Malta Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 26, 2020

Malta, a state in the middle Mediterranean, located about 90 km south of Sicily; 316 km², 484 000 residents (2019).Malta consists of three inhabited islands: Malta (246 km² ), Gozo (67 km² ) and Comino (3 km² ) as well as a couple of uninhabited small islands. Malta is regarded as Europe’s southernmost state. The capital is Valletta (5,600 residents, 2018).

Country facts

Republic of ta’Malta / Republic of Malta
Country abbreviation: MT
Area: 316 km²
Population (2019): 484,000 residents
Capital: Valletta
Main languages: Maltese, English
State: Republic
Head of State: George Vella (President)
Head of Government: Robert Abela
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 26,220
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 30,075
Currency unit: 1 euro = 100 cents
Currency code: EUR
Country number (telephony): 356
Internet Domain Name: mt
Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
National Day: September 21 (Independence Day, 1964)

Nature

Land use: agricultural land (41%), other (59%)
Highest mountain: Rabat (258 m asl)

Population

Population density (2019): 1,532 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 0.1%; birth rate 9 ‰, death rate 8 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (14%), 15-64 (67%), 65- (19%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 80 years, women 85 years
Infant mortality (2019): 7 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 500,000 residents
HDI (2017): 0.878 (place 29 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 95%
Most populous cities (2018): San Pawl il-Baħar (26,100), Birkirkara (23,600)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (1%), industry (10%), service (89%)
Exports (2017): US $ 3,272 million
Main export products: machinery, fuel
Main exporting countries: Germany, France, Italy
Imports (2017): US $ 4,996 million
Main import products: fuel, machinery, means of transport
Main importing countries: Italy, Germany, UK
Railway network: nothing in operation

The main island is made up of sand and limestone layers, which slope slightly to the northeast. The southern coast is particularly high and steep and without major inlets, while the northern coast has many deep bays with good, natural ports. Smaller plain areas exist, e.g. in the southeast. Gozo, which is the second largest island, also has a broken plateau of coral limestone with lower plains to the south. Malta has a warm temperate climate of Mediterranean type with hot and dry summer and rain in the winter months.

The country is a republic within the Commonwealth and became independent in 1964. The president, elected by Parliament for five years, has exclusively representative duties. Parliament is elected under a proportional electoral system for a period of five years.

The main industries are tourism and industry. The manufacturing industry consists mainly of shipyards and lighter industries. leather, plastic and metal products. The food industry is also significant. Tourism is the country’s most important industry; at the end of the 1990s, it accounted for a quarter of GDP.