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. Its archipelago lies 80 km south of Italy, 284 km east of Tunisia, and 333 km north of Libya. Maltese and English are its official languages. Valletta is the capital city, recognized as the smallest capital in the EU by both area and population. It was also the first World Heritage City in Europe to become a European Capital of Culture in 2018.
1905: Establishment of Public Transport
Buses were established in 1905 and serve as the primary method of public transport.
1915: Malta known as the Nurse of the Mediterranean
Between 1915 and 1918, Malta became known as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean" during the First World War due to the large number of wounded soldiers accommodated there.
1918: Malta known as the Nurse of the Mediterranean
Between 1915 and 1918, Malta became known as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean" during the First World War due to the large number of wounded soldiers accommodated there.
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 Language Loses Official Status
In 1934, the Italian language lost its official status in Malta, after having it since 1530.
1937: Royal Navy Command Moved
In 1937, the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet headquarters was moved from Valletta to Alexandria, Egypt.
April 1942: George Cross Awarded to Malta
On April 15, 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross to Malta for the bravery of the Maltese people during the second siege of Malta.
1946: Start of 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 since 1946 in Malta.
1948: Emigration Department Assistance
Post Second World War, starting in 1948, Malta's Emigration Department would assist emigrants with the cost of their travel.
1960: Voter Turnout
From 1960 to 1995, Malta had the second-highest voter turnout in the world for nations without mandatory voting.
September 1964: Independence Day
On September 21, 1964, Malta achieved its independence as the State of Malta, retaining Elizabeth II as Queen.
1967: Emigration Department Assistance
The Emigration Department would assist emigrants with the cost of their travel until 1967.
1971: Malta Labour Party win General Elections
In 1971, the Malta Labour Party led by Dom Mintoff won the general elections.
1971: Compulsory Secondary Education
Secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in 1971.
1972: Introduction of the Maltese lira
In 1972, the Maltese lira was introduced as the currency.
1972: Defence agreement re-negotiated
In 1972, the defence agreement signed soon after independence was re-negotiated.
April 1974: Air Malta Established
In April 1974, Air Malta was established as the national airline, operating from Malta International Airport.
December 1974: Republic Day
On December 13, 1974, Malta declared itself a republic within the Commonwealth.
1974: Parliamentary Republic Established
In 1974, Malta established its current parliamentary republic.
March 1979: Freedom Day
On March 31, 1979, the British base closed and lands formerly controlled by the British were given to the Maltese government.
1979: Participation in the Non-Aligned Movement
In 1979, following the departure of British troops, Malta intensified its participation in the Non-Aligned Movement.
1980: Policy of Neutrality Adopted
In 1980, Malta adopted a policy of neutrality. Three of Malta's sites 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 the 1985 and 1995 censuses, population growth was +9.5 percent.
1989: Bush-Gorbachev Summit
In 1989, Malta hosted the summit between US President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, which signaled the end of the Cold War.
1990: Registered Cars in Malta
In 1990, there were 182,254 registered cars in Malta.
March 1992: Malta International Airport Inaugurated
On March 25, 1992, Malta International Airport was inaugurated and became fully operational.
1992: Delimara Power Station Built
In 1992, a new power station was built on the Delimara peninsula in Marsaxlokk.
1993: Local Government System Established
Since 1993, Malta has had a system of local government based on the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
1995: Population Growth
Between the 1995 and 2005 censuses, population growth slowed to +6.9 percent.
1996: Shift Away From Coal
Until 1996, Malta relied on coal for electricity generation.
March 2003: Referendum on Joining the European Union
On March 8, 2003, a referendum on joining the European Union was held, with 53.65% in favor.
December 2003: Paved Roads
As of December 2003, 1,972 km (1,225 mi) (87.5 percent) of Malta's roads were paved.
2003: Jewish Community in Malta
In 2003, the Jewish community in Malta was estimated at 120 persons (of which 80 were active).
2003: Inaugural Malta International Fireworks Festival
Since 2003, the Malta International Fireworks Festival has been arranged annually in the Grand Harbour of Valletta.
