Malta facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Republic of Malta Repubblika ta' Malta (Maltese)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Virtute et constantia (Latin) "Strength and persistence"
Anthem: L-Innu Malti (Maltese) "The Maltese Hymn"
Location of Malta (green circle) – on the European continent (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]
Capital	Valletta 35°54′N 14°31′E / 35.900°N 14.517°E / 35.900; 14.517
Official languages	Maltese English
Other languages	Maltese Sign Language Italian
Ethnic groups (2021)	89.1% Caucasian 5.2% Asian 1.7% Arab 1.5% African 1.3% Hispanic/Latino 1.2% more than one origin
Religion (2021)	88.5% Christianity 82.6% Catholicism (official) 5.9% other Christian 5.1% no religion 3.9% Islam 1.4% Hinduism 1.1% other
Demonym(s)	Maltese
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic

• President	Myriam Spiteri Debono
• Prime Minister	Robert Abela

Legislature	Parliament of Malta
Independence from the United Kingdom

• State of Malta	21 September 1964
• Republic	13 December 1974

Area
• Total	316 km² (122 sq mi) (187th)
• Water (%)	0.001
Population
• 2021 census	519,562
• Density	1,649/km² (4,270.9/sq mi) (8th)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$36.870 billion (140th)
• Per capita	$67,682 (20th)
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$22.737 billion (118th)
• Per capita	$41,738 (25th)
Gini (2020)	▲ 31.4 medium
HDI (2022)	0.915 very high · 25th
Currency	Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Calling code	+356
ISO 3166 code	MT
Internet TLD	.mt
2021 Malta census Chapter 4: Racial Origin according to the most recent national census. Meanwhile 77.8% of the population were Maltese citizens or nationals. Also .eu, shared with other European Union member states

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a small island country in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The country is an archipelago, which means it's a group of islands. The three largest islands are Malta, Gozo, and Comino.

Malta's two official languages are Maltese and English. Its capital city, Valletta, is the smallest capital in the European Union (EU). Even though Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world, it is very crowded. With over 500,000 people, it is the ninth most densely populated country.

Because of its location, Malta has been very important throughout history. Many different powers have ruled the islands, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Knights Hospitaller, French, and British. Each of these groups left its mark on Maltese culture.

Malta became independent from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974. It joined the European Union in 2004 and started using the Euro as its currency in 2008.

Today, Malta is a popular place for tourists. People visit for its warm weather, beautiful sights, and historic buildings. It has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including ancient megalithic temples that are among the oldest free-standing structures in the world.

Name
History
Government and Politics
Geography
- Climate
Economy
People and Culture
- Languages
- Religion
- Cuisine
- Festivals
Transportation
Images for kids
See also

Name

The name Malta has a long history. It likely comes from the ancient Greek word Melítē, which means "place of honey" or "sweetness." The ancient Greeks might have named the island this because of a special type of bee that lives there.

Another idea is that the name comes from the Phoenician word Maleth, which means "haven" or "port." This would refer to the island's safe harbors. The name was later used by the Romans for the island and its ancient capital, Mdina.

History

Ancient Times

People have lived in Malta for over 8,500 years. The first settlers were probably hunter-gatherers from Sicily. Later, around 3500 BC, the people of Malta began building huge stone temples. These megalithic temples, like Ġgantija on Gozo, are some of the oldest free-standing buildings in the world.

Around 1000 BC, Phoenician traders arrived and used the islands as a stop on their trade routes. Later, Malta was ruled by Carthage and then by the Romans. During Roman times, in AD 60, Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked on the island. He stayed for three months and introduced Christianity to the Maltese people.

Middle Ages

After the Roman Empire fell, Malta was ruled by the Byzantine Empire. In 870, Arabs from North Africa conquered the islands. They introduced new farming methods and their language, Siculo-Arabic, which later evolved into the modern Maltese language.

In 1091, the Normans from Sicily took control of Malta. This brought the island back under Christian rule. For the next 400 years, Malta was part of the Kingdom of Sicily and was ruled by different European noble families.

The Knights of Malta

The Ottoman Empire attacked Malta in 1565 in what is known as the Great Siege of Malta.

In 1530, the King of Spain gave Malta to the Knights Hospitaller, a religious and military group also known as the Knights of St. John. The Knights ruled Malta for over 250 years.

Their most famous moment was the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. The Ottoman Empire sent a huge army to capture the island, but the Knights and the Maltese people fought them off. After the victory, the Knights built the new capital city, Valletta, and many forts and towers along the coast.

French and British Rule

The Knights' rule ended in 1798 when Napoleon Bonaparte captured Malta. The French were not popular, and the Maltese people rebelled. They asked for help from Great Britain. The British helped drive out the French, and in 1814, Malta officially became part of the British Empire.

Malta was an important naval base for the British. During World War II, the island was heavily bombed by Italy and Germany. For their bravery during the war, King George VI awarded the entire island the George Cross, a high honor. The George Cross is still on Malta's flag today.

Independence

Malta became an independent country on 21 September 1964. It was first a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. On 13 December 1974, Malta became a republic with its own president. The last British troops left in 1979.

In 2004, Malta joined the European Union, and in 2008, it adopted the Euro as its currency.

