Malta
Republic of Malta
Updated
Population
579,704
2025 · World Bank
GDP
$27.77B
2025 · World Bank
GDP per capita
$47,907
2025 · World Bank
Area
316 km²
mledoze/countries reference dataset
Capital
Valletta
Median age
41.1 yrs
2025 · UN WPP
Location
- Capital
- Valletta
- Region
- Europe
- Subregion
- Southern Europe
- Area
- 316 km²
- Languages
- English, Maltese
Leadership
- Head of state
- Myriam Spiteri Debono
- In office since April 4, 2024
- Head of government
- Robert Abela
- In office since January 1, 2020
Wikidata (CC0), checked August 11, 2026. Frozen Factbook mirrors still list the officeholders of January 2026.
Then and now
The CIA World Factbook stopped updating in January 2026. This is what has changed since its final edition.
| Indicator | Factbook, final edition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 521,8282025 | 579,7042025 | +11.1% |
| GDP (nominal) | $24.32B2024 | $27.77B2025 | +14.2% |
| Inflation rate | 1.7%2024 | 2.4%2025 | +0.7 pp |
Trends since 2000
390,087 (2000) 579,704 (2025)
$4.04B (2000) $27.77B (2025)
$10,348 (2000) $47,907 (2025)
2.4% (2000) 2.4% (2025)
World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
7 facts about Malta
- 01 Malta ranks 173 of 238 in population, with 579,704 people as of 2025.
- 02 Its economy produced $27.77B in 2025, or $47,907 per person.
- 03 Malta has no land borders.
- 04 Population has grown 49% since 2000, from 390,087 to 579,704.
- 05 Prices sit at about 66% of United States levels (World Bank PPP data, 2025).
- 06 94% of the population uses the internet (2024).
- 07 It lists 2 official or major languages: English, Maltese.
Reference
- Languages
- English, Maltese
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Calling code
- +356
- Internet TLD
- .mt
- Demonym
- Maltese
- ISO codes
- MT · MLT · 470
The Factbook archive 141 fields · 11 categories
The complete World Factbook entry for Malta: 141 fields and 232 sub-entries across 11 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition; the live figures above supersede the fast-moving numbers in it. Last CIA update: January 18, 2026.
Introduction 1 field
- Background
- With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008.
Geography 17 fields
- Location
- Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
- Geographic coordinates
- 35 50 N, 14 35 E
- Map references
- Europe
- Area
- total: 316 sq kmland: 316 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
- Area - comparative
- slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
- Land boundaries
- total: 0 km
- Coastline
- 196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
- Climate
- Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
- Terrain
- mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
- Elevation
- highest point: Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 mlowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
- Natural resources
- limestone, salt, arable land
- Land use
- agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.)agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)forest: 1.5% (2023 est.)other: 66.4% (2023 est.)
- Irrigated land
- 39 sq km (2022)
- Population distribution
- most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
- Natural hazards
- occasional droughts
- Geography - note
- the country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
People and Society 34 fields
- Population
- total: 521,828 (2025 est.)male: 271,180female: 250,648
- Nationality
- noun: Maltese (singular and plural)adjective: Maltese
- Ethnic groups
- Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
- Languages
- Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181)15-64 years: 62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248)65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278)
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 54.1 (2025 est.)youth dependency ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.)elderly dependency ratio: 32.9 (2025 est.)potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
- Median age
- total: 42.1 years (2025 est.)male: 42.4 yearsfemale: 44.7 years
- Population growth rate
- 0.65% (2025 est.)
- Birth rate
- 7.67 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Net migration rate
- 7.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
- Urbanization
- urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- Major urban areas - population
- 213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 29.3 years (2020 est.)
note: data refers to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births - Maternal mortality ratio
- 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)male: 81.5 yearsfemale: 85.8 years
- Total fertility rate
- 1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 0.57 (2025 est.)
- Drinking water source
- improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Health expenditure
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.6% of GDP (2021)Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
- Physician density
- 7.86 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
- Hospital bed density
- 4.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
- Sanitation facility access
- improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Obesity - adult prevalence rate
- 28.9% (2016)
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- total: 8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)beer: 2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)wine: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)spirits: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)other alcohols: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Tobacco use
- total: 22.1% (2025 est.)male: 23.9% (2025 est.)female: 20.2% (2025 est.)