May 2004: Joins European Union
In preparation for Malta's membership in the European Union, which it joined on 1 May 2004, it privatised some state-controlled firms and liberalised markets.
2004: Maltese-resident Population
In 2004, the Maltese-resident population was estimated to make up 97.0 percent of the total resident population.
2004: Malta Joins the EU
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: Age Demographics in Malta
As of 2005, 17 percent of Malta's population was aged 14 and under, 68 percent were within the 15–64 age bracket, and 13 percent were 65 years and over.
2005: Population Growth
Between the 1995 and 2005 censuses, population growth slowed to +6.9 percent (a yearly average of +0.7 percent).
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 Organisation
As of 2006, state schools are organised into networks known as Colleges and incorporate kindergarten schools, primary and secondary schools.
May 2007: Traditional Maltese Wedding in Żurrieq
In May 2007, thousands of Maltese and tourists attended a traditional Maltese wedding in the style of the 16th century, in Żurrieq.
2007: Opening of Malta's Primary Hospital
Malta's primary hospital, one of the largest medical buildings in Europe, opened in 2007.
2007: Inaugural Isle of MTV Festival
Since 2007, the Isle of MTV festival has been arranged annually in Malta.
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 in Malta
As of 2008, there are two international schools, Verdala International School and QSI Malta.
2008: Eurozone Membership
In 2008, Malta joined the eurozone monetary union.
2008: Introduction of the Euro
In 2008, the Euro was introduced, and the Maltese lira was discontinued.
2009: Mobile Penetration Exceeds 100%
By the end of 2009, the mobile penetration rate in Malta exceeded 100%, utilizing GSM900, UMTS (3G), and LTE (4G) systems.
July 2010: European Court of Human Rights Ruling on Migrant Detention
In July 2010, the European Court of Human Rights found that Malta's detention of migrants was arbitrary and in breach of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
2010: Most Generous People
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: Divorce Legislation Referendum
On May 28, 2011, Malta voted in favor of divorce legislation in a referendum.
July 2011: Bus Service Reform
The bus service underwent extensive reform in July 2011, with a change in management structure.
2011: 2011 census
For reference the 2011 census counts 139,583 households in Malta.
2012: Isle of MTV Performance
2012 saw the performances of worldwide acclaimed artists Flo Rida, Nelly Furtado and Will.i.am. at the Isle of MTV festival.
2012: System Reforms
Due to system reforms, no elections were held before 2012 for the local councils. Elections have been held every two years since, for an alternating half of the councils.
2012: Births to Unmarried Women
In 2012, 25.8 per cent of births were to unmarried women.
2012: National Fibre to the Home (FttH) network
In early 2012, the government called for a national Fibre to the Home (FttH) network to be built, with a minimum broadband service being upgraded from 4 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s.
2012: Pay TV Subscriptions Active
The Malta Communications Authority reported that there were 147,896 pay TV subscriptions active at the end of 2012.
2013: Chabad Jewish Centre in Malta founded
In 2013, the Chabad Jewish Centre in Malta was founded.
2013: Increased Corruption
Since the Labour Party returned to power in 2013, corruption, money laundering, and government maladministration in Malta have significantly increased.
2013: Labour Party returns to power
The Labour Party has been the governing party in Malta since 2013.
January 2014: Start of Citizenship Program
In January 2014, Malta started granting citizenship for a €650,000 contribution plus investments, contingent on residence and criminal background checks.
January 2014: Arriva Ceases Operations
On 1 January 2014 Arriva ceased operations in Malta due to financial difficulties, having been nationalised as Malta Public Transport.
October 2014: Preferred Bus Operator
In October 2014, the government chose Autobuses Urbanos de León (Alsa subsidiary) as its preferred bus operator for the country.
2014: Increase in Atheists/Agnostics
From 2014 to 2018, the number of atheists doubled in Malta.
2015: Property Market Booming
As of 2015, Malta did not have a property tax, and its property market was booming, especially around the harbor area.
