Malta

Malta(/ˈmɒltə/MOL-tə,/ˈmɔːltə/MAWL-tə,Maltese:[ˈmɐːltɐ]), officially theRepublic of Malta,is anisland countryinSouthern Europelocated in theMediterranean Sea, between Sicily andNorth Africa. It consists of anarchipelago80 km (50 mi) south of Italy, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia,and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya.The two official languages areMalteseandEnglish. The country's capital isValletta, which is the smallest capital city in the EU by both area and population. It was also the firstWorld Heritage Cityin Europe to become aEuropean Capital of Culturein 2018.
With a population of about 542,000over an area of 316 km(122 sq mi),Malta is the world'stenth-smallest country by areaand theninth most densely populated. Various sources consider the country to consist of a single urban region,for which it is often described as acity-state.
Malta has been inhabited since about 5900 BC.Its location in the centre of theMediterraneanhas historically given it greatgeostrategicimportance, with a succession of powers having ruled the islands and shaped its culture and society.These include thePhoenicians,Carthaginians,Greeks, andRomansinantiquity; theArabs,Normans, andAragoneseduring theMiddle Ages; and theKnights Hospitaller,French, andBritishin themodern era.Malta came underBritish rulein the early 19th century and served as the headquarters for the BritishMediterranean Fleet. It wasbesieged by the Axis powers during World War IIand was an important Allied base for North Africa and the Mediterranean.Malta achieved independence in 1964,and established its current parliamentary republic in 1974. It has been a member state of theCommonwealth of Nationsand theUnited Nationssince independence; it joined theEuropean Unionin 2004 and theeurozonemonetary union in 2008.
Malta's long history of foreign rule and its proximity to both Europe and North Africa have influenced its art, music, cuisine, and architecture. Malta has close historical and cultural ties to Italy and especiallySicily; between 62 and 66 percent ofMaltese peoplespeak or have significant knowledge of theItalian language, which had official status from 1530 to 1934.Malta was anearly centre of Christianity, andRoman Catholicismis thestate religion, although the country'sconstitutionguarantees freedom of conscience and religious worship.
Malta is adeveloped countrywith an advancedhigh-income economy. It is heavily reliant on tourism, attracting both travellers and a growing expatriate community with its warm climate, numerous recreational areas, and architectural and historical monuments, including threeUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites:Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum,Valletta,and sevenmegalithic templeswhich are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
TheEnglishnameMaltaderives fromItalianandMalteseMalta, from medievalArabicMāliṭā(مَالِطَا), from classicalLatinMelita,fromlatinisedorDoricformsof theancient GreekMelítē(Μελίτη) of uncertain origin. The nameMelítē—shared by theCroatianislandMljetin antiquity—literally means "place of honey" or "sweetness", derived from the combining form ofméli(μέλι, "honey" or any similarly sweet thing)and thesuffix-ē(-η). The ancient Greeks may have given the island this name after Malta'sendemic subspeciesofbees.Alternatively, other scholars argue for derivation of the Greek name from an originalPhoenicianorPunicMaleth(𐤌𐤋𐤈,mlṭ), meaning "haven"or "port"in reference to theGrand Harbourand its primary settlement atCospicuafollowing the sea level rise that separated theMaltese islandsand flooded its original coastal settlements in the 10th centuryBC.The name was then applied to all ofMaltaby the Greeks and toits ancient capitalatMdinaby the Romans.
Maltaand itsdemonymMalteseare attested in English from the late 16th century.English Bible translationsincluding the 1611King James Versionlong used theVulgate LatinformMelita, although the 1525Tyndale Bibleused the transliterationMeliteinstead.Maltais widely used in more recent versions.
Malta has been inhabited from circa 5900 BC,since the arrival of settlers originating fromEuropean Neolithicagriculturalists.Pottery found by archaeologists at theSkorba Templesresembles that found in Italy, and suggests that the Maltese islands were first settled in 5200 BC byStone Agehunters or farmers who had arrived from Sicily, possibly theSicani. The extinction of thedwarf hippos,giant swansanddwarf elephantshas been linked to the earliest arrival of humans on Malta.Prehistoric farming settlements dating to theEarly NeolithicincludeGħar Dalam.The population on Malta grewcereals, raised livestock and, in common with other ancient Mediterranean cultures, worshipped afertility figure.
A culture ofmegalithictemple builders then either supplanted or arose from this early period. Around 3500 BC, these people built some of the oldest existing free-standing structures in the world in the form of the megalithicĠgantijatemples onGozo;other early temples include those atĦaġar QimandMnajdra.The temples have distinctive architecture, typically a complextrefoildesign, and were used from 4000 to 2500 BC. Tentative information suggests thatanimal sacrificeswere made to the goddess of fertility, whose statue is now in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.Another archaeological feature of the Maltese Islands often attributed to these ancient builders is equidistant uniform grooves dubbed "cart tracks" or "cart ruts" which can be found in several locations throughout the islands, with the most prominent being those found inMisraħ Għar il-Kbir. These may have been caused by wooden-wheeled carts eroding soft limestone.The culture apparently disappeared from the islands around 2500 BC, possibly due to famine or disease.
After 2500 BC, the Maltese Islands were depopulated for several decades until an influx ofBronze Ageimmigrants, a culture thatcrematedits dead and introduced smaller megalithic structures calleddolmens.They are claimed to belong to a population certainly different from that which built the previous megalithic temples. It is presumed the population arrived fromSicilybecause of the similarity of Maltese dolmens to some small constructions found there.
Phoeniciantraderscolonisedthe islands under the name Ann (𐤀𐤍𐤍‎,ʾNN)sometime after1000 BCas a stop on their trade routes from the easternMediterraneantoCornwall.Their seat of government was apparently atMdina, which shared the island's name;the primary port was atCospicuaon theGrand Harbour, which they called Maleth.After thefall of Phoeniciain 332 BC, the area came under the control ofCarthage.During this time, the people on Malta mainly cultivatedolivesandcaroband produced textiles.
During theFirst Punic War, the island was conquered after harsh fighting byMarcus Atilius Regulus.After the failure of his expedition, the island fell back in the hands of Carthage, only to beconquered againduring theSecond Punic Warin218 BCby theRoman consulTiberius Sempronius Longus.Malta became aFoederata Civitas, a designation that meant it was exempt from payingtributeor the rule ofRoman law, and fell within the jurisdiction of theprovinceofSicily.Its capital at Mdina was renamedMelitaafter the Greek and Roman name for the island. Punic influence, however, remained vibrant on the islands with the famousCippi of Melqart, pivotal in deciphering thePunic language, dedicated in the secondcentury BC.Local Roman coinage, which ceased in the firstcentury BC,indicates the slow pace of the island's Romanisation: the last locally minted coins still bear inscriptions inAncient Greekand Punic motifs, showing the resistance of the Greek and Punic cultures.
In the second century, EmperorHadrian(r. 117–38) upgraded the status of Malta to amunicipiumor free town: the island's local affairs were administered by fourquattuorviri iuri dicundoand a municipal senate, while a Romanprocuratorliving inMdinarepresented theproconsulof Sicily.InAD 58,Paul the ApostleandLuke the Evangelistwere shipwrecked on the islands.Paul remained for three months, preaching theChristian faith.The island is mentioned at theActs of the Apostlesas Melitene (Ancient Greek:Μελιτήνη).
