World Factbook
Malta
Repubblika ta' Malta
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: two equal vertical bands of white (left side) and red; in the upper-left corner is the George Cross, edged in red history: according to legend, the colors come from the red-and-white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily, who removed a bicolored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091, but the colors more likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, Britain's King George VI awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II, and the George Cross bordered in red was added to the flag after independence in 1964
Capital
name
Valletta
etymology
named in honor of Jean Parizot de la VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who founded the city in 1566
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
35 53 N, 14 30 E
Suffrage
18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
amendment process
proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic
Country name
etymology
the origin is unclear; the name may come from the ancient term mel , meaning "high" and probably referring to the island's rocks; the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite," possibly from the Greek word meli, meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production
local long form
Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form
Malta
conventional long form
Republic of Malta
conventional short form
Malta
Independence
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)
subordinate courts
Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually on the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
chief of state
President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)
election results
2024: Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous 2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous
head of government
Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)
most recent election date
27 March 2024
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
expected date of next election
by March 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
National color(s)
red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta
Political parties
AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD) Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
65 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
3/26/2022
expected date of next election
March 2027
percentage of women in chamber
29.1%
parties elected and seats per party
Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)
National anthem(s)
title
"L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta)
history
adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country
lyrics/music
Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
National symbol(s)
Maltese eight-pointed cross
National coat of arms
Adopted in 1988, Malta’s coat of arms has a shield displaying the national flag, with olive and palm branches on each side symbolizing peace. On top of the shield is a golden crown in the shape of a fortification with five turrets, representing Malta's forts. The white ribbon below the shield displays the name Repubblika ta' Malta ( Republic of Malta ).
Administrative divisions
68 localities ( Il-lokalita ); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 530-9753
chancery
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (771) 213-4050
chief of mission
Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)
email address and website
maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt The Embassy (gov.mt)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
telephone
[356] 2561-4000
mailing address
5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC 20521-5800
chief of mission
Ambassador Somers FARKAS (since 26 November 2025)
email address and website
ACSMalta@state.gov https://mt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction