Map of Malta
Malta is a country in Europe with its capital at Valletta, home to about 579,704 people across 316 km². The interactive map below plots 1 cities and towns, 1 mountain summits and 2 ports recorded for Malta in YearMaps.
- Population
- 579,704
- Area
- 316 km²
- Capital
- Valletta
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Malta
Centred on Valletta at 35.8997° N, 14.5147° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Malta
Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. It consists of a number of islands, of which Malta and Gozo are the two main ones—south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. Valletta is the country's capital. Malta is the world's tenth-smallest country by area, ninth-most densely populated, and 166th most populated. It consists of a single urban region, because of which it is often described as a city-state. The two official languages are Maltese—recognised as the national language—and English.
The island of Malta has been inhabited since at least 6500 BC, during the Mesolithic period. Its location at the centre of the Mediterranean has historically given it great geostrategic importance, with multiple powers having ruled the islands and shaped its culture and society. Included among these powers the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and Romans in antiquity; the Arabs, Normans, and Aragonese during the Middle Ages; and the Knights Hospitaller, French, and British in the modern era.
Malta came under British rule as a crown colony in the early 19th century and served as the headquarters of the British Mediterranean Fleet. It was sieged by the Axis powers during World War II and was also an Allied base for its area. The country gained independence in 1964, and established its current parliamentary republic in 1974. It has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations since its independence, joining the European Union (EU) in 2004 and the eurozone monetary union in 2008. Malta's history of foreign rule and its proximity to both Europe and North Africa have influenced its art, music, cuisine, and architecture. It has close historical and cultural ties to Italy, especially to the island of Sicily, with 66 percent of Maltese people speaking or having significant knowledge of the Italian language. The country was an early centre of Christianity, and Catholicism is the state religion, although the country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
Malta is now a developed country with an advanced, high-income economy. It is heavily reliant on tourism, attracting travellers because of its warm climate, recreational areas, and architectural and historical monuments.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Malta (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Malta
With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008.
- Location
- Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
- Climate
- Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers.
- Terrain
- Mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs.
- Highest point
- Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m.
- Lowest point
- Mediterranean Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
- Land borders
- Total: 0 km.
- Natural resources
- Limestone, salt, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.); arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.); forest: 1.5% (2023 est.); other: 66.4% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Occasional droughts.
- Geographic 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.
- Languages
- Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
- Economy
- High-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Malta in Numbers
- Population
- 579,704
- GDP
- US$27.8 billion
- GDP per person
- US$47,907
- Life expectancy
- 83.0 years
- Population growth
- 1.89% a year
- Population density
- 1,805 per km²
- Urban population
- 95.7%
- Surface area
- 315 km²
- Forest cover
- 1.5%
- Arable land
- 22.1%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 93.9%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Malta in Depth
History
Malta was first inhabited between 8000 and 6500 BC with the arrival of Mesolithic era hunter-gatherers, likely from Sicily. Neolithic farmers, also originating from Sicily, are thought to have arrived on the islands by around 5400 BC. Prehistoric settlements dating to the Early Neolithic era include the Għar Dalam cave site in the uppermost layers, associated with domesticated animals. The Neolithic population of Malta grew cereals, raised livestock and, like many other European civilisations, worshipped a mother goddess.
Later, the Maltese started to build megalithic temples. Around 3500 BC, these people built some of the world's oldest existing free-standing structures in the form of the Ġgantija temples on Gozo. Other early temples include those at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra.
Geography
Malta is an archipelago in the eastern basin of the central Mediterranean Sea, some 80 km (50 mi) from southern Italy across the Malta Channel. Only the three largest islands—Malta, Gozo, and Comino— have permanent residences, though Comino is practically uninhabited. The islands of the archipelago lie on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of a land bridge between Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last ice age. The archipelago is located on the African tectonic plate.
Malta is the largest of the three inhabited islands, as well as both the easternmost and the southernmost. It also has the largest population, and serves as the country's administrative centre.
Economy
Malta is classified as an advanced economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It has a large amount of limestone contributing to its economy. Maltese agriculture produces only around 20 percent of its food needs, with limited fresh water supplies in the summer and no domestic energy sources (although there is solar power potential). The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. The agriculture is mainly small-scale farms by families who have other jobs.
Film production has also contributed to the Maltese economy. The country's variety of landscapes and destinations has become a significant draw for filmmakers.
Demographics
As of the 2025 census, Maltese-born natives make up the majority, numbering 574,348 out of a total population of 588,254. All in all, 89.1 percent are Caucasian; 5.2 percent Asian; 1.7 percent Arabian; 1.5 percent African; 1.3 percent Hispanic; and 1.2 percent a mix between two or more of these ethnicities. The majority of Malta is ethnically Maltese, which is considered as a mix of various ethnicities.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Malta (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Malta: Key Facts
| Official languages | Maltese, English |
|---|---|
| Head of state | Myriam Spiteri Debono |
| Head of government | Robert Abela |
| Form of government | parliamentary democracy |
| Calling code | +356 |
| Internet domain | .mt |
| Highest point | Ta' Dmejrek |
| Lowest point | Mediterranean Sea |
| Established | 21 September 1964 |
Facts from Wikidata Q233 (CC0).
History of Malta: Empires and States
The atlas records 19 polities whose mapped territory included part of Malta, from Phoenicia in 900 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenicia | 900–501 BCE | Nearly all |
| Phoenician Empire | 900–501 BCE | Nearly all |
| Phoenician Colonies | 700–616 BCE | Nearly all |
| Carthage | 500–217 BCE | Nearly all |
| Roman Republic | 216–32 BCE | Nearly all |
| The Roman Empire | 31 BCE – 476 CE | Nearly all |
| Eastern Roman Empire | 395–632 CE | Nearly all |
| The Byzantine Empire | 395–869 CE | Nearly all |
| Emirate of Sicily | 870–910 CE | Nearly all |
| Fatimid Caliphate | 911–1098 CE | Nearly all |
| Norman Italy | 1094–1138 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Sicily | 1139–1384 CE | Nearly all |
| House of Anjou-Sicily | 1279–1284 CE | Nearly all |
| Crown of Aragon | 1285–1515 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Spain | 1516–1533 CE | Nearly all |
| The Spanish Empire | 1516–1533 CE | Nearly all |
| The British Empire | 1800–1968 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Great Britain | 1800–1968 CE | Nearly all |
| Malta | 1967–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Malta
Malta on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Malta
Malta is an island country in Europe, forming an archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa.
Thanks to its strategic position, Malta has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric times, and conquered by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, the Sicilians, and the French, and lastly by the British in 1814. The invaders and intensive trading across the region left material and cultural heritage on the islands, but the Maltese and their language remain unique in many ways. With universal knowledge and use of English among the population and a wealth of both man-made structures from all eras of human existence and sites of exceptional natural beauty — Malta has been a very popular holiday destination for decades.
There are also aquatic activities to enjoy. Northern Malta is home to the country's beach resorts and holiday areas. Gozo and Comino, the country's two smaller islands, are also popular beach spots, although these tend to be quieter, rockier and better for snorkelling.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Malta (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Malta
1 city recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valletta | 368,250 | — | National capital |
Highest Mountains in Malta
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dingli Cliffs | 253 m | 830 ft | Europe |
Ports in Malta
2 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marsaxlokk | 27.4 m | Small | Eastern Mediterranean | medium vessels |
| 2 | Valletta Harbors | 23.8 m | Minor | Eastern Mediterranean | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malta
3 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni | 1980 | Cultural | (iii) |
| 2 | Megalithic Temples of Malta | 1980 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 3 | Valletta | 1980 | Cultural | (i) (vi) |
Largest Islands of Malta
1 island recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta | 1,286 km² | Island |
Malta
Island · 1,286 km²
Malta is an island in Europe (Mediterranean Sea), covering an estimated 1,286 km².