In 395, when theRoman Empire was divided for the last timeat the death ofTheodosius I, Malta, following Sicily, fell under the control of theWestern Roman Empire.During theMigration Periodas theWestern Roman Empire declined, Malta was conquered or occupied a number of times.From 454 to 464 the islands were subdued by theVandals, and after 464 by theOstrogoths.In 533,Belisarius, on his way to conquer theVandal Kingdomin North Africa, reunited the islands under Imperial (Eastern) rule.Little is known about theByzantine rule in Malta: the island depended on thetheme of Sicilyand had Greek governors and a small Greek garrison.While the bulk of population continued to be constituted by the old, Latinized dwellers, during this period its religious allegiance oscillated between the Pope and thePatriarch of Constantinople.The Byzantine rule introducedGreekfamilies to the Maltese collective.Malta remained under theByzantine Empireuntil 870, when it was conquered by theArabs.
Malta became involved in theArab–Byzantine wars, and the conquest of Malta is closely linked withthat of Sicilythat began in 827 afterAdmiral Euphemius' betrayal of his fellow Byzantines, requesting that theAghlabidsinvade the island.TheMuslimchronicler and geographeral-Himyarirecounts that in 870, followinga violent struggleagainst the defending Byzantines, the Arab invaders, first led by Halaf al-Hadim, and later by Sawada ibn Muhammad,pillaged the island, destroying the most important buildings, and leaving it practically uninhabited until it was recolonised by the Arabs from Sicily in 1048–1049.It is uncertain whether this new settlement resulted from demographic expansion in Sicily, a higherstandard of livingin Sicily (in which case the recolonisation may have taken place a few decades earlier), or a civil war which broke out among the Arab rulers of Sicily in 1038.TheArab Agricultural Revolutionintroduced new irrigation, cotton, and some fruits. TheSiculo-Arabiclanguage was adopted on the island from Sicily; it eventually evolved into theMaltese language.
TheNormansattacked Malta in 1091, as part of theirconquest of Sicily.The Norman leader,Roger I of Sicily, was welcomed by Christian captives,though contrary to myth he did not tear off a portion of his checkered red-and-white banner and present it to theMaltesein gratitude for having fought on his behalf, forming the basis of the modernflag of Malta.
Malta became part of the newly formedKingdom of Sicily, which also covered the island of Sicily and the southernItalian Peninsula.The Roman Catholic Church was reinstated as the state religion, with Malta under theSee of Palermo, and someNorman architecturesprang up around Malta, especially in its ancient capitalMdina.King Tancredmade Malta afiefof the kingdom and installed aCount of Maltain 1192. As the islands were much desired due to their strategic importance, it was during this time that the men of Malta were militarised to fend off attempted conquest; early Counts were skilledGenoeseprivateers.
The kingdom passed on to theHohenstaufendynasty from 1194 until 1266. AsEmperor Frederick IIbegan to reorganise his Sicilian kingdom, Western culture and religion started to exert their influence more intensely.Malta was declared a county and amarquisate, but its trade was totally ruined. For a long time it remained solely a fortifiedgarrison.
A mass expulsion of Arabs occurred in 1224, and the entire Christian male population ofCelanoin Abruzzo was deported to Malta in the same year.In 1249Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, decreed that all remaining Muslims be expelled from Maltaor compelled to convert.
For a brief period, the kingdom passed to theCapetian House of Anjou,but high taxes made the dynasty unpopular in Malta, due in part toCharles of Anjou's war against the Republic of Genoa, and the island ofGozowas sacked in 1275.
Malta was ruled by theHouse of Barcelona, the ruling dynasty of theCrown of Aragon, from 1282 to 1409,with the Aragonese aiding the Maltese insurgents in theSicilian Vespersinthe naval battleinGrand Harbourin 1283.
Relatives of thekings of Aragonruled the island until 1409 when it formally passed to the Crown of Aragon. Early on in the Aragonese ascendancy, the sons of the monarchs received the titleCount of Malta. During this time much of the local nobility was created. By 1397, however, the bearing of the comital title reverted to a feudal basis, with two families fighting over the distinction. This led KingMartin I of Sicilyto abolish the title. The dispute over the title returned when the title was reinstated a few years later and the Maltese, led by the local nobility, rose up against CountGonsalvo Monroy.Although they opposed the Count, the Maltese voiced their loyalty to theSicilian Crown, which so impressedKing Alfonso Vthat he did not punish the people for their rebellion. Instead, he promised never to grant the title to a third party and incorporated it back into the crown. The city ofMdinawas given the title ofCittà Notabile.
On 23 March 1530,Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, gave the islands to theKnights Hospitallerunder the leadership of FrenchmanPhilippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam,in perpetual lease for which they had to pay an annualtribute of a single Maltese Falcon.These knights, a military religious order also known as the Order of St John and later as the Knights of Malta, had been driven out ofRhodesby theOttoman Empirein 1522.
The Knights Hospitallerruled Malta and Gozo between 1530 and 1798.During this period, the strategic and military importance of the island grew greatly as the small yet efficient fleet of theOrder of Saint Johnlaunched their attacks from this new base targeting the shipping lanes of the Ottoman territories around the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1551, the population of the island ofGozo(around 5,000 people) were enslaved byBarbary piratesand taken to theBarbary Coastin North Africa.
The knights, led by FrenchmanJean Parisot de Valette, withstood theGreat Siege of Maltaby the Ottomans in 1565.The knights, with the help of  Portuguese, Spanish and Maltese forces, repelled the attack.After the siege they decided to increase Malta'sfortifications, particularly in the inner-harbour area, where the new city ofValletta, named in honour of Valette, was built. They also establishedwatchtowersalong the coasts – theWignacourt,LascarisandDe Redin towers– named after the Grand Masters who ordered the work. The Knights saw the completion of many architectural and cultural projects, including the embellishment of Città Vittoriosa (modernBirgu) and the construction of new cities including Città Rohan (modernĦaż-Żebbuġ). However, by the late 1700s the power of the Knights had declined and the Order had become unpopular.
The Knights' reign ended whenNapoleoncaptured Malta on his way toEgyptduring theFrench Revolutionary Warsin 1798. During 12–18 June 1798, Napoleon resided at thePalazzo Parisioin Valletta.He reformed national administration with the creation of a Government Commission, twelve municipalities, a public finance administration, the abolition of all feudal rights and privileges, theabolition of slaveryand the granting of freedom to allTurkishandJewishslaves.On the judicial level, a family code was framed and twelve judges were nominated.Public educationwas organised along principles laid down by Bonaparte himself, providing for primary and secondary education.He then sailed for Egypt, leaving a substantial garrison in Malta.
The French forces left behind became unpopular with the Maltese, due particularly to the French forces' hostility towards Catholicism and pillaging of local churches to fund war efforts. French financial and religious policies so angered the Maltese that they rebelled, forcing the French to depart. Great Britain, along with theKingdom of Naplesand theKingdom of Sicily, sent ammunition and aid to the Maltese, and Britain also sentits navy, which blockaded the islands.
On 28 October 1798, Captain SirAlexander Ballsuccessfully completed negotiations with the French garrison on Gozo for a surrender and transfer of the island to the British. The British transferred the island to the locals that day, and it was administered by ArchpriestSaverio Cassaron behalf ofFerdinand III of Sicily.Gozo remained independentuntil Cassar was removed by the British in 1801.
GeneralClaude-Henri Belgrand de Vauboissurrendered his French forces in 1800.Maltese leaders presented the main island to Sir Alexander Ball, asking that the island become a BritishDominion. The Maltese people created aDeclaration of Rightsin which they agreed to come "under the protection and sovereignty of the King of the free people, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". The Declaration also stated that "his Majesty has no right to cede these Islands to any power...if he chooses to withdraw his protection, and abandon his sovereignty, the right of electing another sovereign, or of the governing of these Islands, belongs to us, the inhabitants and aborigines alone, and without control."
