Malta – country information

Country name	Malta
Official name	Republic of Malta
Capital	Valletta
Continent	Europe
Area	316 km2
Population	416,055 (2011)
Foundation of a state	21/09/1964
The highest mountains	highest point 253 m
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Valletta (capital) 9150 (conurbation 210,000)
Official language	Maltese language, English
Ethnicity/National Composition	Maltese 97%, British 1%, others 3%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic 99%, others 1%
Currency	1 Maltese lira (Lm) = cents
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$26,857 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	79.01 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and forestry 3.2%, mining and industry 29%, construction 3.8%, services 64%

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Malta is an island republic in the Mediterranean Sea about 100 km south of Sicily. It consists of the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, which lie in a strategic position midway between Gibraltar and Suez and between Italy and Tunisia. Its location has historically been the reason for frequent changes of its rulers.

Country data

Location: Southern Europe

Time zone: CET

Total area: 316 km²

Land area: 316 km²

Water area: 0 km²

Length of the state border: 0 km

Coastline: 197 km

Capital: Valetta

Localities: 68
Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, 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

Electric current: 240 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 356 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Ta’Dmejrek 253 m

Population

Population: approx. 413,000 residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.3% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 1,306

Life expectancy: 78 (male), 83 (female)

Official language: Maltese, English

Religions:

• 90% Roman Catholic
• 10% other

Climate

During the sunny summer, the temperature is around 30 ° C. Occasionally it can get over 40 ° C.

The winter months are mild, with average temperatures around 12-20 ° C. There is no frost or snowfall.

Some rain falls in the summer months. In winter there is very rarely rain.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Euro (EUR)

Classification: 1 euro = 100 cents

ATMs: There are many available.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.

Regulations: National and foreign currencies can be imported in unlimited amounts. A declaration is required from an equivalent value of 10,000 EUR.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• very small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Electronic devices (computers, TVs, cameras,… etc.) should be declared when entering the country, otherwise customs may demand an export duty when leaving.

Meat and vegetable products of all kinds are not allowed to be imported into Malta.

Travel advice

There is currently no country-specific travel advice for Malta.

Behavioral advice

You should stow cash, valuables and identification papers securely and not necessarily show them in public. Thefts occur again and again in some regions and public bus routes.

Economy

The tourism industry has become a very important branch of industry since the late 1980s. There are around a million visitors to the island every year.

Traditional industries include agriculture and fishing.

Industries: building materials, electronics, food production, shipbuilding, tobacco production, textiles, tourism

Natural resources: limestone, agricultural land, salt

Land use:

• Land: 38%
• Grain cultivation: 3%
• Pasture area: 0%
• Forests: 0%
• other: 59%