History of Malta in Timeline

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.

1905: Establishment of Public Transport

In 1905, buses (xarabank or karozza tal-linja) were established as the primary method of public transport in Malta.

1915: Malta becomes the Nurse of the Mediterranean

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.

1918: Malta becomes the Nurse of the Mediterranean

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.

June 1919: Sette Giugno riots

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.

1934: Italian loses official status

In 1934, Italian lost its official status in Malta.

1937: Royal Navy Mediterranean fleet headquarters moved

In 1937, the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet headquarters was moved from Valletta to Alexandria, Egypt, due to fears of air attacks.

April 1942: George Cross awarded to Malta

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.

1946: Assisted passage scheme

Between 1946 and the late-1970s, over 140,000 people left Malta on the assisted passage scheme.

1946: Compulsory primary schooling

Primary schooling has been compulsory in Malta since 1946.

1948: Assisted emigration post WWII

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.

1960: Malta had the second-highest voter turnout in the world

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.

September 1964: Malta achieves independence as the State of Malta

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.

1964: Malta achieves independence

In 1964, Malta achieved its independence, becoming a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.

1967: Assisted emigration post WWII

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.

1971: Malta Labour Party wins the general elections

In 1971, the Malta Labour Party led by Dom Mintoff won the general elections, resulting in Malta declaring itself a republic.

1971: Compulsory secondary education

Secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in Malta in 1971.

1972: Introduction of the Maltese Lira

In 1972 the Maltese lira was introduced, it remained Malta's currency until the introduction of the Euro in 2008.

1972: Defence agreement re-negotiated

In 1972, the defence agreement signed soon after independence was re-negotiated.

April 1974: Establishment of Air Malta

From April 1974, Air Malta served as the national airline, operating services to 22 destinations in Europe and North Africa.

December 1974: Malta declares itself a republic

On December 13, 1974, Malta declared itself a republic within the Commonwealth.

1974: Malta becomes a republic

In 1974, Malta established its current parliamentary republic.

March 1979: Expiry of defence agreement and closure of British base

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.

1979: Departure of the remaining British troops

In 1979, after the departure of the remaining British troops, Malta intensified its participation in the Non-Aligned Movement.

1980: Malta adopts a policy of neutrality

In 1980, Malta adopted a policy of neutrality and three of its sites, including Valletta, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

1983: New Apostolic Church congregation founded

In 1983, a New Apostolic Church congregation was founded in Gwardamangia.

1985: Population growth between 1985 and 1995

Between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, Malta experienced a population growth of +9.5 per cent.

1989: Malta summit between Bush and Gorbachev

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.

1990: High Car Ownership

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.

March 1992: Inauguration of Malta International Airport

On March 25, 1992, Malta International Airport was inaugurated and became fully operational, boosting the local aircraft and tourism industry.

1992: New Power Station Built

In 1992, a new power station was built on the Delimara peninsula in Marsaxlokk.

1993: Establishment of local government

In 1993, Malta established a system of local government based on the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

1995: Population growth between 1995 and 2005

Between the 1995 and 2005 censuses, Malta experienced a population growth of +6.9 per cent.

1995: Malta had the second-highest voter turnout in the world

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.

1996: Reliance on Coal Ends

Malta relied on coal for electricity generation until 1996.

March 2003: Referendum on joining the European Union

On March 8, 2003, a referendum on joining the European Union was held, with 53.65% voting in favor.

December 2003: Road infrastructure

As of December 2003, Malta had 2,254 kilometers of road, with 1,972 kilometers (87.5%) being paved.

2003: Jewish community population

In 2003 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 120 persons, of which 80 were active.

2003: Malta International Fireworks Festival

The Malta International Fireworks Festival has been arranged annually in the Grand Harbour of Valletta since 2003.

May 2004: Malta joins the European Union

In May 2004, Malta joined the European Union. In preparation, some state-controlled firms were privatised and markets were liberalised.

2004: Malta joins the European Union

In 2004, Malta joined the European Union.

2004: Maltese-resident population

In 2004, the Maltese-resident population was estimated to make up 97.0 per cent of the total resident population.

2004: EU membership expatriate communities

Since Malta joined the EU in 2004, expatriate communities emerged in a number of European countries, particularly in Belgium and Luxembourg.

May 2005: Malta enters ERM II

On May 4, 2005, the Maltese government entered ERM II.

2005: Population age demographics

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.

2005: Increase in net migration

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.

2006: State schools organization

As of 2006, state schools in Malta are organised into networks known as Colleges and incorporate kindergarten schools, primary and secondary schools.

May 2007: Traditional Maltese Wedding

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.

2007: Opening of New Hospital

In 2007, Malta's primary hospital opened, becoming one of the largest medical buildings in Europe.

2007: Isle of MTV Festival Established

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.

January 2008: Adoption of the Euro

On January 1, 2008, Malta adopted the euro as its currency.

January 2008: Malta joins the Eurozone

On January 1, 2008, Malta joined the Eurozone.

2008: International Schools

As of 2008, there are two international schools in Malta, Verdala International School and QSI Malta.

2008: Malta joins the Eurozone

In 2008, Malta joined the Eurozone monetary union.