In 1814, as part of theTreaty of Paris,Malta officially became a part of the British Empire and was used as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters. After theSuez Canalopened in 1869, Malta's position halfway between theStrait of Gibraltarand Egypt proved to be its main asset, and it was considered an important stop on the way to India, a central trade route for the British. ATurkish Military Cemeterywas commissioned bySultan Abdul Azizand built between 1873 and 1874 for the fallen Ottoman soldiers of theGreat Siege of Malta.
Between 1915 and 1918, during theFirst World War, Malta became known asthe Nurse of the Mediterraneandue to the large number of wounded soldiers who were accommodated there.On 7 June 1919, the Maltese public rioted in response to acost-of-living crisis; British troops eventually managed to suppress the riots, killing four in the process. The event, known asSette Giugno("7 June"), is commemorated every year and is one of five National Days.Until theSecond World War, Maltese politics was dominated by theLanguage Questionfought out byItalophoneandAnglophoneparties.
Before the Second World War, Valletta was the location of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet headquarters; however, despiteWinston Churchill's objections,the command was moved toAlexandria, Egypt, in 1937 out of fear that it was too susceptible to air attacks from Europe.During the war Malta played an important role for theAllies; being a British colony, situated close to Sicily and theAxisshipping lanes, Malta was bombarded by the Italian and German air forces. Malta was used by the British to launch attacks on the Italian Navy and had a submarine base. It was also used as a listening post, intercepting German radio messages includingEnigmatraffic.The bravery of the Maltese people during the secondsiege of MaltamovedKing George VItoaward the George Cross to Maltaon a collective basis on 15 April 1942. Some historians argue that the award caused Britain to incur disproportionate losses in defending Malta, as British credibility would have suffered if Malta had surrendered,as British forces in Singapore had done.A depiction of the George Cross now appears on theFlag of Maltaand the country'sarms.
Malta achieved its independence as theState of Maltaon 21 September 1964 (Independence Day). Under its 1964 constitution, Malta initially retainedElizabeth IIasQueen of Maltaand thus head of state, with agovernor-generalexercising executive authority on her behalf. In 1971, theMalta Labour Partyled byDom Mintoffwon the general elections, resulting in Malta declaring itself a republic on 13 December 1974 (Republic Day) within theCommonwealth. A defence agreement was signed soon after independence, and after being re-negotiated in 1972, expired on 31 March 1979 (Freedom Day).Upon its expiry, the British base closed and lands formerly controlled by the British were given to the Maltese government.
In the aftermath of the departure of the remaining British troops in 1979, the country intensifiedits participation in the Non-Aligned Movement. Malta adopted a policy ofneutralityin 1980.In that same year, three of Malta's sites, including the capitalValletta, were inscribed on theUNESCO World Heritage List. In 1989, Malta was the venue of asummitbetween US PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushand Soviet leaderMikhail Gorbachev, their first face-to-face encounter, which signalled the end of theCold War.Malta International Airportwas inaugurated and became fully operational on 25 March 1992, boosting the local aircraft and tourism industry. Areferendum on joining the European Unionwas held on 8 March 2003, with 53.65% in favour.Malta joined theEuropean Unionon 1 May 2004and theeurozoneon 1 January 2008.
Malta is a republicwhoseparliamentary systemandpublic administrationare closely modelled on theWestminster system. Theunicameralparliament is made up of thepresident of Maltaand theHouse of Representatives(Maltese:Kamra tad-Deputati).
The House of Representatives has 65 members, elected for a five-year term in 13 five-seat electoral divisions, calleddistretti elettorali, with constitutional amendments that allow for mechanisms to establish strict proportionality amongst seats and votes of political parliamentary groups. Members of the House of Representatives are elected by direct universal suffrage throughsingle transferable voteevery five years, unless the House is dissolved earlier by the president either on the advice of theprime ministeror through a motion of no confidence. Malta had the second-highestvoter turnoutin the world (and the highest for nations withoutmandatory voting), based on election turnout in nationallower houseelections from 1960 to 1995.
The President of Malta, a largely ceremonial position, is appointed for a five-year term by a resolution of the House of Representatives carried by a simple majority. The president is the head of state. The current president of the republic isMyriam Spiteri Debono, who was elected on 27 March 2024, by members of parliament in anindirect election.The 80th article of theConstitution of Maltaprovides that the president appoint as prime minister "the member of the House of Representatives who, in his judgment, is best able to command the support of a majority of the members of that House".
Maltese politics is atwo-party systemdominated by theLabour Party(Maltese:Partit Laburista), a centre-leftsocial democraticparty, and theNationalist Party(Maltese:Partit Nazzjonalista), a centre-rightChristian democraticparty. The Labour Party has been the governing party since 2013 and is currently led by Prime MinisterRobert Abela, who has been in office since 13 January 2020. There are also a number of small political parties in Malta which have no parliamentary representation.
Corruption, money laundering, and government maladministration in Malta have significantly increased since the Labour Party returned to power.In fact, Malta's record of clean governance has decreased since 2013, and the country is now considered among one of the worst EU member states in tackling corruption according toTransparency International. The same association reported that Malta dropped to its lowest ever ranking of 65th place in a report published on February 2025.
Malta has had a system of local government since 1993,based on theEuropean Charter of Local Self-Government. The country is divided intosix regions(one of them being Gozo), with each region having its own Regional Council, serving as the intermediate level between local government and national government.The regions are divided intolocal councils, of which there are currently 68 (54 in Malta and 14 inGozo). Thesix districts(five on Malta and the sixth being Gozo) serve primarily statistical purposes.
Each council is made up of a number of councillors (from 5 to 13, depending on and relative to the population they represent). A mayor and a deputy mayor are elected by and from the councillors. The executive secretary, who is appointed by the council, is the executive, administrative and financial head of the council. Councillors are elected every four years through the single transferable vote. Due to system reforms, no elections were held before 2012. Since then, elections have been held every two years for an alternating half of the councils.
Local councils are responsible for the general upkeep and embellishment of the locality (including repairs to non-arterial roads), allocation of local wardens, and refuse collection; they also carry out general administrative duties for the central government such as the collection of government rents and funds and answer government-related public inquiries. Additionally, a number of individual towns and villages in the Republic of Malta havesister cities.
The objectives of theArmed Forces of Malta(AFM) are to maintain a military organisation with the primary aim of defending the islands' integrity according to the defence roles as set by the government in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This is achieved by emphasising the maintenance of Malta's territorial waters and airspace integrity.
The AFM also engages in combating terrorism, fighting against illicit drug trafficking, conducting anti-illegal immigrant operations and patrols, and anti-illegal fishing operations, operatingsearch and rescue(SAR) services, and physical or electronic security and surveillance of sensitive locations. Malta's search-and-rescue area extends from east ofTunisiato west ofCrete, an area of around 250,000 km(97,000 sq mi).
As a military organisation, the AFM provides backup support to theMalta Police Force(MPF) and other government departments/agencies in situations as required in an organised, disciplined manner in the event of national emergencies (such as natural disasters) or internal security and bomb disposal.
In 2020, Malta signed and ratified the UNtreaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Malta is regarded as one of the mostLGBT-supportive countries in the world,and was the first nation in theEuropean Unionto prohibitconversion therapy.Malta also constitutionally bans discrimination based on disability.Maltese legislation recognises both civil and canonical (ecclesiastical) marriages. Annulments by the ecclesiastical and civil courts are unrelated and are not necessarily mutually endorsed. Malta voted in favour of divorce legislation ina referendum held on 28 May 2011.