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 0.7% (2022 est.)
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 52% (2021 est.)
- Education expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.5% national budget (2022 est.)
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 16 years (2023 est.)male: 15 years (2023 est.)female: 17 years (2023 est.)
Environment 10 fields
- Environmental issues
- limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; wildlife preservation
- International environmental agreements
- party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
- Climate
- Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
- Land use
- agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.)agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)forest: 1.5% (2023 est.)other: 66.4% (2023 est.)
- Urbanization
- urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- total emissions: 8.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)from petroleum and other liquids: 8.113 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)from consumed natural gas: 852,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Particulate matter emissions
- 13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 348,800 tons (2024 est.)percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.5% (2022 est.)
- Total water withdrawal
- municipal: 39.497 million cubic meters (2022)industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2022)agricultural: 21.358 million cubic meters (2022)
- Total renewable water resources
- 50.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government 24 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: Republic of Maltaconventional short form: Maltalocal long form: Repubblika ta' Maltalocal short form: Maltaetymology: the origin is unclear; the name may come from the ancient term mel, meaning "high" and probably referring to the island's rocks; the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite," possibly from the Greek word meli, meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production
- Government type
- parliamentary republic
- Capital
- name: Vallettageographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in Octoberetymology: named in honor of Jean Parizot de la VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who founded the city in 1566
- Administrative divisions
- 68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
- Legal system
- mixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
- Constitution
- history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964amendment process: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic
- International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: nocitizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Maltadual citizenship recognized: noresidency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime ministerelection/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime ministermost recent election date: 27 March 2024election results:
2024: Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous
2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimousexpected date of next election: by March 2029 - Legislative branch
- legislature name: House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 65 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 3/26/2022parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)percentage of women in chamber: 29.1%expected date of next election: March 2027
- Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually on the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
- Political parties
- AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD)
Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL
Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN - Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (771) 213-4050FAX: [1] (202) 530-9753email address and website:
[email protected]
The Embassy (gov.mt) - Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Somers FARKAS (since 26 November 2025)embassy: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC 20521-5800telephone: [356] 2561-4000email address and website:
[email protected]
https://mt.usembassy.gov/ - International organization participation
- Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- Independence
- 21 September 1964 (from the UK)
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
- Flag
- description: two equal vertical bands of white (left side) and red; in the upper-left corner is the George Cross, edged in red
history: according to legend, the colors come from the red-and-white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily, who removed a bicolored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091, but the colors more likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, Britain's King George VI awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II, and the George Cross bordered in red was added to the flag after independence in 1964 - National symbol(s)
- Maltese eight-pointed cross
- National color(s)
- red, white
- National coat of arms
- Adopted in 1988, Malta’s coat of arms has a shield displaying the national flag, with olive and palm branches on each side symbolizing peace. On top of the shield is a golden crown in the shape of a fortification with five turrets, representing Malta's forts. The white ribbon below the shield displays the name Repubblika ta' Malta (Republic of Malta).
- National anthem(s)
- title: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta)lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUThistory: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country
- National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta
Economy 30 fields
- Economic overview
- high-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $34.731 billion (2024 est.)Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $32.774 billion (2023 est.)Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.689 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate
- Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.8% (2023 est.)Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita
- Real GDP per capita 2024: $60,500 (2024 est.)Real GDP per capita 2023: $59,300 (2023 est.)Real GDP per capita 2022: $57,800 (2022 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $24.322 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate - Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.)industry: 11.4% (2024 est.)services: 80.8% (2024 est.)
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 46.6% (2024 est.)government consumption: 17.2% (2024 est.)investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.)investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.)exports of goods and services: 123.5% (2024 est.)imports of goods and services: -106.1% (2024 est.)
