India

Malta


Background

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964; a decade later it declared itself a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

Other Information

Natural Resources

limestone, salt, arable land

Land Use

arable land: 28.12%
permanent crops: 4.06%
other: 67.81% (2011)

Population

412,655 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Ethnic Groups

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Religions

Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2011 est.)

Languages

Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 91.2%
female: 93.5% (2005 est.)

Capital

Valletta

Government Type

republic

Independence

21 September 1964 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)