Abortion in Maltais illegal. It andPolandare the only European Union members with near-total bans on the procedure. There are no exceptions forrapeorincest.On 21 November 2022, the government led by the Labour Party proposed a bill that "introduces a new clause into the country's criminal code allowing for the termination of a pregnancy if the mother's life is at risk or if her health is in serious jeopardy";the bill passed in June 2023 with amendments restricting the exception to situations where the woman's life is at risk.
Malta is anarchipelagoin the central Mediterranean (in itseastern basin), some 80 km (50 mi) from southern Italy across theMalta Channel. Only the three largest islands—Malta(Maltese:Malta),Gozo(Għawdex), andComino(Kemmuna)—are inhabited. The islands of the archipelago lie on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of aland bridgebetween Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after thelast ice age.The archipelago is located on theAfrican tectonic plate.Malta was considered an island of North Africa for centuries.The seabed surrounding Malta's islands retains traces of ancient geomarine features, suggesting potential archaeological discoveries that could shed light on the region's prehistoric environment.
Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape consists of low hills with terraced fields. The highest point in Malta isTa' Dmejrek, at 253 m (830 ft), nearDingli. Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta. However, some watercourses have fresh water running all year round atBaħrijanearRas ir-Raħeb, at l-Imtaħleb and San Martin, and at Lunzjata Valley in Gozo.
Phytogeographically, Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the Mediterranean region within theBoreal Kingdom. According to theWWF, the territory of Malta belongs to the terrestrialecoregionofTyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests.
The following uninhabited minor islands are part of the archipelago:
Malta has aMediterranean climate(Köppen climate classificationCsa),with mild winters and hot summers, hotter in the inland areas. Rain occurs mainly in autumn and winter, with summer being generally dry.
The average yearly temperature is around 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) at night. In the coldest month – January – the typical maximum temperature ranges from 12 to 18 °C (54 to 64 °F) during the day and minimum 6 to 12 °C (43 to 54 °F) at night. In the warmest month – August – the typical maximum temperature ranges from 28 to 34 °C (82 to 93 °F) during the day and minimum 20 to 24 °C (68 to 75 °F) at night. Amongst all capitals in the continent of Europe, Valletta – the capital of Malta has the warmest winters, with average temperatures of around 15 to 16 °C (59 to 61 °F) during the day and 9 to 10 °C (48 to 50 °F) at night in the period January–February. In March and December average temperatures are around 17 °C (63 °F) during the day and 11 °C (52 °F) at night.Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Snow is very rare, although snowfalls have been recorded in the last century, the last one in 2014.
The average annual sea temperature is 20 °C (68 °F), from 15–16 °C (59–61 °F) in February to 26 °C (79 °F) in August. In the 6 months – from June to November – the average sea temperature exceeds 20 °C (68 °F).
The annual averagerelative humidityis high, averaging 75%, ranging from 65% in July (morning: 78% evening: 53%) to 80% in December (morning: 83% evening: 73%).
Sunshine durationhours total around 3,000 per year, from an average 5.2 hours of sunshine duration per day in December to an average above 12 hours in July.This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe,for comparison: London – 1,461;however, in winter it has up to four times more sunshine; for comparison: in December, London has 37 hours of sunshinewhereas Malta has above 160.
According toEurostat, Malta is composed of twolarger urban zonesnominally referred to as "Valletta" (the main island of Malta) and "Gozo". The main urban area covers the entire main island, with a population of around 400,000.The core of the urban area, thegreater cityof Valletta, has a population of 205,768.According to the data from 2020 byEurostat, the Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region covered the whole island and has a population of 480,134.According to the United Nations, about 95 percent of the area of Malta is urban and the number grows every year.According to ESPON and EU Commission studies, "the whole territory of Malta constitutes a single urban region".
Malta, with area of 316 km(122 sq mi) and population of over 0.5 million, is one of themost densely populatedcountries worldwide. It is in some sourcesreferred to as acity-state. Sometimes Malta is listed in rankings concerning citiesor metropolitan areas.
Malta contains only 4.6 square kilometres of naturally regenerating forest, characterised by mature trees with a height of 2 to 5 meters. The overall area occupied by trees is estimated to be 320 square kilometres, which constitutes approximately 1.44% of the total land area of the archipelago. The most common indigenous tree species are the willow (Salix alba), poplar (Populus alba), olive (Olea europaea), carob (Ceratonia siliqua), oak (Quericus ilex&Quercus rotundifolia), Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), laurel (Laurus nobilis) and fig (Ficus carica), while the most common non-native trees areeucalyptus,acacia,date palmandopuntia.The Maltese islands are also home to a wide diversity of indigenous, sub-endemic and endemic plants.They feature many traits typical of a Mediterranean climate, such as drought resistance. Endemic plants include the national flowerwidnet il-baħar(Cheirolophus crassifolius),sempreviva ta' Malta(Helichrysum panormitanumsubsp.melitense),żigland t' Għawdex(Hyoseris frutescens) andġiżi ta' Malta(Matthiola incanasubsp.melitensis) while sub-endemics includekromb il-baħar(Jacobaea maritimasubsp.sicula) andxkattapietra(Micromeria microphylla).The biodiversity of Malta is severely endangered by habitat loss, invasive species and human intervention.
Malta is classified as anadvanced economyaccording to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Malta's major resources arelimestone, a favourable geographic location and a productive labour force. Malta produces only about 20 percent of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies because of the drought in the summer, and has no domestic energy sources, aside from the potential for solar energy from its plentiful sunlight. The economy is dependent on foreign trade (serving as a freight trans-shipment point), manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism.Film productionhas contributed to the Maltese economy.
Access tobiocapacityin Malta is below the world average. In 2016, Malta had 0.6 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, contrasted with a global average of 1.6 hectares per person.Additionally, residents of Malta exhibited anecological footprintof consumption of 5.8 global hectares of biocapacity per person, resulting in a sizable biocapacity deficit.
In preparation for Malta's membership in theEuropean Union, which it joined on 1 May 2004, itprivatisedsome state-controlled firms and liberalised markets.Malta has a financial regulator, theMalta Financial Services Authority(MFSA), with a strong business development mindset, and the country has been successful in attracting gaming businesses, aircraft and ship registration, credit-card issuing banking licences and also fund administration. Malta has made strong headway in implementing EU Financial Services Directives including UCITs IV and Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMs). As a base for alternative asset managers who must comply with new directives, Malta has attracted a number of key players including IDS, Iconic Funds, Apex Fund Services and TMF/Customs House.
As of 2015, Malta did not have a property tax. Its property market, especially around the harbour area, was booming, with the prices of apartments in some towns like St Julian's, Sliema and Gzira skyrocketing.
According toEurostatdata, Maltese GDP per capita stood at88 per cent of the EU averagein 2015 with €21,000.
The National Development and Social Fund from the Individual Investor Programme, acitizenship by investment programmealso known as the "citizenship scheme", became a significant income source for the government of Malta, adding 432,000,000 euro to the budget in 2018.
The two largest commercial banks areBank of VallettaandHSBC Bank Malta.Digital bankssuch asRevoluthave also increased in popularity.TheCentral Bank of Malta(Bank Ċentrali ta' Malta) has two key areas of responsibility: the formulation and implementation of monetary policy and the promotion of a sound and efficient financial system. The Maltese government enteredERM IIon 4 May 2005, and adopted the euro as the country's currency on 1 January 2008.
Maltese euro coinsfeature theMaltese crosson €2 and €1 coins, thecoat of arms of Maltaon the €0.50, €0.20 and €0.10 coins, and theMnajdraTemples on the €0.05, €0.02 and €0.01 coins.
