Malta, a small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, is situated south of Italy and north of Libya. Its strategic location between Southern Europe and North Africa has led to a rich history and diverse cultural influences. Maltese and English are the official languages, making it the only European Union country with a Semitic official language. Valletta serves as the nation's capital.
1905: Establishment of Bus Public Transport
Malta's primary method of public transport, the bus service (xarabank or karozza tal-linja), was established in 1905.
1915: World War I and the "Nurse of the Mediterranean"
During World War I, between 1915 and 1918, Malta became known as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean." This was due to the large number of wounded soldiers who were accommodated on the island.
1918: End of World War I
Malta's role as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean" continued until the end of World War I in 1918.
1919: Sette Giugno Incident
On June 7, 1919, a protest against new taxes in Malta turned tragic when British troops fired into the crowd, killing four people. This event, known as Sette Giugno ("7 June"), is commemorated annually as one of Malta's five National Days.
1946: Start of Post-War Emigration Wave
A significant wave of emigration from Malta occurred after World War II, starting in 1946 and continuing until the late 1970s.
1946: Compulsory Primary Schooling
In 1946, primary schooling became compulsory in Malta.
1948: Start of Assisted Passage Scheme
Malta's Emigration Department began assisting emigrants with travel costs as part of the assisted passage scheme, which ran from 1948 to 1967.
1967: End of Assisted Passage Scheme
The assisted passage scheme, which helped Maltese emigrants with travel costs, ended in 1967. During its operation, 30% of the population emigrated.
1971: Compulsory Secondary Education
Secondary education became compulsory in Malta up to the age of sixteen in 1971.
1972: Introduction of the Maltese Lira
The Maltese lira was introduced as the official currency of Malta in 1972, replacing the Maltese pound.
April 1974: Establishment of Air Malta
Air Malta, Malta's national airline, was established in April 1974, operating from Malta International Airport and serving destinations in Europe and North Africa.
1983: Establishment of the New Apostolic Church Congregation
A congregation of the New Apostolic Church was established in Gwardamangia, Malta, in 1983.
1985: Population Growth Period Start
A period of population growth analysis began in 1985, with a focus on comparing growth rates between census years.
1990: High Car Ownership in Malta
In 1990, there were 182,254 registered cars in Malta, resulting in a high automobile density of 577/km (1,494/sq mi), reflecting the country's high rate of car ownership.
1995: Population Growth and Age Structure
Between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, Malta experienced a population growth of +9.5 percent. The old-age-dependency ratio in 1995 was 17.2 percent.
December 2003: Road Infrastructure in Malta
As of December 2003, Malta had 2,254 kilometers (1,401 miles) of road, with 87.5% of them paved, highlighting the country's well-developed road infrastructure.
2003: Estimated Jewish Population
In 2003, the Jewish population in Malta was estimated to be around 120, with 80 actively participating members, primarily elderly.
2003: First Malta International Fireworks Festival
The inaugural Malta International Fireworks Festival took place in 2003 in Valletta's Grand Harbour, marking the beginning of an annual tradition.
May 2004: Malta Joins the European Union
Malta officially became a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004.
2004: Maltese-Resident Population Percentage
In 2004, the Maltese-resident population constituted an estimated 97.0 percent of the total resident population.
2004: Malta Joins the EU
Malta's accession to the European Union in 2004 led to the emergence of expatriate communities in several European countries, notably Belgium and Luxembourg.
May 2005: Malta Joins ERM II
On May 4, 2005, Malta entered the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II) as a step towards adopting the euro.
2005: Malta's Population Distribution and Density
As of 2005, Malta's population distribution across age groups was: 17% aged 14 and under, 68% aged 15-64, and 13% aged 65 and over. The population density was 1,282 per square km, one of the highest globally.
2005: Start of Significant Foreign-Born Population Growth
Malta experienced a significant increase in its foreign-born population between 2005 and 2020.
2005: Population Growth, Age Structure, and Dependency Ratio
The 2005 census showed that Malta's population growth had slowed down to +6.9 percent since 1995. The old-age-dependency ratio rose to 19.8 percent, and 31.5 percent of the population was under 25.
2006: State School Reorganization
In 2006, Malta reorganized its state schools into networks called Colleges, incorporating kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools.