Government and Politics

Myriam Spiteri Debono
President of Malta
since 4 April 2024

Robert Abela
Prime Minister of Malta
since 13 January 2020

Malta is a parliamentary republic. The government is based on the British system. The Parliament is made up of the President and the House of Representatives.

The President is the head of state, but their role is mostly ceremonial. The real power is held by the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the government.

There are two main political parties in Malta:

The Labour Party (Partit Laburista)
The Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista)

For local government, Malta is divided into 68 local councils. These councils are responsible for taking care of their towns and villages.

Geography

A satellite photo of the Maltese islands.

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean Sea. An archipelago is a chain or group of islands. Only the three largest islands—Malta, Gozo, and Comino—have people living on them. The landscape is made of low hills and terraced fields. The highest point is Ta' Dmejrek, which is 253 meters (830 ft) high.

Malta does not have any permanent rivers or lakes. It gets its fresh water from underground sources and from plants that turn seawater into fresh water. The coastline has many bays, which make good harbors.

Climate

Malta has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The average temperature is around 23°C (73°F) during the day.

In winter, temperatures are usually between 12°C and 18°C (54°F and 64°F). In summer, they range from 28°C to 34°C (82°F and 93°F). Malta gets a lot of sunshine, with over 3,000 hours of sun per year.

Economy

A new and modern financial centre opened in 2021.

Malta has an advanced, high-income economy. The main parts of its economy are tourism, manufacturing (especially electronics), and financial services.

Because Malta is a small island, it has to import many things, including most of its food and energy. Its main natural resource is limestone.

Tourism is very important for Malta's economy. Millions of tourists visit each year to enjoy the sunny weather, beaches, and historical sites. Malta is also a popular location for filming movies and TV shows. Famous movies like Gladiator and Troy were filmed there.

People and Culture

Pastizzi are a popular and traditional Maltese snack.

As of 2021, most of the people living in Malta were born there. There are also many people from other countries, especially the United Kingdom, Italy, and India.

Languages

The two official languages are Maltese and English. Maltese is a unique language that developed from an old form of Arabic spoken in Sicily. It is the only Semitic language in the European Union written with the Latin alphabet. Almost everyone in Malta can also speak English. Many people also speak Italian.

Religion

The main religion in Malta is Roman Catholic Christianity. The country has over 360 churches, which is about one church for every 1,000 people. Religion is an important part of Maltese culture, and many towns and villages celebrate the feast day of their patron saint with processions, band marches, and fireworks.

Cuisine

Maltese food is a mix of Mediterranean flavors, with strong influences from Sicily and Italy. Popular dishes include stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew), lampuki pie (fish pie), and pastizzi (flaky pastries filled with ricotta cheese or peas).

Festivals

Malta has many festivals throughout the year. The most important are the village festas (feasts) that honor each town's patron saint. These celebrations last for several days and include religious services, parades, music, and fireworks.

Another big event is Carnival, which is held in February before Lent. It features colorful floats, costumes, and parties in the streets.

Transportation

Buses are the main form of public transport in Malta.

In Malta, people drive on the left side of the road, like in the United Kingdom. The main form of public transportation is the bus system, which connects all the towns and villages.

Malta International Airport is the only airport in the country. There are also ferry services that connect Malta to the island of Gozo and to Sicily in Italy. The Grand Harbour in Valletta is a major port for cruise ships and cargo.

Images for kids

The Ġgantija temples on Gozo are ancient megalithic structures.
The Byzantine Empire in 555 AD, which included Malta.
A Roman mosaic from the Domvs Romana in Malta.
Roger I of Sicily brought Christian rule back to Malta.
Flag of the Aragonese Kingdom of Sicily, which ruled Malta.
St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina was built in the Baroque style.
A bust of Napoleon Bonaparte in Valletta. He captured Malta in 1798.
A street in Valletta showing bomb damage from World War II.
The Independence Monument in Floriana.
Malta joined the European Union in 2004.
The Parliament House in Valletta.
Map of the local councils of Malta.
A Maltese patrol ship in the harbor.
The main urban area of Malta, with Valletta in the center.
The Maltese centaury is the national plant of Malta.
The Central Bank of Malta in Valletta.
Malta is part of the eurozone, the group of countries that use the euro.
The Portomaso Business Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Malta.
Mellieħa Bay is a popular sandy beach in Malta.
A view of Valletta, Malta's capital city.
Il-Kantilena is the oldest known text written in the Maltese language.
A memorial for child migrants at the Valletta Waterfront.
The University of Malta.
The National Library of Malta in Valletta.
The Malta Freeport is one of the busiest ports in Europe.
An airplane from Air Malta, which was the national airline until 2024.
Mater Dei Hospital is the main hospital in Malta.
The Manoel Theatre is one of the oldest working theatres in Europe.
The Lower Barrakka Gardens in Valletta offer beautiful views of the Grand Harbour.
A painting showing the end of the Great Siege of Malta.
A still life painting by Francesco Noletti.
People in costume celebrate Carnival in Valletta.
The statue of St. George during the festa in Victoria, Gozo.
The statue of Santa Marija (Holy Mary) during the festa in Mġarr, Malta.
A procession during Holy Week in Żebbuġ.