Facts

The Republic of Malta

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta comprises of an archipelago of seven islands with the three largest islands being those of Malta, Gozo (Għawdex) and Comino (Kemmuna). The Maltese Islands are situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, lying directly south of Sicily and east of Tunisia. The capital, Valletta, is the main cultural, administrative and commercial centre of the islands. The historic city, built during the time of the Knight of St John is situated on a peninsula and is surrounded by a number of harbours, whilst the Malta International Airport is only five kilometres from the capital.

Throughout Malta's history the islands have been ruled by various powers and their strategic location has been fought over for many centuries. After the reign of the Knights of St John and two years under French rule the British acquired possession of the Maltese Islands in 1814.

The Maltese gained Independence from the United Kingdom on the 21st of September 1964 and a decade later Malta became a Republic. The country is also a member of the Commonwealth.

Malta joined the European Union on the 1st of May 2004 and today occupies five seats in the European Parliament. On the 1st of January 2008, Malta celebrated the introduction of the Euro which replaced the Maltese Lira as the country's legal currency. In the last 20 years the economy has developed rapidly and today the country is welcoming numerous foreign investors.

The major industries are tourism, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, electronics, construction, ship building and repair, and now increasingly the ICT and financial sectors.

The country’s accession into Europe, its strategic location in the middle of the Mediterranean and the stable economical and political climate are some of the key factors that make Malta so attractive to foreign investors. Two other major contributors are the fact that the Maltese are English speaking and the workforce is multi-talented, hard working and knowledge based.

Malta is moving ahead and is entering a transition to a modern forward looking country whilst at the same time still retaining its unique blend of history, culture, language and religion.

General Facts

• Population: 404,039 (Nov 2005 est.)
• Religions: Roman Catholic - 98% (other denominations have places of worship too)
• Location: 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km east of Tunisia
• Official Languages: Maltese and English
• Government Type: Republic, EU Member
• Capital City: Valletta
• Largest City: Birkirkara
• Independence: 21 September 1964, from the United Kingdom
• Climate: Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters
• Surface Area: 316 km²
• Currency: Euro (€)
• Calling Code: +356
• Time Zone: UCT +1