May 2007: Resurgence of Traditional Maltese Weddings
May 2007 witnessed a resurgence of interest in traditional Maltese weddings, highlighted by a large-scale event in Żurrieq that attracted thousands of attendees.
2007: Opening of Malta's Primary Hospital
Malta's primary hospital, featuring one of Europe's largest medical buildings, opened in 2007.
2007: First Isle of MTV Festival in Malta
The annual music festival, Isle of MTV, produced and broadcast by MTV, debuted in Malta in 2007, featuring performances by major pop artists.
January 2008: Malta Adopts the Euro
Malta officially adopted the euro as its national currency on January 1, 2008.
2008: End of the Maltese Lira
The Maltese lira was replaced by the euro in 2008, marking the end of its tenure as the national currency.
2008: Establishment of International Schools
Two international schools, Verdala International School and QSI Malta, were established in 2008.
2009: High Mobile Penetration Rate
Malta achieved a mobile penetration rate exceeding 100% by the end of 2009, indicating widespread mobile phone usage.
July 2010: European Court of Human Rights Ruling
In July 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Malta's detention of migrants was arbitrary and violated the European Convention on Human Rights.
2010: Maltese Generosity
A 2010 study by the Charities Aid Foundation revealed that the Maltese people were the most generous globally, with 83% contributing to charity.
May 2011: Malta Approves Divorce Legislation
In May 2011, Malta held a referendum in which citizens voted in favor of legalizing divorce.
July 2011: Bus Service Reform
Malta's bus service underwent significant reform in July 2011, transitioning from self-employed drivers to a single company operation under Arriva Malta.
2011: Retirement of Malta's Vintage Buses
Malta's vintage buses, popular tourist attractions, were retired in 2011.
2012: Record Attendance at Isle of MTV Malta
The 2012 Isle of MTV festival in Malta saw its highest attendance to date, with over 50,000 people enjoying performances by artists like Flo Rida, Nelly Furtado, and Will.i.am.
2012: National Fibre to the Home Network Initiative
In early 2012, the Maltese government initiated the development of a national Fibre to the Home (FttH) network, aiming to enhance broadband services.
2012: Local Council Elections Commence
In 2012, Malta held its first local council elections after system reforms.
2012: Births to Unmarried Women
In 2012, 25.8 percent of births in Malta were to unmarried women.
2012: Pay TV Subscriptions in Malta
At the close of 2012, Malta had 147,896 active pay TV subscriptions, according to the Malta Communications Authority.
2013: Establishment of the Chabad Jewish Center
The Chabad Jewish Center was founded in Malta in 2013.
January 2014: Nationalization of Arriva Malta
In January 2014, Arriva Malta, facing financial difficulties, was nationalized and became Malta Public Transport.
January 2014: Golden Passport Citizenship Scheme Launched
Malta introduced a "golden passport" citizenship scheme in January 2014, granting citizenship for a €650,000 contribution plus investments, subject to residence and background checks. This scheme has drawn criticism.
October 2014: Selection of New Bus Operator
In October 2014, the government selected Autobuses Urbanos de León, an Alsa subsidiary, as Malta's new bus operator.
2014: Start of Atheism Increase Period
A period was observed from 2014 to 2018 during which the number of atheists in Malta doubled.
2014: Rare Snowfall in Malta
Malta experienced a rare snowfall in 2014, a testament to the infrequency of such weather events on the island.
2015: Malta's Property Market Booms
Malta's property market, particularly in areas around the harbor, experienced a significant boom in 2015, with apartment prices soaring in popular towns.
2015: Eurostat Data Shows Malta's GDP per Capita at 88% of EU Average
In 2015, Eurostat data indicated that Malta's GDP per capita reached 88% of the EU average, amounting to €21,000.
2015: Freedom of Thought Report Classification
In the 2015 Freedom of Thought Report by the International Humanist and Ethical Union, Malta was classified under the "severe discrimination" category.
2016: Freedom of Thought Report Reclassification
Following the abolishment of blasphemy law in 2016, Malta's classification in the Freedom of Thought Report was changed to "systematic discrimination."
2016: Malta's Biocapacity Deficit Highlighted
In 2016, data revealed that Malta faced a significant biocapacity deficit, indicating that its residents consume more natural resources than the country can sustainably provide.
