| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | MTISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | MLTISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | VallettaGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | EuropeGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | MaltaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | Republic of MaltaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | MaltaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| 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 productionCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | Parliamentary republicCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 21 September 1964 (from the UK)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (Pres.)CIA World Leaders [2025] |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | EURISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | EuroISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 68ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names | Attard / Balzan / Birgu / Birkirkara / Birżebbuġa / Bormla / Dingli / Fgura / Floriana / Fontana / Gudja / Għajnsielem / Għarb / Għargħur / Għasri / Għaxaq / Gżira / Iklin / Isla / Kalkara / Kerċem / Kirkop / Lija / Luqa / Marsa / Marsaskala / Marsaxlokk / Mdina / Mellieħa / Mosta / Mqabba / Msida / Mtarfa / Munxar / Mġarr / Nadur / Naxxar / Paola / Pembroke / Pietà / Qala / Qormi / Qrendi / Rabat Gozo / Rabat Malta / Safi / Saint John / Saint Julian's / Saint Lawrence / Saint Lucia's / Saint Paul's Bay / Sannat / Santa Venera / Siġġiewi / Sliema / Swieqi / Ta' Xbiex / Tarxien / Valletta / Xagħra / Xewkija / Xgħajra / Ħamrun / Żabbar / Żebbuġ Gozo / Żebbuġ Malta / Żejtun / ŻurrieqISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Historical overview | No authoritative open source found |
| National symbols | Maltese eight-pointed crossCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta); lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT; history: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | red, whiteCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | 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 yearsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
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
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
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
