Population
493 559 (2019)
Conditional reduction of currency
EUR
Climate, average max and min t°
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers; avg. maximum temperature (August) +35°; avg. minimum temperature (January) +12°
Time difference from Moscow
- 1 hour
State language
Maltese, English
Ethnic groups
Maltese 95,3%, British 1,6%, others 3,1%
Literacy rate
94,5% (2018)
History
Advantageous geographical position of Malta always attracted invaders, this caused frequent change of invaders until 13th century. In 1530 Emperor Charles V gave Malta to the Knights Hospitaller, now known as the Knights of Malta. The Knights' reign ended when Napoleon captured Malta on his way to Egypt during the French Revolutionary Wars in 1798. In 1800 the British captured the capital of the island – Valetta. Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.
Government type
Parliamentary republic
Executive branch
Prime minister and Cabinet of ministers
Legislative branch
House of Representatives (69 members)
Judicial branch
Inferior Courts, Civil and Criminal Courts of Appeal, and a Constitutional Court
GDP per capita rank
30 (2020)
Corruption perceptions index rank
54 (2021)
