Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a Southern European island country situated in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. The archipelago lies 80 km south of Italy. Maltese and English are the official languages. Its capital, Valletta, is the smallest capital city in the EU and was a European Capital of Culture in 2018, also holding the distinction of being the first World Heritage City in Europe to achieve this recognition.
Malta offers unique Mediterranean travel experiences. New stories of Malta reveal hunter-gatherers navigated seas long before farming. Discover Malta's rich history and beautiful landscape for an unforgettable adventure.
In 1905, buses (xarabank or karozza tal-linja) were established as the primary method of public transport in Malta.
Between 1915 and 1918, Malta became known as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean" due to the large number of wounded soldiers accommodated there during the First World War.
Between 1915 and 1918, Malta became known as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean" due to the large number of wounded soldiers accommodated there during the First World War.
In June 1919, the Maltese public rioted due to a cost-of-living crisis, resulting in British troops suppressing the riots and killing four people. This event is known as Sette Giugno.
In 1934, Italian lost its official status in Malta.
In 1937, the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet headquarters was moved from Valletta to Alexandria, Egypt, due to fears of air attacks.
On April 15, 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross to Malta on a collective basis, recognizing the bravery of the Maltese people during the second siege of Malta.
Between 1946 and the late-1970s, over 140,000 people left Malta on the assisted passage scheme.
Primary schooling has been compulsory in Malta since 1946.
Between 1948 and 1967, 30 percent of the population emigrated from Malta with assistance from Malta's Emigration Department, who helped with the cost of their travel.
From 1960 to 1995, Malta had the second-highest voter turnout in the world (and the highest for nations without mandatory voting), based on election turnout in national lower house elections.
On September 21, 1964, Malta achieved its independence as the State of Malta, initially retaining Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta under its 1964 constitution.
In 1964, Malta achieved its independence, becoming a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.
Between 1948 and 1967, 30 percent of the population emigrated from Malta with assistance from Malta's Emigration Department, who helped with the cost of their travel.
In 1971, the Malta Labour Party led by Dom Mintoff won the general elections, resulting in Malta declaring itself a republic.
Secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in Malta in 1971.
In 1972 the Maltese lira was introduced, it remained Malta's currency until the introduction of the Euro in 2008.
In 1972, the defence agreement signed soon after independence was re-negotiated.
From April 1974, Air Malta served as the national airline, operating services to 22 destinations in Europe and North Africa.
On December 13, 1974, Malta declared itself a republic within the Commonwealth.
In 1974, Malta established its current parliamentary republic.
On March 31, 1979, the defence agreement between Malta and Britain expired, leading to the closure of the British base and the transfer of formerly controlled lands to the Maltese government.
In 1979, after the departure of the remaining British troops, Malta intensified its participation in the Non-Aligned Movement.
In 1980, Malta adopted a policy of neutrality and three of its sites, including Valletta, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In 1983, a New Apostolic Church congregation was founded in Gwardamangia.
Between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, Malta experienced a population growth of +9.5 per cent.
In 1989, Malta hosted a summit between US President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, signaling the end of the Cold War.
In 1990, Malta had 182,254 registered cars, resulting in a high automobile density of 577 cars per square kilometer, making it the fourth-highest in the European Union.
On March 25, 1992, Malta International Airport was inaugurated and became fully operational, boosting the local aircraft and tourism industry.
In 1992, a new power station was built on the Delimara peninsula in Marsaxlokk.
In 1993, Malta established a system of local government based on the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
Between the 1995 and 2005 censuses, Malta experienced a population growth of +6.9 per cent.
From 1960 to 1995, Malta had the second-highest voter turnout in the world (and the highest for nations without mandatory voting), based on election turnout in national lower house elections.
Malta relied on coal for electricity generation until 1996.
On March 8, 2003, a referendum on joining the European Union was held, with 53.65% voting in favor.
As of December 2003, Malta had 2,254 kilometers of road, with 1,972 kilometers (87.5%) being paved.
In 2003 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 120 persons, of which 80 were active.
The Malta International Fireworks Festival has been arranged annually in the Grand Harbour of Valletta since 2003.
In May 2004, Malta joined the European Union. In preparation, some state-controlled firms were privatised and markets were liberalised.
In 2004, Malta joined the European Union.