Malta has produced collectors' coins with face value ranging from 10 to 50 euros. These coins continue an existing national practice of minting of silver and gold commemorative coins. Unlike normal issues, these coins are not accepted in all the eurozone.
From its introduction in 1972 until the introduction of the Euro in 2008, the currency was theMaltese lira, which had replaced the Maltese pound. The pound replaced theMaltese scudoin 1825.
Malta is a popular tourist destination, with 1.6 million tourists per year,three times more tourists visit than there are residents. Tourism infrastructure has increased dramatically over the years and a number of hotels are present on the island, although overdevelopment and the destruction of traditional housing is of growing concern. In 2019, Malta had a record year in tourism, recording over 2.1 million tourists in one single year.
In recent years, Malta has advertised itself as amedical tourismdestination,and a number ofhealth tourism providersare developing the industry. However, no Maltese hospital has undergone independentinternational healthcare accreditation. Malta is popular with British medical tourists,pointing Maltese hospitals towards seeking UK-sourced accreditation, such as with theTrent Accreditation Scheme.
Tourism in Malta contributes around 11.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
Malta signed a co-operation agreement with theEuropean Space Agency(ESA) for more-intensive co-operation in ESA projects.The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) is the civil body responsible for the development of science and technology on an educational and social level. Most science students in Malta graduate from the University of Malta and are represented by S-Cubed (Science Student's Society), UESA (University Engineering Students Association) and ICTSA (University of Malta ICT Students' Association).Malta was ranked 29th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2024.
As of the 2021 census,Maltese-born natives make up the majority of the island with 386,280 people out of a total population of 519,562.However, there are minorities, the largest of which by birthplace were: 15,082 from the United Kingdom, Italy (13,361), India (7,946), Philippines (7,784) and Serbia (5,935). Among racial origins for the non-Maltese, 58.1% of all identified as Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 6.3% Arab, 6.0% African, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino and 2.9% more than one race.
As of 2005, 17 percent were aged 14 and under, 68 percent were within the 15–64 age bracket whilst the remaining 13 percent were 65 years and over. Malta's population density of 1,282 per square km (3,322/sq mi) is by far the highest in the EU and one of the highest in the world.
The Maltese-resident population for 2004 was estimated to make up 97.0 per cent of the total resident population.All censuses since 1842 have shown a slight excess of females over males. Population growth has slowed down, from +9.5 per cent between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, to +6.9 per cent between the 1995 and 2005 censuses (a yearly average of +0.7 per cent). The birth rate stood at 3860 (a decrease of 21.8 per cent from the 1995 census) and the death rate stood at 3025. Thus, there was a natural population increase of 835 (compared to +888 for 2004, of which over a hundred were foreign residents).The population's age composition is similar to the age structure prevalent in the EU. Malta'sold-age-dependency-ratiorose from 17.2 percent in 1995 to 19.8 percent in 2005, reasonably lower than the EU's 24.9 percent average; 31.5 percent of the Maltese population is aged under 25 (compared to the EU's 29.1 percent); but the 50–64 age group constitutes 20.3 percent of the population, significantly higher than the EU's 17.9 percent. Malta's old-age-dependency-ratio is expected to continue rising steadily in the coming years.
In 2021, the population of the Maltese Islands stood at 519,562.
Thetotal fertility rate(TFR) as of 2016was estimated at 1.45 children born/woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1.In 2012, 25.8 per cent of births were to unmarried women.Thelife expectancyin 2018 was estimated at 83.
TheMaltese language(Maltese:Malti) is one of the two constitutionallanguagesof Malta and is considered the national language. The second official language is English and hence laws are enacted both in Maltese and English. However, article 74 of the Constitution states that "if there is any conflict between the Maltese and the English texts of any law, the Maltese text shall prevail."Many speakers of English use a local dialect,Maltese English.
Maltese is aSemitic languagedescended from the now extinct Sicilian-Arabic (Siculo-Arabic) dialect (fromsouthern Italy) that developed during theEmirate of Sicily.TheMaltese alphabetconsists of 30 letters based on theLatin alphabet.
In 2022, Malta National Statistics Office states that 90 percent of the Maltese population has at least a basic knowledge of Maltese, 96 percent of English, 62 percent of Italian, and 20 percent of French.This widespread knowledge ofsecond languagesmakes Malta one of the most multilingual countries in theEuropean Union. A study collecting public opinion on what language was "preferred" discovered that 86 percent of the population preferred Maltese, 12 percent English, and 2 percent Italian.Italian television channels from Italy-based broadcasters, such asMediasetandRAI, reach Malta and remain popular.
Maltese Sign Languageis used by signers in Malta.
The predominant religion in Malta isRoman Catholicism. The second article of theConstitution of Maltaestablishes Roman Catholicism as thestate religionand it is also reflected in various elements ofMaltese culture, although there areentrenched provisionsfor the freedom of religion.There are more than 360 churches in Malta, Gozo, and Comino, or one church for every 1,000 residents. The parish church (Maltese:"il-parroċċa", or"il-knisja parrokkjali") is the architectural and geographic focal point of every Maltese town and village.
Malta is anApostolic See; theActs of the Apostles(Acts 28) tells of howSt. Paulwas shipwrecked on the island of "Melite", which many Biblical scholars identify with Malta, an episode dated around AD 60.The first Maltese saint,Saint Publiusis said to have been made Malta's first bishop. Further evidence of Christian practices and beliefs during the period of Roman persecution appears incatacombsthat lie beneath various sites around Malta, includingSt. Paul's Catacombs. There are also a number of cave churches, including the grotto atMellieħa, which is a Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady where, according to legend,St. Lukepainted a picture of theVirgin Mary. It has been a place of pilgrimage since the medieval period.
For centuries, the Church in Malta was subordinate to theDiocese of Palermo, except when it was underCharles of Anjou, who appointed bishops for Malta, as did – on rare occasions – the Spanish and later, the Knights. Since 1808 allbishops of Maltahave been Maltese. The patron saints of Malta areSaint Paul,Saint Publius, andSaint Agatha. Although not a patron saint,St George Preca(San Ġorġ Preca) is greatly revered as the second canonised Maltese saint after St. Publius. Various Roman Catholic religious orders are present in Malta, including theJesuits,Franciscans,Dominicans,CarmelitesandLittle Sisters of the Poor.
There exists a considerable minority ofEastern Orthodox Christiansin Malta, of which there are 16,457, according to the 2021 census;although the number may also includeOriental Orthodox Christians, who are not incommunionwith the former. There are a small number of parishes belonging to eachautocephalous Church, typically one for each. There areGreek,Russian,Serbian,Romanian, andBulgarian Orthodoxparishes located around Malta.
Most congregants of the localProtestantchurches are not Maltese; their congregations mainly draw on vacationers and British retirees living in the country. There are also aSeventh-day Adventistchurch inBirkirkara, and aNew Apostolic Churchcongregation founded in 1983 inGwardamangia.There are approximately 600Jehovah's Witnesses.Mormonismis also represented with 241 members in 1 congregation inMosta.
The Jewish population of Malta reached its peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule. In 1479, Malta andSicilycame underAragoneserule and theAlhambra Decreeof 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country. Today, there are two Jewish congregations.In 2019 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 150 persons, slightly more than the 120 (of which 80 were active) estimated in 2003, and mostly elderly. Many among the newer generations decided to settle abroad, including in England and Israel. Most contemporary Maltese Jews are Sephardi, however, an Ashkenazi prayer book is used. In 2013 the Chabad Jewish Centre in Malta was founded.