Malta is an island in Southern Europe. It is the largest and most populous of the three major islands that constitute the Maltese Archipelago and the country of Malta. The island is situated in the Mediterranean Sea directly south of Italy and north of Libya. It lies south-east of the smaller islands of Gozo and Comino. The island is 27 kilometres (17 mi) long and 14.5 kilometres (9 mi) wide, with a total area of 246 square kilometres (95 sq mi). The capital is Valletta, while the largest locality is Rabat. The island is made up of many small towns, which together form one larger urban zone with a population of 409,259. The landscape is characterised by low hills with terraced fields.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Malta (island) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Island
- Mapped extent
- 1,286 km²
- Size rank
- #280 of 445 islands
- Region
- Europe
- Subregion
- Mediterranean Sea
- Coordinates
- 35.9283°, 14.4051°
- Summits:
- Monte Etna (3,322 m), Vesuvio (1,281 m), Djebel Chelia (2,326 m)
- Ranges:
- Appennini (Europe), Pindus Mountains (Europe)
More about Malta
Geography
Malta is the largest island in an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, some 80 km (50 mi) south of the Italian island of Sicily across the Malta Channel. Malta is located east of its sister islands of Gozo and Comino. It lies on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of a land bridge between Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last ice age. Malta is therefore situated in the zone between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates.
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 is Ta' Dmejrek, at 253 m (830 ft), near Dingli.
History
Humans have inhabited Malta since about 5200 BC, when Stone Age hunters or farmers arrived from Sicily. Early Neolithic settlements were discovered in open areas and also in caves, such as Għar Dalam. Around 3500 BC, a culture of megalithic temple builders then either supplanted or arose. They built some of the oldest existing, free-standing structures in the world in the form of megalithic temples such as those at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. After 2500 BC, Malta was depopulated but soon became the home of Bronze Age settlers, who settled in sites such as Borġ in-Nadur. They built first fortifications in Malta.
Malta was later ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs before it was occupied by the County of Sicily in 1091.
Demographics
Native Maltese people make up the majority of the island. However, there are minorities, the largest of which are British, many of whom have retired to Malta. According to the government's estimate of 2013, the population of Malta stood at 409,259 people which is about 91.6% of the country's total population. The largest city is Birkirkara with a population of 22,319. The capital Valletta has a relatively small population of 6675 people.
The main language spoken on Malta is the Maltese language, a Semitic language descended from the now defunct Siculo-Arabic dialect of southern Italy. The language has substantial borrowing from Sicilian, Italian, a little French, and more recently and increasingly, English.
Economy
The main island of Malta contributes significantly to the country's overall economy, which itself is classified as an advanced economy according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Until 1800 Malta depended on cotton, tobacco and its shipyards for exports. Once under British control, they came to depend on Malta Dockyard for support of the Royal Navy, especially during the Crimean War of 1854. Malta's economy was boosted by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, as there was a massive increase of civilian shipping which entered the port.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Malta (island) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Malta: Key Facts
| Area | 246 km² |
|---|---|
| Population | 357,000 |
| Highest point | Ta' Dmejrek |
| Surrounded by | Mediterranean Sea |
Facts from Wikidata Q193896 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Malta
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Malta: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Malta?
- The capital of Malta is Valletta.
- What is the population of Malta?
- Malta has a population of about 579,704, the #172 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Malta?
- Malta covers 316 km², ranking #210 by area, with about 1,835 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Malta in?
- Malta is in Europe.
- Which countries border Malta?
- Malta shares a land or maritime border with Italy.
- What is the largest city in Malta?
- Valletta is the largest city in Malta, with a metropolitan population of about 368,250.
- What is the highest mountain in Malta?
- The highest summit recorded for Malta in YearMaps is Dingli Cliffs at 253 m (830 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.