Malta Flags

Malta has a basic bi-colored flag consisting of two equal bands of white on the hoist side and red on the fly. A representation of the George cross with red edges is at the upper hoist-side corner in the canton of the white strip. The white and red per pale flag is in the ratio of 2:3. The breadth of the flag is approximately one and a half times the height. The Maltese flag was approved by the Queen Elizabeth II as the country’s official flag on November 9, 1954. However, the flag had been in use in several other ad hoc occasions.

The white color on the Maltese flag represents the peace, love, light, and the optimism of the people of Malta. The people envision a country of peace and tranquility where everyone is free to live anywhere without the worry of hostility from fellow countrymen. The red color represents the blood that has been shed and the sacrifice made by the Maltese people in defending their beliefs and faith. The George cross represents the bravery of the people of Malta in defending their country and the bravery of the Islanders in the World War II.

The origin of the flag of Malta has several sources. The most credible source which is yet to be verified is that the red and white flag originated from the flag of the Norman family of Hauteville. The George Cross first appeared on the flag on December 28, 1943, on a blue canton. However, after the independence, the flag was changed with the blue canton replaced with a narrow fimbriation of red. One of the legends has it that the original white and red came from Count Roger’s flag who cut out a corner of the flag and left to the Maltese before he left Malta.

Before the official adoption of the current red and white flag, the Maltese flag was simply a plain red and white without the George Cross. George Cross on a blue canton was introduced to the flag on December 28, 1943. After independence, the blue canton was replaced with red fringes. It is common to see all the three flag variants flying at various points. However, the predominant one is the official one.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

More on Graphicmaps

Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Valletta
Languages	Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religion	Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
Government	Parliamentary republic
Independance	21 September 1964 (from the UK)
Area	316.00 km²
Land Area	316.00 km²
Population	415,196.00 Most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Location	Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
GDP(PPP)	$16,320,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$37,900.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Egypt, Germany, and Libya.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are machinery and mechanical appliances, mineral fuels, and oil.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Italy, Canada, and Germany.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include mineral fuels, oils and products, and electrical machinery.
Climate	Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain	Mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Learn More	Malta

Malta Flags

More on Graphicmaps

What is a Trade Embargo?

Which Two Countries Used to Have the Same Flag?

What Is the Only Two-Sided State Flag?

Which Country Flag Looks Like the Texas Flag?

Flags That Resemble the US Flag

What is Demography?