There is one purpose-built Muslimmosque, theMariam Al-Batool Mosque, although there are also a few improvised mosques located in Muslim homes spread around the island.Of the estimated 3,000Muslims in Malta, approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalised citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese.Zen Buddhismand theBaháʼí Faithclaim some 40 members.
In a survey held byMalta Today, the overwhelming majority of the Maltese population adheres to Christianity (95.2%) withRoman Catholicismas the main denomination (93.9%); 4.5% of the population declared themselves either atheist or agnostic, one of the lowest figures in Europe.According to a 2019Eurobarometersurvey, 83% of the population identified as Roman Catholic.The number ofatheistshas doubled from 2014 to 2018.Non-religiouspeople have a higher risk of suffering from discrimination. In the 2015 edition of the annualFreedom of Thought Reportfrom theInternational Humanist and Ethical Union, Malta was in the category of "severe discrimination". In 2016, following theabolishment of blasphemy law, Malta was shifted to the category of "systematic discrimination" (same as most EU countries).
Historically a land of emigration, since the early 21st century Malta has seen a significant increase in net migration; the foreign-born population has grown nearly eightfold between 2005 and 2020. Most of the foreign community in Malta consists of active or retired British nationals and their dependents, centred onSliemaand surrounding suburbs. Other smaller foreign groups include Italians, Libyans, and Serbians, many of whom have assimilated into theMaltese nationover the decades.
Malta is also home to a large number of foreign workers who migrated to the island for economic opportunity. This migration was driven predominantly in the early 21st century, when the Maltese economy was steadily booming yet the cost and quality of living on the island remained relatively stable. In recent years however the local Maltese housing index has doubledpushing property and rental prices to very high and almost unaffordable levels. Consequently, some expats in Malta have seen their relative financial fortunes decline, with others relocating to other European countries altogether.
Since the late 20th century, Malta has become a transit country for migration routes from Africa towards Europe.As a member of theEuropean Unionand theSchengen Agreement, Malta is bound by theDublin Regulationto process all claims for asylum by those asylum seekers that enter EU territory for the first time in Malta.However, irregular migrants who land in Malta are subject to acompulsory detention policy, being held in several camps organised by theArmed Forces of Malta(AFM), including those nearĦal FarandĦal Safi. The compulsory detention policy has been denounced by several NGOs, and in July 2010, theEuropean Court of Human Rightsfound that Malta's detention of migrants was arbitrary, lacking in adequate procedures to challenge detention, and in breach of its obligations under theEuropean Convention on Human Rights.On 8 September 2020,Amnesty Internationalcriticised Malta for "illegal tactics" in the Mediterranean, against immigrants who were attempting to cross from North Africa. The reports claimed that the government's approach might have led to avoidable deaths.
In January 2014, Malta started granting citizenship for a €650,000 contribution plus investments, contingent on residence and criminal background checks.This "golden passport" citizenship scheme has been criticized as a fraudulent act by the Maltese Government.Concerns as to whether the Maltese citizenship scheme is allowing an influx of such individuals into the greater European Union have been raised by both the public as well as the European Council on multiple occasions.
In the 19th century, most emigration from Malta was to North Africa and the Middle East, although rates ofreturn migrationto Malta were high.In the 20th century, most emigrants went to destinations in theNew World, particularly to Australia, Canada, and the United States. Post Second World War, Malta's Emigration Department would assist emigrants with the cost of their travel. Between 1948 and 1967, 30 percent of the population emigrated.Between 1946 and the late-1970s, over 140,000 people left Malta on the assisted passage scheme, with 57.6% migrating to Australia, 22% to the UK, 13% to Canada and 7% to the United States.Emigration dropped dramatically after the mid-1970s and has since ceased to be a social phenomenon of significance. However, since Malta joined the EU in 2004expatriatecommunities emerged in a number of European countries, particularly in Belgium andLuxembourg.
Primary schooling has been compulsory since 1946; secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in 1971. The state and theChurchprovide education free of charge, both running a number of schools in Malta andGozo. As of 2006, state schools are organised into networks known as Colleges and incorporate kindergarten schools, primary and secondary schools. A number of private schools are run in Malta. St. Catherine's High School, Pembroke offers an International Foundation Course for students wishing to learn English before entering mainstream education. As of 2008, there are two international schools, Verdala International School and QSI Malta. The state pays a portion of the teachers' salary in Church schools.
Education in Malta is based on theBritish model. Primary school lasts six years. Pupils sit for SECO-levelexaminations at the age of 16, with passes obligatory in mathematics, a minimum of one science subject, English andMaltese. Pupils may opt to continue studying at asixth form collegefor two years, at the end of which students sit for the matriculation examination. Subject to their performance, students may then apply for an undergraduatedegreeor diploma.
The adultliteracy rateis 99.5 per cent.
Maltese and English are both used to teach pupils at the primary and secondary school level, and both languages are also compulsory subjects.Public schoolstend to use both Maltese and English in a balanced manner. Private schools prefer to use English for teaching, as is also the case with most departments of theUniversity of Malta; this has a limiting effect on the capacity and development of the Maltese language.Most university courses are in English.TheCollege of Remote and Offshore Medicinebased in Malta teaches exclusively in English.
Of the total number of pupils studying a first foreign language at secondary level, 51 per cent take Italian whilst 38 per cent take French. Other choices include German, Russian, Spanish, Latin, Chinese and Arabic.
Malta is also a popular destination to study the English language, attracting over 83,000 students in 2019.
Owing to the British colonial rule, traffic in Maltadrives on the left. Car ownership in Malta is exceedingly high, considering the very small size of the islands; it is the fourth-highest in the European Union. There were 182,254 registered cars in 1990, giving an automobile density of577/km(1,494/sq mi).Malta has 2,254 kilometres (1,401 miles) of road, 1,972 km (1,225 mi) (87.5 per cent) of which are paved (as of December 2003).
Buses(xarabankorkarozza tal-linja) are the primary method of public transport, established in 1905. Malta's vintage buses operated in the Maltese islands up to 2011 and became popular tourist attractions.To this day they are depicted on many Maltese advertisements and merchandise for tourists.
The bus service underwent extensive reform in July 2011. The management structure changed from having self-employed drivers driving their own vehicles to a service being offered by a single company through a public tender.The public tender was won byArriva Malta, which introduced a fleet of brand new buses, built byKing Longespecially for service by Arriva Malta and including a smaller fleet ofarticulated busesbrought in fromArriva London. It also operated two smaller buses for an intra-Valletta route only and 61 nine-metre buses, which were used to ease congestion on high-density routes. Overall Arriva Malta operated 264 buses. On 1 January 2014 Arriva ceased operations in Malta due to financial difficulties, having been nationalised asMalta Public Transport.The government chose Autobuses Urbanos de León (Alsasubsidiary) as its preferred bus operator for the country in October 2014.From October 2022, the bus system is free of charge for residents of Malta.
As of 2021, an undergroundMalta Metrois being planned, with a projected total cost of €6.2 billion.
Malta has three large natural harbours on its main island:
There are also two human-made harbours that serve a passenger and car ferry service that connectsĊirkewwaHarbour on Malta andMġarr HarbouronGozo.
Malta International Airport(Ajruport Internazzjonali ta' Malta) is the only airport serving the Maltese islands. It is built on the land formerly occupied by theRAF Luqaair base. A heliport is also located there. The heliport in Gozo is atXewkija. A former airfield atTa' Qalihouses a national park,stadium, the Crafts Village visitor attraction and theMalta Aviation Museum.
