Data at glance of Malta - average on period

History

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.

Environment

Area: 316 km2

Climate: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Languages: Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)

Government

Capital: Valletta

Government type: parliamentary republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)

Head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime ministerelection/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 ministermost recent election date: 27 March 2024election results: 2024:  Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimousexpected date of next election: by March 2029

Legislative branch

Description: legislature name: House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 65 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 3/26/2022parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)percentage of women in chamber: 29.1%expected date of next election: March 2027