Malta
Country Guide

Explore Malta

Malta with its capital Valletta is located in Europe (Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea). It covers some 317 square kilometers (slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC) with 416,338 citizens. Maltese and English are the common languages used in Malta. Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea that lies south of the island of Sicily, Italy. Although small, Malta has a long and rich history, with evidence for habitation going back to the Neolithic era (4th millennium B.C.). The country boasts some of the world's most ancient standing buildings (the Neolithic temples). There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: Not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union. The official languages are Maltese and English. In Summer, the island is perfect for water sports and beach activities. The island has been described as an open-air museum by some; one is unlikely to run out of things to see during a visit to Malta. Each township has its own unique sights to offer if one pays close enough attention. Distinctly Maltese cuisine is hard to find but does exist. The food eaten draws its influences from Italian cuisine. A typical soft drink that originated in Malta is Kinnie, a non-alcoholic fizzy drink made from bitter oranges (called Chinotto orange) and slightly reminiscent of Martini. Malta is generally safe compared to its European counterparts. However, with growing illegal immigration in detention camps located in the south of the island, locals are beginning to feel a sense of uncertainty in regards to their safety in these areas.

Popular Destinations in Malta

Administrative regions of Malta

• Attard
• Balzan
• Birkirkara
• Birzebbuga
• Bormla
• Dingli
• Ghajnsielem
• Hal Gharghur
• Hal Ghaxaq
• Haz-Zabbar
• Haz-Zebbug
• Il-Belt Valletta
• Il-Birgu
• Il-Fgura
• Il-Fontana
• Il-Furjana
• Il-Gudja
• Il-Gzira
• Il-Hamrun
• Il-Kalkara
• Il-Marsa
• Il-Mellieha
• Il-Mosta
• Il-Munxar
• Il-Qala
• Il-Qrendi
• In-Nadur
• In-Naxxar
• Ir-Rabat
• Is-Siggiewi
• Is-Swieqi
• Ix-Xaghra
• Ix-Xewkija
• Ix-Xghajra
• Iz-Zebbug
• Iz-Zejtun
• Iz-Zurrieq
• Kirkop
• L-Gharb
• L-Ghasri
• L-Iklin
• L-Imdina
• L-Imgarr
• L-Imqabba
• L-Imsida
• L-Imtarfa
• L-Isla
• Lija
• Luqa
• Marsaskala
• Marsaxlokk
• Paola
• Pembroke
• Qormi
• Safi
• Saint John
• Saint Julian's
• Saint Lawrence
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Paul's Bay
• Saint Venera
• Sannat
• Ta' Kercem
• Ta' Xbiex
• Tal-Pieta
• Tarxien
• Tas-Sliema
• Victoria

About the country

The topography is mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains with many coastal cliffs. The average density of population is about 1,318 per km². The climate in Malta can be described as Mediterraneanmild, rainy winters, hot, dry summers. Potential natural disasters are occasional droughts.

To reach someone Malta dial +356 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".mt". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: G). The sign for the locally used currency Lira is MTL.

Two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the UK awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field.

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 having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans,

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 206)	316	sq km
Land (World Rank: 203)	316	sq km
Comparative	slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
196.8
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 210)	253	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 128)	32.30	%
Arable (World Rank: 33)	28.40	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 66)	3.90	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 155)	35	sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- increasing reliance on desalination - limited natural freshwater resources
Agreement party	- Air Pollution - Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Marine Dumping - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Wetlands
Hazzards	occasional droughts
Location
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Climate
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 174)	416,338
Deathrate (World Rank: 58)	0.94	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 190)	1.01	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 174)	0.26	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 46)	0.20	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 187)	1.55	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 29)	40.80
Female (World Rank: 39)	43.00
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 182)	32,128
0 14 female (World Rank: 182)	30,490
15 24 male (World Rank: 178)	24,471
15 24 female (World Rank: 178)	23,142
25 54 male (World Rank: 175)	85,158
25 54 female (World Rank: 175)	81,303
55 64 male (World Rank: 163)	28,919
55 64 female (World Rank: 164)	29,298
65 x male (World Rank: 154)	36,743
65 x female (World Rank: 153)	44,686
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 199)	0.35	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 38)	81	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 40)	83	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 35)	78	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 18)	3.91
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 38)	4.80
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 14)	100.00	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 28)	28.90	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 6)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 145)	1,228,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 140)	2,103,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 66)	1,054,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 66)	88.50	%
Source renew (World Rank: 58)	12.70	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 111)	42,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 97)	4,031	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 88)	43,950	bbl / day
Carbon footprint
887700

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 8)	8	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 143)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 28)	10	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 51)	-1	% of GDP
National symbol
Maltese eight-pointed cross
National colours
white
Adjective
Maltese
Noun
Maltese (singular and plural)
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 having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans,
Flag description
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the UK awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 151)	17,320,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 32)	5.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 43)	39,900	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 190)	1.30	%
Source industry (World Rank: 200)	10.60	%
Source service (World Rank: 9)	88.10	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 169)	201,300
In poverty (World Rank: 123)	16.30	%
Products
Industries	- aviation services - beverages - clothing - construction - electronics - financial services - food - footwear - information technology services - pharmaceuticals - repair - ship building - tobacco - tourism
Agriculture	- barley - cauliflower - citrus - cut flowers - eggs - grapes - green peppers - milk - pork - potatoes - poultry - tomatoes - wheat
Exports	- aircraft/spacecraft - books - games - machinery - mechanical appliances - mineral fuels - newspapers - oils - parts - petroleum products - pharmaceutical products - sports equipment - toys
Imports	- aircraft/spacecraft - electrical machinery - machinery - mechanical appliances - mineral fuels - oils - other semi-manufactured goods - parts - parts thereof - plastic - products - vehicles

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 121)	234,383
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 14)	56.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 49)	130.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 155)	320,902
Population (World Rank: 54)	77.30	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 214)	1.00
Heliports (World Rank: 61)	2.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 164)	3,096
Paved length (World Rank: 120)	2,704
Unpaved length (World Rank: 135)	392

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