2015: Maltese GDP per capita
In 2015, Maltese GDP per capita stood at 88 per cent of the EU average with €21,000 according to Eurostat data.
2015: Freedom of Thought Report Category
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 the Delimara Power Station in 2015 used oil for electricity generation.
2016: Biocapacity Deficit
In 2016, Malta had a biocapacity deficit, with an ecological footprint of consumption of 5.8 global hectares per person compared to a biocapacity of 0.6 global hectares per person.
2016: Shift in Freedom of Thought Report Category
In 2016, following the abolishment of blasphemy law, Malta was shifted to the category of "systematic discrimination" in the Freedom of Thought Report.
2016: Total Fertility Rate
In 2016, the total fertility rate was estimated at 1.45 children born per woman.
2017: Delimara Power Station Converted to LNG
In 2017 the Delimara Power Station being converted to LNG.
2018: Increase in Atheists/Agnostics
From 2014 to 2018, the number of atheists doubled in Malta.
2018: First Esports tournament
In 2018 Malta hosted its first Esports tournament, 'Supernova CS:GO Malta', a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament.
2018: National Museum of Art, 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.
2018: European Capital of Culture
In 2018, Valletta became the first World Heritage City in Europe to be a European Capital of Culture.
2018: National Development and Social Fund Income
In 2018, the National Development and Social Fund from the Individual Investor Programme became a significant income source for the government of Malta, adding 432,000,000 euro to the budget.
June 2019: Ryanair Invests in Malta Air
In June 2019, Ryanair invested in Malta Air, a low-cost airline subsidiary, with the Government of Malta holding one share.
2019: Eurobarometer Survey on Religious Affiliation
According to a 2019 Eurobarometer survey, 83% of the Maltese population identified as Catholic.
2019: Record Year in Tourism
In 2019, Malta had a record year in tourism, recording over 2.1 million tourists.
2019: Jewish Community in Malta
In 2019, the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 150 persons.
2019: English Language Students
Malta is a popular destination to study the English language, attracting over 83,000 students in 2019.
January 2020: Robert Abela becomes Prime Minister
On January 13, 2020, Robert Abela became the Prime Minister of Malta.
September 2020: Amnesty International Criticism of Malta
On September 8, 2020, Amnesty International criticised Malta for "illegal tactics" in the Mediterranean against immigrants.
2020: Eurostat Data
According to 2020 data from Eurostat, the Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region covered the whole island and has a population of 480,134.
2020: Ratification of UN Treaty
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 are 16,457 Eastern Orthodox Christians in Malta.
2021: 2021 Census Results
As of the 2021 census, Maltese-born natives made up the majority of the island with 386,280 people out of a total population of 519,562.
2021: Malta Metro Planning
In 2021, plans were underway for an underground Malta Metro, with an estimated total cost of €6.2 billion.
2021: Maltese Islands Population
In 2021, the population of the Maltese Islands stood at 519,562.
2021: Religion in Malta
Religion statistics for Malta was taken during the 2021 census.
October 2022: Free Bus System
From October 2022, the bus system is free of charge for residents of Malta.
November 2022: Bill proposed to allow termination of pregnancy
On November 21, 2022, the government 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 Malta
In 2022, Malta National Statistics Office states 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 passed
In June 2023, a bill passed with amendments restricting the exception to situations where the woman's life is at risk.
March 2024: Air Malta Operations End
In March 2024, Air Malta ceased operations after 50 years of service.
March 2024: KM Malta Airlines Takes Over
In March 2024, KM Malta Airlines replaced Air Malta as the national airline, assuming its assets and staff and began operations.
March 2024: Myriam Spiteri Debono elected President
On March 27, 2024, Myriam Spiteri Debono was elected President of Malta by members of parliament in an indirect election.
2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking
In 2024, Malta was ranked 29th in the Global Innovation Index.
February 2025: Lowest Ever Ranking
In February 2025, Transparency International reported that Malta dropped to its lowest ever ranking of 65th place in a report published.
