Malta is a small Mediterranean archipelago south of Sicily, packed with Knights-of-St-John fortifications, Phoenician temples older than the Pyramids, and a unique Semitic-rooted European language.
Geography & landscape
Malta sits in Southern Europe, in the northern hemisphere of Europe. With an area of approximately 316 km², it is a compact territory, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the temperate climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Valletta, lies near coordinates 35.9°, 14.4°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Europe, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Southern Europe region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Malta.
People & society
The population of Malta is around 520K. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Malta recognises multiple official languages — Maltese and English — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Malta is structured as a parliamentary republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Valletta, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Malta is the Euro (EUR). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Valletta and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Malta shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Malta through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Valletta, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +356, and clocks are set to the CET (UTC+1) time zone. ISO standards identify Malta as MT (alpha-2) and MLT (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇲🇹, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Valletta | — |
| Continent | Europe | — |
| Sub-region | Southern Europe | — |
| Population | 520K | people |
| Area | 316 | km² |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) | — |
| Calling code | +356 | international dialling |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | standard time |
| Government type | Parliamentary republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | MT | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | MLT | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 35.9 | degrees |
| Longitude | 14.4 | degrees |
Did you know?
Malta's Ġgantija temples, built around 3600 BCE, are older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids by more than a thousand years.
