MALTA is a European microstate, comprising an archipelago of three islands. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea, 93 km (58 mi) south of Sicily, giving the country a warm Mediterranean climate. The nation's capital city is Valletta.

Throughout much of its history, Malta was considered to have a crucial strategic location due to its position in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Malta was held by several ancient cultures including Phoenicians, Sicilians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and others.

The island is commonly associated with the Knights Hospitaller, who ruled it from the mid 16th century. 

This, along with the historic Biblical shipwreck of St. Paul on the island, ingrained the strong Roman Catholic legacy which is still the official and most practiced religion in Malta today.

The country's official languages are Maltese and English, although there are strong historical ties to the Italian language on the islands. Malta gained independence from Britain in 1964 and is currently a member of the European Union which it joined in 2004, in addition to being part of the Commonwealth of Nations and the UN.

BASIC FACTS

Official name 

Republic of Malta

Capital 

Valletta

Area 

316 sq km
122 sq mi

Largest cities (population)

Birkirkara 22,435 (2004 estimate)
Qormi 18,547 (2004 estimate)
Mosta 18,070 (2004 estimate)
Żabbar 15,134 (2004 estimate)
Rabat 12,877 (1997 estimate)
Sliema 12,671 (2004 estimate)
Valletta 7,137 (2004 estimate)

Population 

403,532 (2008 estimate)

Population growth rate 

0.41 per cent (2008 estimate)

Population density 

1,277 persons per sq km (2008 estimate)
3,307 persons per sq mi (2008 estimate)

Urbanisation

Per cent urban 92 per cent (2005 estimate)
Per cent rural 8 per cent (2005 estimate)

Life expectancy

Total 79.3 years (2008 estimate)
Female 81.6 years (2008 estimate)
Male 77.1 years (2008 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

4 deaths per 1,000 live births (2008 estimate)

Literacy rate

Total 93.4 per cent (2005 estimate)
Female 94.4 per cent (2005 estimate)
Male 92.4 per cent (2005 estimate)

Ethnic divisions

Maltese 96 per cent
British 2 per cent
Other (including Sicilian, French,<p />Spanish, and Italian) 2 per cent

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Religions

Roman Catholic 93 per cent
Other or none 7 per cent

Type of government

Parliamentary democracy

Independence 

September 21, 1964 (from the United Kingdom)

Constitution 

1964 constitution substantially amended on December 13, 1974

Voting rights 

Universal at age 18

Economy

Gross domestic product (GDP) (US$)6,375 million (2006)
GDP per capita (US$) 15,702.80 (2006)
GDP by economic sector
GDP, agriculture 3.2 per cent (1993)
GDP, industry 34.9 per cent (1993)
GDP, services 62 per cent (1993)

National budget (US$)

Total revenue 2,425 million (2006)
Total expenditure 2,672 million (2006)

Monetary unit

1 Maltese lira (LM), consisting of 100 cents

Exports

Machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footwear, chemicals, foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco products

Imports

Food, petroleum, machinery and semi-manufactured goods

Major trading partners for exports

France, United States, Germany, Singapore, United Kingdom

Major trading partners for imports

Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany, United States

Industries

Tourism, electronics, ship repair, construction, food processing, textiles, footwear, clothing, paper and printing, beverages, tobacco

Agriculture

Principal products: potatoes, cauliflowers, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus fruits, cut flowers, green peppers, pigs, poultry, eggs

Natural resources

Limestone, salt, fish

EXPERIENCE MALTA

Croatia - Montenegro - Albania - Greece - Turkey - Cyprus - Israel
Egypt - Libya - Algeria - Tunisia - Morocco - Spain - France - Italy - Malta