise exports
- Approximately EUR 4.9 billion (2025 provisional, NSO Malta; revised annual figures may vary)
- Main exported merchandise groups
- Mineral fuels and lubricants; machinery and transport equipment; miscellaneous manufactures; chemicals; food and beverages
- Goods and services distinction
- Tourism, remote services, and other service exports are not included in the merchandise trade totals
- Market orientation
- EU trading partners and other Mediterranean and international markets; exact partner ranking varies by commodity and reporting period
Principal Merchandise Export Categories (2025, provisional)
| Category | Illustrative exported products |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and lubricants | Mineral fuels, oils, lubricants and related products; some flows include trading and re-exports |
| Machinery and transport equipment | Electronics, electrical and transport-related equipment |
| Miscellaneous manufactured articles | Industrial and consumer manufactured goods |
| Chemicals | Pharmaceutical, chemical and associated products |
| Food and beverages | Prepared food, drinks and food-related manufactures |
GDP is not wages: Nominal GDP is aggregate economic output; GDP per capita divides that output by population. Neither measure represents average or median personal earnings. [1]
People and Society
- Official languages
- Maltese and English
- National language
- Maltese, a Semitic language written with a Latin alphabet
- Other widely understood languages
- Italian is widely understood; other languages reflect migration
- Roman Catholic affiliation, 2021 census
- 82.6% of residents aged 15 and above identified as Roman Catholic
- Other religion and nonreligion, 2021
- Muslim, Orthodox Christian, Hindu, Anglican, Protestant and nonreligious respondents; no-religion share was 5.1% of residents aged 15+
- Demographic context
- High population density, migration-led growth, and a large noncitizen population
- Census coverage
- 2021 census religion question applied to persons aged 15 years and older, not the entire population
Demographic interpretation: The 82.6% Catholic figure is based on religious identification among respondents aged 15+ in the November 2021 census. It does not measure 2025 adherence or worship attendance. [10]
Government and Institutions
- Political system
- Unitary parliamentary republic
- Head of state
- President of Malta, elected by the House of Representatives according to the constitution; predominantly ceremonial role
- Head of government
- Prime Minister, who commands a parliamentary majority
- Legislature
- Unicameral House of Representatives, elected by proportional representation with single transferable votes
- Constitution
- Constitution of Malta, 1964, amended (including 1974 republic change)
- Local administration
- 68 local councils
- Judiciary
- Independent courts, including the Constitutional Court
International Profile
- United Nations
- Member since 1 December 1964 [5]
- European Union
- Member since 1 May 2004 [6]
- Euro area
- Member since 1 January 2008 [6]
- Schengen area
- Member since 21 December 2007 [6]
- Security and neutrality
- Constitutional commitment to neutrality; not a NATO member
- Other affiliations
- Commonwealth, Council of Europe, OSCE, WTO and international Mediterranean institutions
- UNESCO World Heritage
- 3 properties: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta [4]
- International dialing code
- +356
- Time zone
- Central European Time UTC+1, summer UTC+2
Sources and Verification
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026. Most headline population and economic indicators are World Bank 2025 data. Separate national releases and census figures have different statistical coverage and dates; figures may be updated retrospectively.
- World Bank, World Development Indicators: country data — Annual population, population growth, GDP, GDP per capita and real GDP growth, using the dated observations.
- World Bank and FAO, land area (2024) — Land area in square kilometers.
- United Nations Statistics Division, M49 standard country classification — European regional classification.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, State Parties — Country-specific World Heritage listings and property count.
- United Nations, Member States — UN membership status and dates.
- European Union, Malta country profile — Territory, official languages, EU/euro/Schengen membership and institutions.
- National Statistics Office Malta, World Population Day 2026 — End-2025 Malta and Gozo resident population of 588,254.
- NSO Malta, International Trade in Goods: December 2025 — 2025 preliminary merchandise trade categories and values.
- NSO Malta, International Trade in Goods: March 2026 — Revised 2025 trade categories and data.
- NSO Malta, Census of Population and Housing 2021: Final Report — Religious self-identification for residents aged 15+.
- Government of Malta, constitutional and institutional information — Republican constitutional framework and public institutions.
- UNESCO, Malta World Heritage State Party — Three World Heritage properties.
Methodology: Population is the World Bank 2025 country series; GDP and GDP per capita are in current U.S. dollars and real GDP growth is a volume change, not an exchange-rate change. Land area excludes inland waters under the FAO definition, whereas the country-specific total area can be a distinct national or regional surface measure. Export tables are illustrative merchandise categories, not services data or a harmonized ranking. Religious figures identify their census or survey reference year and denominator.