2008: Introduction of the Euro

In 2008, the Euro was introduced as Malta's currency.

2009: Mobile Penetration Rate Exceeds 100%

By the end of 2009, the mobile penetration rate in Malta exceeded 100%.

July 2010: European Court of Human Rights Ruling

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.

2010: Maltese Most Generous

A 2010 Charities Aid Foundation study found that the Maltese were the most generous people in the world, with 83% contributing to charity.

May 2011: Referendum on divorce legislation

In May 2011, Malta voted in favor of divorce legislation in a referendum.

July 2011: Extensive Bus Service Reform

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.

2011: Vintage Buses as Tourist Attractions

By 2011, Malta's vintage buses had become popular tourist attractions, often featured on Maltese advertisements and merchandise.

2011: Census Count

For reference the 2011 census counts 139,583 households in Malta.

2012: System reforms in local councils

Due to system reforms, no local council elections were held before 2012.

2012: Births to unmarried women

In 2012, 25.8 per cent of births were to unmarried women.

2012: Pay TV Subscriptions

In 2012, The Malta Communications Authority reported that there were 147,896 pay TV subscriptions active at the end of the year.

2012: National Fibre to the Home (FttH) Network

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.

2012: Isle of MTV - Biggest Attendance So Far

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.

2013: Chabad Jewish Centre founded

In 2013 the Chabad Jewish Centre in Malta was founded.

2013: Increased corruption since Labour Party returns to power

Since 2013, corruption, money laundering, and government maladministration in Malta have significantly increased since the Labour Party returned to power.

2013: Labour Party returns to power

Since 2013, the Labour Party has been the governing party in Malta.

January 2014: Citizenship for investment program

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.

January 2014: Arriva Ceases Operations

On January 1, 2014, Arriva ceased operations in Malta due to financial difficulties and was nationalized as Malta Public Transport.

October 2014: Alsa Chosen as Bus Operator

In October 2014, the government selected Autobuses Urbanos de León (Alsa subsidiary) as its preferred bus operator for the country.

2014: Increase in Atheists

From 2014 to 2018, the number of atheists in Malta doubled.

2014: Last snowfall recorded

The last snowfall was recorded in Malta in 2014.

2015: Maltese GDP per capita

According to Eurostat data, in 2015 Maltese GDP per capita stood at 88 per cent of the EU average with €21,000.

2015: Booming property market

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.

2015: Freedom of Thought Report Discrimination

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".

2015: Delimara Power Station Used Oil

Originally in 2015, the Delimara Power Station used oil for electricity generation, before being converted to LNG in 2017.

2016: Total fertility rate

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.

2016: Biocapacity in Malta below world average

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.

2016: Freedom of Thought Report Shift

In 2016, following the abolishment of blasphemy law, Malta was shifted to the category of "systematic discrimination" in the Freedom of Thought Report.

2017: Delimara Power Station Converted to LNG

In 2017, the Delimara Power Station which originally used oil for electricity generation was converted to LNG.

2018: Increase in Atheists

From 2014 to 2018, the number of atheists in Malta doubled.

2018: Esports Tournament & ESL Pro League

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.

2018: Valletta becomes a European Capital of Culture

In 2018, Valletta became the first World Heritage City in Europe to be designated as a European Capital of Culture.

2018: Income from Individual Investor Programme

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.

2018: Life expectancy

In 2018, the life expectancy in Malta was estimated at 83 years.

2018: Opening of MUŻA

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.

June 2019: Ryanair Invests in Malta Air

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.

2019: Eurobarometer survey identifies religious affiliation

According to a 2019 Eurobarometer survey, 83% of the Maltese population identified as Catholic.

2019: Jewish community population

In 2019 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 150 persons.

2019: English language studies

In 2019, Malta attracted over 83,000 students to study the English language.

2019: Record year in tourism

In 2019, Malta had a record year in tourism, recording over 2.1 million tourists.

January 2020: Robert Abela becomes Prime Minister

On January 13, 2020, Robert Abela became the Prime Minister of Malta.

September 2020: Amnesty International Criticism

On September 8, 2020, Amnesty International criticised Malta for "illegal tactics" in the Mediterranean, against immigrants who were attempting to cross from North Africa.

2020: Eurostat data on Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region

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.

2020: Malta signs and ratifies the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2020, Malta signed and ratified the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2020: Increase in net migration

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.

2021: Eastern Orthodox Christians in Malta

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.

2021: Malta Metro Planning

As of 2021, plans are underway for an underground Malta Metro, with a projected total cost of €6.2 billion.

2021: Population Census

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.

October 2022: Free Bus System for Residents

From October 2022, the bus system became free of charge for residents of Malta.

November 2022: Government proposes bill on termination of pregnancy

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".

2022: Language knowledge

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.

June 2023: Bill on termination of pregnancy passes with amendments

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.

March 2024: Myriam Spiteri Debono elected President of Malta

In March 2024, Myriam Spiteri Debono was elected President of Malta by members of parliament in an indirect election.

March 2024: End of Air Malta

On 30 March 2024, Air Malta's operation ceased.

March 2024: Launch of KM Malta Airlines

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.