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.

Area
Total: 316 km²
Land: 316 km²
Water: 0 km²
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

Land use
Agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Forest: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 66.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 39 km² (2022)

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

Population
Total: 469,730 (2024 est.)
Male: 237,023
Female: 232,707
Distribution: most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Growth rate: 0.51% (2024 est.)

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: 53.7 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 21.4 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 43.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 42.4 years
Female: 44.7 years

Population growth rate: 0.51% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 9.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 81.5 years
Female: 85.8 years

Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.7% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.8% (2024 est.); 3.2% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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
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 2,029

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 2,027

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

National anthem
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:

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (2024 est.); 6.8% (2023 est.); 4.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 6% (2024 est.); 6.8% (2023 est.); 4.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Industry: 11.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 80.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 318,200 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.8% (2024 est.); 3.2% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.8% (2024 est.); 3.2% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

Taxes and other revenues: 21.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $29.245 billion (2024 est.); $26.647 billion (2023 est.); $23.566 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $24.505 billion (2024 est.); $22.637 billion (2023 est.); $21.406 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources 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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.965 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 8.113 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 852,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

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

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 259,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 749,000 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 236,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

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

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