In 2004, the Maltese-resident population was estimated to make up 97.0 per cent of the total resident population.
Since Malta joined the EU in 2004, expatriate communities emerged in a number of European countries, particularly in Belgium and Luxembourg.
On May 4, 2005, the Maltese government entered ERM II.
As of 2005, 17 percent of Malta's population were aged 14 and under, 68 percent were within the 15–64 age bracket whilst the remaining 13 percent were 65 years and over.
Since the early 21st century, Malta has seen a significant increase in net migration; the foreign-born population has grown nearly eightfold between 2005 and 2020.
As of 2006, state schools in Malta are organised into networks known as Colleges and incorporate kindergarten schools, primary and secondary schools.
In May 2007, thousands of Maltese and tourists attended a traditional Maltese wedding in the style of the 16th century, in Żurrieq, showcasing a resurgent interest in traditional weddings.
In 2007, Malta's primary hospital opened, becoming one of the largest medical buildings in Europe.
Since 2007, the Isle of MTV, a one-day music festival produced and broadcast annually by MTV, has been arranged annually in Malta, featuring major pop artists each year.
On January 1, 2008, Malta adopted the euro as its currency.
On January 1, 2008, Malta joined the Eurozone.
As of 2008, there are two international schools in Malta, Verdala International School and QSI Malta.
In 2008, Malta joined the Eurozone monetary union.
By the end of 2009, the mobile penetration rate in Malta exceeded 100%.
In July 2010, the European Court of Human Rights found that Malta's detention of migrants was arbitrary, lacking in adequate procedures to challenge detention, and in breach of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
A 2010 Charities Aid Foundation study found that the Maltese were the most generous people in the world, with 83% contributing to charity.
In May 2011, Malta voted in favor of divorce legislation in a referendum.
In July 2011, Malta's bus service underwent extensive reform, transitioning from self-employed drivers to a single company (Arriva Malta) operating a new fleet of buses, including King Long buses and articulated buses from Arriva London.
By 2011, Malta's vintage buses had become popular tourist attractions, often featured on Maltese advertisements and merchandise.
For reference the 2011 census counts 139,583 households in Malta.
Due to system reforms, no local council elections were held before 2012.
In 2012, 25.8 per cent of births were to unmarried women.
In 2012, The Malta Communications Authority reported that there were 147,896 pay TV subscriptions active at the end of the year.
In early 2012, the Maltese government called for a national Fibre to the Home (FttH) network to be built, upgrading the minimum broadband service from 4 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s.
The Isle of MTV festival in 2012 featured performances by Flo Rida, Nelly Furtado, and Will.i.am, attracting over 50,000 people, marking the biggest attendance so far.
In 2013 the Chabad Jewish Centre in Malta was founded.
Since 2013, corruption, money laundering, and government maladministration in Malta have significantly increased since the Labour Party returned to power.
Since 2013, the Labour Party has been the governing party in Malta.
In January 2014, Malta started granting citizenship for a €650,000 contribution plus investments, contingent on residence and criminal background checks, through a "golden passport" citizenship scheme.
On January 1, 2014, Arriva ceased operations in Malta due to financial difficulties and was nationalized as Malta Public Transport.
In October 2014, the government selected Autobuses Urbanos de León (Alsa subsidiary) as its preferred bus operator for the country.
From 2014 to 2018, the number of atheists in Malta doubled.
The last snowfall was recorded in Malta in 2014.
According to Eurostat data, in 2015 Maltese GDP per capita stood at 88 per cent of the EU average with €21,000.
As of 2015, Malta did not have a property tax. Its property market, especially around the harbour area, was booming, with the prices of apartments in some towns like St Julian's, Sliema and Gzira skyrocketing.
In the 2015 edition of the annual Freedom of Thought Report from the International Humanist and Ethical Union, Malta was in the category of "severe discrimination".
Originally in 2015, the Delimara Power Station used oil for electricity generation, before being converted to LNG in 2017.
As of 2016, the total fertility rate (TFR) was estimated at 1.45 children born/woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1.
In 2016, Malta had 0.6 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, contrasted with a global average of 1.6 hectares per person.
In 2016, following the abolishment of blasphemy law, Malta was shifted to the category of "systematic discrimination" in the Freedom of Thought Report.
In 2017, the Delimara Power Station which originally used oil for electricity generation was converted to LNG.
