THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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

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.)

Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; wildlife preservation
International environmental agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
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.)
Urbanization: urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 8.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 8.113 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 852,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 348,800 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 39.497 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 21.358 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 50.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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 - unanimous2019: 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: maltaembassy.washington@gov.mtThe 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: ACSMalta@state.govhttps://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 redhistory: 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

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.)

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.)

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.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9H
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: 0
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors

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 dutiesMalta 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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 9,284 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 171 (2024 est.)

Malta