Malta

Location

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

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
San Pawl il-Baħar	32,042
Birkirkara	24,356
Mosta	23,482
Sliema	22,591
Qormi	16,801
Żabbar	15,648
Valletta	6,794	Capital

Size

• 122 square miles
• 316 square kilometers
• slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C.

History

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.

Climate

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

Government

parliamentary republic

• Constitution: history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964amendment 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
• Legal System: mixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
• 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 ministerelection/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 ministermost recent election date: 27 March 2024election results: 2024:  Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimousexpected date of next election: by March 2029
• 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 65subordinate 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)
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 65 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 3/26/2022parties 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

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $6.95 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $7.966 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: limestone, salt, arable land
• Industries: tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
• Agricultural Products: milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, cauliflower/broccoli, cabbages, pork, pumpkins/squash, watermelons (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 27.3% (2022 est.)arable land: 24.4% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 3% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)forest: 1.4% (2022 est.)other: 71.2% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Italy 18%, China 10%, Germany 8%, France 7%, Turkey 7% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Nigeria 28%, Germany 10%, China 6%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports