One of the World’s Smallest and Most Densely Populated Countries
Malta is one of the smallest countries in the EU — just 316 km² (about 27 times smaller than Luxembourg) — but with 552,000 people, giving it one of the highest population densities in Europe. The archipelago (Malta, Gozo, Comino) sits between Sicily and Libya in the Mediterranean and has been a strategic crossroads for over 7,000 years.
Malta has been shaped by successive civilisations — Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, the Knights of St. John, the French, and the British (until 1964 independence). The country is the only EU member using Maltese as an official language — a Semitic language written in Latin script, essentially a descendant of medieval Arabic with heavy Italian and English vocabulary.
A Brief History
Malta’s Megalithic Temples (Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra) are older than the Egyptian pyramids — among the oldest free-standing structures in the world. The 1565 Great Siege saw the Knights of St. John successfully defend Malta against the Ottoman Empire. British rule from 1800 (colonial treasury of Mediterranean) produced independence in 1964 (republic 1974). Malta joined the EU in 2004, the eurozone in 2008.
Geography and Climate
Malta covers just 316 km² across three inhabited islands. Climate is Mediterranean — mild wet winters, hot dry summers.
Culture, Language and Religion
Maltese (a Semitic language) and English are both official. Religion: approximately 94% Catholic — one of the most Catholic countries in Europe.
The Economy
Malta has a high-income economy (~$22 billion GDP in 2024). Key sectors: tourism, financial services, iGaming (online gambling is a major industry), shipping, film production (Malta Film Studios have produced Gladiator, Game of Thrones, World War Z).
UNESCO Sites
Malta has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the City of Valletta, the Megalithic Temples of Malta, and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (underground burial complex).
Travel Guide
Entry: Schengen visa-free 90 days.
Best seasons: April-June, September-October.
Budget: Moderate — daily mid-range €100-€160.
Surprising Facts
- Malta’s Megalithic Temples are among the oldest free-standing structures on Earth — older than the Egyptian pyramids.
- Maltese is the only Semitic language written in Latin script and an official EU language.
- Valletta was the first planned city in Europe and is named after Jean Parisot de Valette, the Grand Master who led the 1565 defence.
- Malta gave the Maltese Cross its name — a symbol of the Knights Hospitaller.
- Malta has the most churches per capita in Europe — 365 churches, one for every day of the year according to local saying.
- The Maltese Falcon that inspired Dashiell Hammett’s novel was an actual gift from the Knights of Malta to Charles V of Spain.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.