From 1 April 1974 to 30 March 2024, the national airline wasAir Malta, which was based at Malta International Airport and operated services to 22 destinations in Europe and North Africa. The owners of Air Malta were theGovernment of Malta(98 percent) and private investors (2 percent).
On 31 March 2024,KM Malta Airlinestook over as the national airline of Malta. All formerAir MaltaAirplanes and other assets were transferred to the new airline, together with the staff. KM Malta Airlines is based at Malta International Airport and operates services to 18 destinations in Europe.
In June 2019,Ryanairhas invested into a fully-fledged airline subsidiary, calledMalta Air, operating a low-cost model. The Government of Malta holds one share in the airline.
The mobile penetration rate in Malta exceeded 100% by the end of 2009.Malta uses theGSM900, UMTS(3G) and LTE(4G) mobile phone systems, which are compatible with the rest of the European countries, Australia and New Zealand.
In early 2012, the government called for a national Fibre to the Home (FttH) network to be built, with a minimum broadband service being upgraded from 4 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s.
Malta relied oncoaltill 1996 for electricity generation. In 1992, a new power station was built on the Delimara peninsula inMarsaxlokk. Originally theDelimara Power Stationin 2015 usedoilfor electricity generation, before being converted toLNGin 2017. The power station also includes twogasoil-fired plants, which are used as standby power generation capacity during emergencies or lack of other power sources. Since 2015, theMalta–Sicily interconnectorallows Malta to be connected to theEuropean power gridand import a significant share of its electricity.
Malta has a long history of providingpublicly funded health care. The first hospital recorded in the country was already functioning by 1372.Today, Malta has both a public healthcare system, where healthcare is free at the point of delivery, and a private healthcare system.Malta has a strong general practitioner-delivered primary care base and the public hospitals provide secondary and tertiary care. The Maltese Ministry of Health advises foreign residents to take out private medical insurance.
Malta also boasts voluntary organisations such as Alpha Medical (Advanced Care), the Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit (E.F.R.U.), St John Ambulance and Red Cross Malta who provide first aid/nursing services during events involving crowds, Malta's primary hospital, opened in 2007. It has one of the largest medical buildings in Europe.
TheUniversity of Maltahas a medical school and a Faculty ofHealth Sciences. TheMedical Association of Maltarepresents practitioners of the medical profession. TheFoundation Programmefollowed in the UK has been introduced in Malta to stem the 'brain drain' of newly graduated physicians to the British Isles.
The culture of Malta reflects the various cultures, that have come into contact with the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries.
While Maltese music today is largely Western, traditional Maltese music includes what is known asgħana. This consists of backgroundfolk guitarmusic, while a few people, generally men, take it in turns to argue a point in a sing-song voice. Music plays an important part in Maltese culture as each locality parades its own band club, on various occasions these being multiple per locality, and function to establish the thematic musical background to the variousvillage feasts. TheMalta Philharmonic Orchestrais recognised as Malta's foremost musical institution and is notable for being called to participate in important state events.
Contemporary music in Malta spans a variety of styles and sports international classical talents such asMiriam GauciandJoseph Calleja, as well as non-classical music bands such asWinter Moods, andRed Electric, and singers likeIra Losco,Fabrizio Faniello,Glen Vella,Kevin Borg,Kurt Calleja,Chiara Siracusa, andThea Garrett.
Documented Maltese literature is over 200 years old. However, a recently unearthed love ballad testifies to literary activity in the local tongue from the Medieval period. Malta followed a Romantic literary tradition, culminating in the works ofDun Karm Psaila, Malta's national poet. Subsequent writers likeRuzar Briffaand Karmenu Vassallo tried to estrange themselves from the rigidity of formal themes and versification.
The next generation of writers, includingKarl SchembriandImmanuel Mifsud, widened the tracks further, especially in prose and poetry.
Maltese architecture has been influenced by many different Mediterranean cultures and British architecture over its history.The first settlers on the island constructedĠgantija, one of the oldest manmade freestanding structures in the world. The Neolithic temple builders (3800–2500 BC) endowed the numerous temples of Malta and Gozo with intricate bas-relief designs.
The Roman period introduced highly decorative mosaic floors, marble colonnades, and classical statuary, remnants of which are beautifully preserved and presented in the Roman Domus, a country villa just outside the walls ofMdina. The early Christian frescoes that decorate thecatacombsbeneath Malta reveal a propensity for eastern,Byzantinetastes. These tastes continued to inform the endeavours ofmedievalMaltese artists, but they were increasingly influenced by theRomanesqueandSouthern Gothicmovements.
Towards the end of the 15th century, Maltese artists, like their counterparts in Sicily, came under the influence of the School ofAntonello da Messina, which introducedRenaissanceideals and concepts to the decorative arts in Malta.
The artistic heritage of Malta blossomed under theKnights of St. John, who brought Italian and FlemishManneristpainters to decorate their palaces and the churches of these islands, most notably,Matteo Perez d'Aleccio, whose works appear in theMagisterial Palaceand in theConventual Church of St. Johnin Valletta, and Filippo Paladini, who was active in Malta from 1590 to 1595. For many years, Mannerism continued to inform the tastes and ideals of local Maltese artists.
The arrival in Malta ofCaravaggio, who painted at least seven works during his 15-month stay on these islands, further revolutionised local art. Two of Caravaggio's most notable works,The Beheading of Saint John the BaptistandSaint Jerome Writing, are on display in the Conventual Church of St. John. His legacy is evident in the works of local artists Giulio Cassarino andStefano Erardi. However, theBaroquemovement that followed was destined to have the most enduring impact on Maltese art and architecture. The vault paintings of the Calabrese artistMattia Pretitransformed the Conventual Church St. John into a Baroque masterpiece.Melchior Gafàemerged as one of the top Baroque sculptors of the Roman School.
During the 17th and 18th century,NeapolitanandRococoinfluences emerged in the works of the Italian paintersLuca GiordanoandFrancesco Solimena, and these developments can be seen in the work of their Maltese contemporaries such asGio Nicola BuhagiarandFrancesco Zahra. The Rococo movement was greatly enhanced by the relocation to Malta ofAntoine de Favray, who assumed the position of court painter to Grand Master Pinto in 1744.
Neo-classicismmade some inroads among local Maltese artists in the late-18th century, but this trend was reversed in the early 19th century, as the local Church authorities – perhaps in an effort to strengthen Catholic resolve against the perceived threat of Protestantism during the early days of British rule in Malta – favoured and avidly promoted the religious themes embraced by theNazarene movement.Romanticism, tempered by the naturalism introduced to Malta byGiuseppe Calì, informed the "salon" artists of the early 20th century, including Edward and Robert Caruana Dingli.
Parliament established the National School of Art in the 1920s. During the reconstruction period that followed the Second World War, the emergence of the "Modern Art Group", whose members included Josef Kalleya, George Preca, Anton Inglott,Emvin Cremona,Frank Portelli,Antoine Camilleri,Gabriel CaruanaandEsprit Barthetgreatly enhanced the local art scene. This group came together forming an influential pressure group known as the Modern Art Group, which played a leading role in the renewal of Maltese art. Most of Malta's modern artists have in fact studied in Art institutions in England, or on the continent, leading to a diversity of artistic expression that has remained characteristic of contemporary Maltese art. In Valletta, theNational Museum of Fine Artsfeatured work from artists such asH. Craig Hanna.In 2018 the national collection of fine arts was put on display in the new National Museum of Art,MUŻA, atAuberge d'Italiein Valletta.
Maltese cuisine shows strongSicilianandItalianinfluences as well as influences ofEnglish,Spanish,MaghrebinandProvençalcuisines. A number of regional variations can be noted as well as seasonal variations associated with the seasonal availability of produce and Christian feasts (such asLent, Easter and Christmas). Food has been important historically in the development of a national identity in particular the traditionalfenkata(i.e., the eating of stewed or fried rabbit). Potatoes are a staple of the Maltese diet as well.
A number of grapes are endemic to Malta, includingGirgentinaandĠellewża. There is a strongwine industry, with significant production of wines using these native grapes, as well as locally grown grapes of other more common varietals. A number of wines have achievedProtected Designation of Origin, with wines produced from grapes cultivated in Malta and Gozo designated as "DOK" wines, that isDenominazzjoni ta' l-Oriġini Kontrollata.
A 2010Charities Aid Foundationstudy found that the Maltese were the most generous people in the world, with 83% contributing to charity.
Maltese folktales include various stories about mysterious creatures and supernatural events. These were most comprehensively compiled by the scholar (and pioneer in Maltesearchaeology)Manwel Magriin his core criticism "Ħrejjef Missirijietna" ("Fables from our Forefathers"). This collection of material inspired subsequent researchers and academics to gather traditionaltales,fablesandlegendsfrom all over the Archipelago.While giants, witches, and dragons feature in many of the stories, some contain entirely Maltese creatures like theKaw kaw,Il-BelliegħaandL-Imħallaamong others.
Traditional Maltese proverbs reveal cultural importance of childbearing and fertility: "iż-żwieġ mingħajr tarbija ma fihx tgawdija" (a childless marriage cannot be a happy one). This is a belief that Malta shares with many other Mediterranean cultures. In Maltese folktales the local variant of the classic closing formula, "and they all lived happily ever after" is "u għammru u tgħammru, u spiċċat" (and they lived together, and they had children together, and the tale is finished).
Rural Malta shares in common with the Mediterranean society a number of superstitions regarding fertility, menstruation, and pregnancy, including the avoidance of cemeteries leading up to childbirth, and avoiding the preparation of certain foods during menses. Pregnant women are encouraged to satisfy theirfood cravings, out of fear that their unborn child will bear a representational birth mark (Maltese:xewqa, literally "desire" or "craving"). Maltese and Sicilian women also share certain traditions that are believed to predict the sex of an unborn child.
Traditionally, Maltese newborns were baptised as promptly as possible. Traditional Maltese delicacies served at a baptismal feast includebiskuttini tal-magħmudija(almond macaroons),it-torta tal-marmorata(a spicy, heart-shaped tart of chocolate-flavouredalmond paste), and a liqueur known asrożolin, made with rose petals, violets, and almonds.
On a child's first birthday, in a tradition that still survives today, Maltese parents would organise a game known asil-quċċija, where a variety of symbolic objects would be randomly placed around the child. Whichever object the child shows the most interest in is said to reveal the child's path and fortunes in adulthood.
Traditional Maltese weddings featured the bridal party walking in procession beneath an ornate canopy, from the home of the bride's family to the parish church, with singers trailing behind (il-ġilwa). New wives would wear thegħonnella, a traditional item of Maltese clothing. Today's couples are married in churches or chapels in the village or town of their choice, usually followed by a lavish wedding reception. Occasionally, couples will try to incorporate elements of the traditional Maltese wedding in their celebration. A resurgent interest in the traditional wedding was evident in May 2007, when thousands of Maltese and tourists attended a traditional Maltese wedding in the style of the 16th century, inŻurrieq.
Local festivals, similar to those in Southern Italy, are commonplace in Malta and Gozo, celebrating weddings,christeningsand, most prominently,saints' days. On saints' days, in the morning, thefestareaches its apex with aHigh Massfeaturing a sermon on the life and achievements of the patron saint. In the evening, a statue of the religious patron is taken around the local streets in solemn procession, with the faithful following in prayer. The atmosphere of religious devotion is preceded by several days of celebration and revelry: band marches,fireworks, and late-night parties. The largest festa is possibly that of theAssumption of Mary, which is celebrated in 8 parishes on the 15 August and in 2 other parishes the following Sunday.
Carnival(Maltese:il-karnival ta' Malta) has had an important place on the cultural calendar afterGrand MasterIt is held during the week leading up toAsh Wednesday, and typically includes masked balls, fancy dress and grotesque mask competitions, lavish late-night parties, a colourful, ticker-tape parade of allegoricalfloatspresided over by King Carnival (Maltese:ir-Re tal-Karnival), marching bands and costumed revellers.
Holy Week(Maltese:il-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa) starts onPalm Sunday(Ħadd il-Palm) and ends onEaster Sunday(Ħadd il-Għid).
Mnarja, or l-Imnarja (pronouncedlim-nar-ya) is one of the most important dates on the Maltese cultural calendar. Officially, it is a national festival dedicated to the feast ofSaintsPeterandPaul. Its roots can be traced back to the paganRomanfeast ofLuminaria(literally, "the illumination"), when torches and bonfires lit up the early summer night of 29 June.The festivities still commence today with the reading of the"bandu", an official governmental announcement, which has been read on this day in Malta since the 16th century. It is said that under the Knights, this was the one day in the year when the Maltese were allowed to hunt and eatwild rabbit, which was otherwise reserved for the hunting pleasures of the Knights. The close connection between Mnarja andrabbit stew(Maltese:"fenkata") remains strong today.
Isle of MTV is a one-day music festival produced and broadcast on an annual basis by MTV. The festival has been arranged annually in Malta since 2007, with major pop artists performing each year. 2012 saw the performances of worldwide acclaimed artistsFlo Rida,Nelly FurtadoandWill.i.am. Over 50,000 people attended, which marked the biggest attendance so far.
The Malta International Fireworks Festival has been arranged annually in theGrand Harbourof Valletta since 2003.
The most widely read and financially the strongest newspapers are published by Allied Newspapers Ltd., mainlyThe Times of Malta(27 percent) and its Sunday editionThe Sunday Times of Malta(51.6 percent).Due tobilingualismhalf of the newspapers are published in English and the other half inMaltese. The Sunday newspaperIt-Torċa("The Torch") published by a subsidiary of theGeneral Workers' Union, is the widest Maltese language paper. Its sister paper,L-Orizzont("The Horizon"), is the Maltese daily with the biggest circulation. There is a high number of daily or weekly newspapers—one for every 28,000 people. Advertising, sales, andsubsidiesare the three main methods of financing.
There are nine terrestrial television channels in Malta:TVM,TVMNews+,Parliament TV,One,NET Television,Smash Television,F Living,TVMSport+andXejk.The state andpolitical partiessubsidise most of the funding of these channels. TVM, TVMNews+, and Parliament TV are operated byPublic Broadcasting Services, thenational broadcaster, and members of theEBU. Media.link Communications Ltd., the owner of NET Television, andOne Productions Ltd., the owner of One, are affiliated with theNationalistandLabourparties, respectively. The rest are privately owned. The Malta Broadcasting Authority has authority to supervise all local broadcasting stations and ensures their compliance with legal and licence obligations as well as the preservation of due impartiality.
The Malta Communications Authority reported that there were 147,896 pay TV subscriptions active at the end of 2012.For reference the 2011 census counts 139,583 households in Malta.Satellite reception is available to receive other European television networks.
Football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports in Malta. Other popular sports includeboċċi, horse racing,gostra,regatta,water polo,clay pigeon shooting, and motorsports.
In 2018 Malta hosted its firstEsportstournament, 'Supernova CS:GO Malta',aCounter-Strike: Global Offensivetournament.Also since 2018, Malta has become the primary location for hosting theESL Pro League.