Malta

About Malta

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a sovereign country located in Europe, specifically within the Southern Europe subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Valletta, and the country is home to approximately 574 thousand people. In its native languages, the country is known as “Malta”, “Malta”. English and Maltese are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Malta. The official currency in circulation is the euro (€), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Malta is widely recognised for its prehistoric megalithic temples, fortified harbour cities and the Hospitaller knights. People from Malta are referred to as Maltese.

Geography & climate

Malta covers approximately 316 km² of territory, making it one of the smallest sovereign states in the world by land area. The country is an island nation (or otherwise lacks land borders), surrounded entirely by water and dependent on maritime and air links to reach its neighbours. Geographically, Malta sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 35.9° N, 14.4° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+01:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Malta can be summarised as: mediterranean island with hot dry summers, mild winters. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 574 thousand inhabitants, Malta is a small nation in terms of population. Linguistic life is plural here: English and Maltese are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Citizens are formally known in English as Maltese, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the euro (€) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

• 🏙️ CapitalValletta
• 📛 Official nameRepublic of Malta
• 🗣️ Native nameMalta · Malta
• 🧑 DemonymMaltese
• 📍 RegionSouthern Europe
• 🌐 SubregionSouthern Europe
• 📐 Area316 km²
• 👥 Population574 thousand
• 🌡️ ClimateMediterranean island · Hot dry summers, mild winters
• 🗺️ Land borders0
• 💬 LanguagesEnglish, Maltese
• 💰 Currencyeuro (€)
• 📞 Calling code+356
• 🌐 Internet TLD.mt
• 🚗 Drives onleft side
• 🕐 Time zoneUTC+01:00
• 🇺🇳 UN memberYes

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Malta should familiarise themselves with the capital, Valletta, the local time zone (UTC+01:00), the local currency (euro). The international dialling prefix is +356, which is required when phoning a Malta number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the left side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .mt, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Malta is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Malta is generally classified within the Europe region and more specifically the Southern Europe subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties.

Did you know?

Stone temples here rise 5,500 years old — older than Giza's pyramids or Stonehenge — among Earth's oldest free-standing masonry.

Malta in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Malta appears as a tougher puzzle reserved for geography fans who can pick up subtler hints. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Malta carries the personality tags “🏛️ Megalithic Temples” and “🛡️ Knights of Malta”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Malta to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.