2016: Total Fertility Rate in Malta
The total fertility rate (TFR) in Malta was estimated at 1.45 children born per woman in 2016, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1.
2018: End of Atheism Increase Period
By 2018, the number of atheists in Malta had doubled compared to 2014.
2018: Opening of MUŻA
In 2018, Malta opened MUŻA, the new National Museum of Art, located at Auberge d'Italie in Valletta, showcasing the national collection of fine arts.
2018: Malta's First Esports Tournament and ESL Pro League Hosting
Malta hosted its first Esports tournament, "Supernova CS:GO Malta," in 2018, and from that year onwards, it became the primary location for hosting the ESL Pro League.
2018: Citizenship by Investment Program Generates Significant Revenue for Malta
Malta's Individual Investor Programme, a citizenship by investment initiative, brought in a substantial sum of 432,000,000 euro to the government's budget in 2018.
2018: Life Expectancy in Malta
The life expectancy in Malta was estimated to be 83 years old in 2018.
June 2019: Establishment of Malta Air
Ryanair launched its low-cost airline subsidiary, Malta Air, in June 2019, with the Government of Malta holding one share.
2019: Jewish Population in Malta
The Jewish community in Malta numbered around 150 people in 2019, slightly more than the 120 estimated in 2003.
2019: Eurobarometer Survey on Religious Identification
A 2019 Eurobarometer survey found that 83% of Malta's population identified as Catholic.
2019: Record-Breaking Tourism Year for Malta
Malta experienced a record-breaking year for tourism in 2019, welcoming over 2.1 million tourists, a testament to the country's growing popularity as a travel destination.
2019: Malta as a Popular English Language Study Destination
In 2019, Malta attracted over 83,000 students for English language studies, solidifying its position as a popular destination for this purpose.
September 2020: Amnesty International Criticism
Amnesty International criticized Malta in September 2020 for using "illegal tactics" against migrants crossing from North Africa, alleging that these actions may have led to avoidable deaths.
2020: End of Significant Foreign-Born Population Growth
By 2020, Malta's foreign-born population had grown nearly eightfold since 2005.
2020: Eurostat Data Highlights Malta's Urbanization
Eurostat data from 2020 revealed that Malta's entire territory is considered a single urban region, with a growing population concentrated in urban areas.
2020: Malta Signs and Ratifies UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Malta demonstrated its commitment to nuclear disarmament in 2020 by signing and ratifying the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
2021: Malta's Population Reaches 519,562
The population of the Maltese Islands reached 519,562 in 2021.
2021: Census Reveals Malta's Diverse Population
The 2021 census shed light on the diverse population of Malta, with Maltese-born natives constituting the majority, while also revealing significant minority groups from various countries.
2021: Malta Metro Planning
Planning for an underground Malta Metro began in 2021, with an estimated cost of €6.2 billion, marking a significant development in Malta's transportation infrastructure.
2021: Religion in Malta Census
A census was conducted in 2021 to gather information about the religious beliefs and practices of the Maltese population.
October 2022: Free Bus System for Residents
Starting October 2022, Malta's bus system became free of charge for residents, improving accessibility to public transportation.
November 2022: Malta Proposes Limited Abortion Exception
In November 2022, the Maltese government proposed a bill to amend the criminal code, allowing for abortion only if the mother's life is at risk.
2022: Malta's Multilingual Landscape
In 2022, Malta National Statistics Office reported that a high percentage of the Maltese population had at least a basic knowledge of Maltese (90%), English (96%), Italian (62%), and French (20%), making it one of the most multilingual EU countries.
2023: Malta Adds Exception for Abortion to Protect Mother's Life
In 2023, Malta added an exception to its strict abortion law, permitting the procedure only when the mother's life is in danger.
2023: Malta Ranks High in Global Innovation Index
Malta achieved a commendable ranking of 25th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023, highlighting its innovative capacity.
March 2024: End of Air Malta Operations
Air Malta ceased operations as Malta's national airline on March 30, 2024.
March 2024: KM Malta Airlines as National Airline
KM Malta Airlines assumed the role of Malta's national airline on March 31, 2024, taking over assets and staff from Air Malta.