Malta

Where is Malta?

Located in Southern Europe, Malta is an island nation. It has a 197.00 km coastline.

The capital city of Malta is Valletta which is located in the South Eastern Region of the country. It was established as Malta’s capital in March 1571. Valletta has a population of approximately 6,500 while the metropolitan area has a population of about 393,000 people. It is one of the least populated cities in Malta. Valletta is famous for the fortress buildings that date back to 16th century. The buildings are major tourist attractions. The city has been listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO because of the historic sites and buildings. Valletta enjoys Mediterranean climate which is characterized by warm summer and wet winter. It receives heavy precipitation during winter and little to no precipitation during summer. Temperatures can range from as low as 100C in January to as high as 320C in August.

Malta is a European country covering 316.00 km². This makes it the 10th smallest country in the world and about 9 times smaller than Rhode Island. Its geographic coordinates are 35 50 N, 14 35 E and Valletta is the capital city.

The name Malta is said to come from the Greek word "meli", meaning honey.

Its ISO code is MT.

Geography

Malta has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Its terrain is mostly low, rocky and flat with some coastal cliffs.

Population

Malta has a population of 415,196 making it the 174th largest in the world. The majority of the population lives in the eastern half of the country.

Maltese is the official language and most common spoken language. The major ethnic group is Maltese. The majority of the country is Roman Catholic.

Although there are several foreign languages spoken in Malta, English and Maltese are the two officially recognized languages. The Maltese language is spoken and understood by over 98% of the population while 88% of the population uses English as first or second language. Italian is also widely spoken in the country. The English language spoken in Malta is almost similar to that spoken in the United Kingdom and its former colonies. Although Standard English is the official language, there are other varieties of English dialects spoken in the country. The dialects have been influenced mainly by the Italian language. Both print and audio-visual media use either English or Maltase languages or both. Other languages spoken in Malta include Arabic, Russian, German, and Spanish.

The dialing code for the country is 356.

Government

Malta is an independent country. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. Its constitution was last ratified in 1964.

Malta is a republic with the parliamentary system and administration activities resembling the Westminster System. The country’s government is the executive branch which is headed by the president. The president appoints the prime ninister. The president, in consultation with the prime minister, appoints the rest of the cabinet. The Incumbent president of Malta is called Marie-Louis Coleiro Preca, the 9th president in the history of Malta. She assumed office in April 2014 and is expected to hand over in 2019 since the constitution only allows for one term of five years. The parliament of Malta is housed at the Parliament House which is located in Valletta. It was officially opened on May 4, 2015. The official residence of the President, known as Grandmaster’s Palace, is also located in Valletta. The president also has two other residences at San Antonio and Verdala Palaces. Malta’s election system is based on a single transferable vote with only citizens who are aged 18 and above and whose names appear in the electoral register eligible to vote.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Malta's GDP is $16,320,000,000.00 (USD) with $37,900.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 150th largest economy and its citizens the 44th richest in the world. The currency of Malta is the Euro (EUR).

Its major export partners are Egypt, Germany, and Libya. Its main exports are machinery and mechanical appliances, mineral fuels, and oil. Its major import partners are Italy, Canada, and Germany. Its major imports include mineral fuels, oils and products, and electrical machinery.

Flag

The Maltese white and red flag with George Cross was given an official status by Queen Elizabeth II on November 9, 1954. The flag is composed of red color which signifies the struggle and sacrifice of the Maltese people in defending their faith while the white color represents love, peace, and optimism of the people. The George Cross on the flag symbolizes the brevity of the Maltese as they had shown in the World War II. The cross was introduced to the flag on December 28, 1943. There are several sources as to where the Maltese flag originated from. Some sources indicate that the flag may have originated from the Norman family of Hauteville while other sources indicate that the red and white flag was given to the Maltese by Count Roger.