From 2014 to 2018, the number of atheists in Malta doubled.
In 2018 Malta hosted its first Esports tournament, 'Supernova CS:GO Malta', and became the primary location for hosting the ESL Pro League since that year.
In 2018, Valletta became the first World Heritage City in Europe to be designated as a European Capital of Culture.
In 2018, the National Development and Social Fund from the Individual Investor Programme, a citizenship by investment programme, added 432,000,000 euro to the budget of the government of Malta.
In 2018, the life expectancy in Malta was estimated at 83 years.
In 2018, the national collection of fine arts was put on display in the new National Museum of Art, MUŻA, at Auberge d'Italie in Valletta.
In June 2019, Ryanair invested in a fully-fledged airline subsidiary called Malta Air, operating on a low-cost model. The Government of Malta holds one share in the airline.
According to a 2019 Eurobarometer survey, 83% of the Maltese population identified as Catholic.
In 2019 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 150 persons.
In 2019, Malta attracted over 83,000 students to study the English language.
In 2019, Malta had a record year in tourism, recording over 2.1 million tourists.
On January 13, 2020, Robert Abela became the Prime Minister of Malta.
On September 8, 2020, Amnesty International criticised Malta for "illegal tactics" in the Mediterranean, against immigrants who were attempting to cross from North Africa.
According to data from 2020 by Eurostat, the Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region covered the whole island of Malta and has a population of 480,134.
In 2020, Malta signed and ratified the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Since the early 21st century, Malta has seen a significant increase in net migration; the foreign-born population has grown nearly eightfold between 2005 and 2020.
According to the 2021 census, there exists a considerable minority of Eastern Orthodox Christians in Malta, numbering 16,457, with a small number of parishes belonging to each autocephalous Church.
As of 2021, plans are underway for an underground Malta Metro, with a projected total cost of €6.2 billion.
As of the 2021 census, Maltese-born natives make up the majority of the island with 386,280 people out of a total population of 519,562.
From October 2022, the bus system became free of charge for residents of Malta.
In November 2022, the government led by the Labour Party proposed a bill that "introduces a new clause into the country's criminal code allowing for the termination of a pregnancy if the mother's life is at risk or if her health is in serious jeopardy".
In 2022, the Malta National Statistics Office stated that 90 percent of the Maltese population has at least a basic knowledge of Maltese, 96 percent of English, 62 percent of Italian, and 20 percent of French.
In June 2023, the bill on termination of pregnancy passed with amendments restricting the exception to situations where the woman's life is at risk.
In March 2024, Myriam Spiteri Debono was elected President of Malta by members of parliament in an indirect election.
On 30 March 2024, Air Malta's operation ceased.
On 31 March 2024, KM Malta Airlines took over as the national airline of Malta, inheriting assets and staff from the former Air Malta. KM Malta Airlines operates services to 18 destinations in Europe.
In 2024, Malta was ranked 29th in the Global Innovation Index.
In February 2025, Transparency International reported that Malta dropped to its lowest ever ranking of 65th place.
By 2030, there are efforts to boost Malta's renewable generation share to 25% by leveraging offshore platforms and battery storage.
Elizabeth II reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom and...
Fireworks are pyrotechnic devices primarily used for entertainment and aesthetic...
Cornell Iral Haynes Jr known as Nelly is an American...
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone comprising...
Belgium officially the Kingdom of Belgium is a Northwestern European...
Travel involves the movement of people between distant places using...
39 minutes ago Sarah Jessica Parker Misses Met Gala, Citing Busyness, Snubbing Anna Wintour
39 minutes ago Tesla Model 3 conquers Everest Base Camp with FSD; buyer regrets not switching earlier.
39 minutes ago Masai Giraffe Calf Makes First Public Appearance at San Diego Safari Park!
2 hours ago Houthi Missile Strikes Near Tel Aviv Airport; Israel Intercept Failure
2 hours ago Riot Games combats hackers, faces AI dilemma, and appoints new president.
1 day ago Damon Dash, Roc-A-Fella Co-founder, Faces Potential Jail Time Over Court Order Compliance.
Jane Goodall is a renowned English primatologist zoologist and anthropologist...
Ronald Reagan the th U S President - was a...
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a highly decorated Portuguese...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a professional basketball player...