# List of heads of state of Malta

This article lists the heads of state of Malta, from independence as the State of Malta in 1964 to present.
From 1964 to 1974, Malta was a Commonwealth realm and its head of state under the Constitution of Malta was the queen of Malta, Elizabeth II – who was also simultaneously the queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. She was represented in Malta by a governor-general. Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth after constitutional amendments in 1974, and the position of monarch and governor-general were replaced by the president of Malta who is indirectly elected.
See also History of Malta, Timeline of Maltese history, list of monarchs of Malta and list of governors of Malta.

## Queen of Malta (1964–1974)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
| No. | Portrait | Monarch (Birth–Death) | Reign | Reign | Reign | Royal House | Prime Minister |
| No. | Portrait | Monarch (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Duration | Royal House | Prime Minister |
| 1 | | Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) | 21 September 1964 | 13 December 1974 | 10 years, 83 days | Windsor | Borg Olivier Mintoff |

### Governors-general of Malta

The governor-general of Malta was the representative of the monarch in Malta and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Malta without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

#### Status

| No. | Portrait | Governor-General (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch | Prime Minister |
| No. | Portrait | Governor-General (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Monarch | Prime Minister |
| 1 | | Sir Maurice Dorman (1912–1993) | 21 September 1964 | 22 June 1971 | 6 years, 274 days | Elizabeth II | Borg Olivier Mintoff |
| 2 | | Sir Anthony Mamo (1909–2008) | 22 June 1971 | 5 July 1971 | 3 years, 174 days | Elizabeth II | Mintoff |
| 2 | | Sir Anthony Mamo (1909–2008) | 5 July 1971 | 13 December 1974 | 3 years, 174 days | Elizabeth II | Mintoff |

## Presidents of Malta (1974–present)

Under the Constitution of Malta as amended in 1974, the position of President of Malta replaced the British monarch as head of state. The position of president is elected by Parliament for a five-year term. As from 1989, the president is traditionally inaugurated on April 4 of the year of the nomination and subsequent election of the president by Parliament, provided the preceding president has not resigned before their term expired. In the event of a vacancy, or for any reason the president is unable to perform the functions conferred upon them by the Constitution, those functions are performed by an acting president (Maltese: Aġent President) appointed by the prime minister, after consultation with the leader of the opposition. If there is no person in Malta so appointed and able to perform those functions, the chief justice serves as acting president.

### Status

| No. | Portrait | President (Birth–Death) | Elected | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Prime minister |
| No. | Portrait | President (Birth–Death) | Elected | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Prime minister |
| 1 | | Sir Anthony Mamo (1909–2008) | 1974 | 13 December 1974 | 27 December 1976 | 2 years, 14 days | Independent | Mintoff |
| 2 | | Anton Buttigieg (1912–1983) | 1976 | 27 December 1976 | 27 December 1981 | 5 years | PL | Mintoff |
| — | | Albert Hyzler (1916–1993) | — | 27 December 1981 | 15 February 1982 | 50 days | PL | Mintoff |
| 3 | | Agatha Barbara (1923–2002) | 1982 | 15 February 1982 | 15 February 1987 | 5 years | PL | Mintoff Mifsud Bonnici |
| — | | Paul Xuereb (1923–1994) | — | 15 February 1987 | 4 April 1989 | 2 years, 48 days | PL | Mifsud Bonnici Fenech Adami |
| 4 | | Ċensu Tabone (1913–2012) | 1989 | 4 April 1989 | 4 April 1994 | 5 years | PN | Fenech Adami |
| 5 | | Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (born 1932) | 1994 | 4 April 1994 | 4 April 1999 | 5 years | PN | Fenech Adami Sant Fenech Adami |
| 6 | | Guido de Marco (1931–2010) | 1999 | 4 April 1999 | 4 April 2004 | 5 years | PN | Fenech Adami Gonzi |
| 7 | | Eddie Fenech Adami (born 1934) | 2004 | 4 April 2004 | 4 April 2009 | 5 years | PN | Gonzi |
| 8 | | George Abela (born 1948) | 2009 | 4 April 2009 | 4 April 2014 | 5 years | PL | Gonzi Muscat |
| 9 | | Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (born 1958) | 2014 | 4 April 2014 | 4 April 2019 | 5 years | PL | Muscat |
| 10 | | George Vella (born 1942) | 2019 | 4 April 2019 | 4 April 2024 | 5 years | PL | Muscat Abela |
| 11 | | Myriam Spiteri Debono (born 1952) | 2024 | 4 April 2024 | Incumbent | 303 days | PL | Abela |

## Standards

* Royal standard
* Governor-General's standard
* Presidential standard