- Agricultural products
- milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, cauliflower/broccoli, cabbages, pork, pumpkins/squash, watermelons (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage - Industries
- tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
- Industrial production growth rate
- 5.6% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency - Labor force
- 318,200 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work - Unemployment rate
- Unemployment rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)Unemployment rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 7.8% (2024 est.)male: 9.6% (2024 est.)female: 5.7% (2024 est.)
- Population below poverty line
- 16.7% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line - Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 34.6 (2022 est.)
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 2.7% (2022 est.)highest 10%: 27.7% (2022 est.)
- Remittances
- Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Budget
- revenues: $6.95 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $7.966 billion (2023 est.)
- Public debt
- Public debt 2017: 50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
- Taxes and other revenues
- 21.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP - Current account balance
- Current account balance 2024: $1.383 billion (2024 est.)Current account balance 2023: $1.425 billion (2023 est.)Current account balance 2022: -$167.611 million (2022 est.)
- Exports
- Exports 2024: $29.245 billion (2024 est.)Exports 2023: $26.647 billion (2023 est.)Exports 2022: $23.566 billion (2022 est.)
- Exports - partners
- Nigeria 28%, Germany 10%, China 6%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports - Exports - commodities
- refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars - Imports
- Imports 2024: $24.505 billion (2024 est.)Imports 2023: $22.637 billion (2023 est.)Imports 2022: $21.406 billion (2022 est.)
- Imports - partners
- Italy 18%, China 10%, Germany 8%, France 7%, Turkey 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports - Imports - commodities
- ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars - Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.418 billion (2024 est.)Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.223 billion (2023 est.)Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.199 billion (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates
- Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)
Energy 7 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 829,000 kW (2023 est.)consumption: 2.766 billion kWh (2023 est.)exports: 28 million kWh (2023 est.)imports: 648 million kWh (2023 est.)transmission/distribution losses: 199.086 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)solar: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Coal
- consumption: 8.4 metric tons (2021 est.)imports: 3.9 metric tons (2022 est.)
- Petroleum
- refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Natural gas
- consumption: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)imports: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Energy consumption per capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 234.698 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Communications 6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 259,000 (2023 est.)subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 767,000 (2024 est.)subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2024 est.)
- Broadcast media
- 2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta and an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2019)
- Internet country code
- .mt
- Internet users
- percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 236,000 (2023 est.)subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)
Transportation 5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- 9H
- Airports
- 1 (2025)
- Heliports
- 2 (2025)
- Merchant marine
- total: 1,957 (2023)by type: bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613
- Ports
- total ports: 2 (2024)large: 0medium: 1small: 1very small: 0ports with oil terminals: 0key ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors
Military and Security 6 fields
- Military and security forces
- the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM): Land Component (combat, combat support, and combat service support divided into three regiments), Maritime Squadron, Air Wing; Volunteer Reserve Force (2025)
note: the Malta Police Force maintains internal security; both the Police and the AFM report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Security, and Law Enforcement - Military expenditures
- Military Expenditures 2024: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)Military Expenditures 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)Military Expenditures 2020: 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces of Malta (2025)
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the military has a small inventory of armaments from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy, and the US (2025)
- Military service age and obligation
- 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
- Military - note
- the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities; the AFM’s primary roles include maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, monitoring and policing its territorial waters, participating in overseas peacekeeping and stability operations, and providing search and rescue and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities; secondary missions include assisting civil authorities during emergencies, supporting the police and other security services, and providing ceremonial and other public support duties
Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality but contributes to EU, Organization for the Security and Cooperation (OSCE), and UN military missions and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2025)
Transnational Issues 1 field
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees: 9,284 (2024 est.)stateless persons: 171 (2024 est.)
Frequently asked
- What is the population of Malta in 2025?
- Malta has a population of 579,704 (579,704) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.
- What is the capital of Malta?
- The capital of Malta is Valletta.
- How large is the economy of Malta?
- Malta's GDP is $27.77B (2025, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $47,907 per capita.
- Who leads Malta?
- Head of state: Myriam Spiteri Debono (since April 4, 2024). Head of government: Robert Abela (since January 1, 2020). Source: Wikidata, checked August 11, 2026.
Malta