World Factbook
Malta
Repubblika ta' Malta
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
316 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
316 sq km
Climate
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Land use
other
66.4% (2023 est.)
forest
1.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
25.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Location
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Coastline
196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
Elevation
lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point
Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m
Irrigated land
39 sq km (2022)
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone
25 nm
Natural hazards
occasional droughts
Geography - note
the country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
Natural resources
limestone, salt, arable land
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Population distribution
most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands