Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
44 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
236,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.mt
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
93.86% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
49 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
259,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
142 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
767,000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, cauliflower/broccoli, cabbages, pork, pumpkins/squash, watermelons (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$7.966 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$6.95 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$270.3 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$991.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$300.5 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$66.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$2.713 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$2.156 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$2.916 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$2.641 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$1.844 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$167.611 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$1.425 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$1.383 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.752945 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.752728 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.901296 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.903421 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.885206 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.846773 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.893276 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.875506 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845494 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.949624 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.924840 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$9.539 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$11.523 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$12.331 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$13.609 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$16.516 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$19.926 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$20.344 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$21.319 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$23.442 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$23.566 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$26.647 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$29.245 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
123.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
17.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
46.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-106.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
17.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
11.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
80.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$69,864 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$24.322 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$39.742 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
29.4 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
29.1 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
29.2 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
28.7 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
31.0 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
31.4 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
31.6 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
34.6 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
31.8 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
27.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$8.061 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$11.167 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$12.049 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$13.655 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$16.921 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$17.735 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$18.440 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$20.018 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$21.406 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$22.637 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$24.505 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
5.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.10% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.64% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.36% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.16% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.64% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.64% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.50% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.15% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.09% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.65% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
318,200 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
16.70% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$15.261 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$17.044 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$18.635 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$21.377 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$25.897 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$25.760 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$29.458 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$30.689 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$32.774 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$34.731 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
9.62% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.08% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
12.97% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
7.19% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.09% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-3.46% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
13.41% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
6.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
6.80% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$35,206 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$38,369 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$41,000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$45,764 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$51,393 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$49,972 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$56,852 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$60,589 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$67,057 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$245.9 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$252.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$274.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$13.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$14.0 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$571.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$677.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$833.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$1.025 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$937.6 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$930.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.149 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.199 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.223 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.418 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
21.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.08% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.86% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.75% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.47% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.48% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.10% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
5.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
9.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
7.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
8.4 metric tons (2021 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
3.9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
13.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
2.766 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
28 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
648 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
829,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
199.086 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
234.698 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
852,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
8.113 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
8.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Environment: Environmental issues
limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; wildlife preservation
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
25.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
1.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
66.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
50.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
21.358 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
1 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
39.497 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
95.65% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
348,800 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.5% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
316 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
39 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
25.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
1.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
66.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
25 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
occasional droughts
Geography: Population distribution
most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Geography: Terrain
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Government: 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
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
35 53 N, 14 30 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Malta
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: local long form
Repubblika ta' Malta
Government: Country name: local short form
Malta
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Somers FARKAS (since 26 November 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSMalta@state.gov https://mt.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC 20521-5800
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[356] 2561-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt The Embassy (gov.mt)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 530-9753
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (771) 213-4050
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
by March 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
27 March 2024
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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)
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
March 2027
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
3/26/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
65 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
29.1%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
Government: 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 ).
Government: National color(s)
red, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
Government: National symbol(s)
Maltese eight-pointed cross
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces of Malta (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.46% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.50% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.46% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.41% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.49% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.53% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.45% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.50% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.45% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
7.67 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
8.84% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
52% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
32.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
54.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
21.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
12.5% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.71% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.57 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
10.6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
16.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
4.1 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
84.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
81.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
93.31% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
44.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
42.4 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
29.3 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Maltese
People and Society: Net migration rate
7.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
28.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
7.86 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
568,847 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.65% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
250,648
People and Society: Population: male
271,180
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
16 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.86 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
20.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
23.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
22.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.01 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
95.65% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
9,284 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
171 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9H
Transportation: Heliports
2 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
1,957 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.