Malta

Republic of Malta Repubblika ta' Malta  (Maltese)
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: L-Innu Malti The Maltese Hymn
Location of  Malta  (Green circle) – on the European continent  (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union  (light green)  —  [Legend]
Capital	Valletta 35°54′N 14°31′E / 35.900°N 14.517°E / 35.900; 14.517
Largest city	Birkirkara
Official languages	Maltese (also in national language) English
Common languages	Italian (66% conversational)
Sign language	Maltese Sign Language
Demonym(s)	Maltese
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Myriam Spiteri Debono
• Prime Minister	Robert Abela
• Speaker	Angelo Farrugia
• Chief Justice	Mark Chetcuti
Legislature	House of Representatives
Independence  from the United Kingdom
• Commonwealth realm	21 September 1964
• Republic	13 December 1974
Area
• Total	316[1] km2 (122 sq mi) (186th)
• Water (%)	0.001
Population
• 2014 estimate	445,426[2] (171st)
• 2011 census	416,055[3]
• Density	1,410[3]/km2 (3,651.9/sq mi) (7th)
GDP (PPP)	2017 estimate
• Total	$18.404 billion[4]
• Per capita	$42,239[4]
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$11.164 billion[4]
• Per capita	$25,623[4]
Gini (2014)	27.7[5] low · 15th
HDI (2015)	0.856[6] very high · 33rd
Currency	Euro (€10000ll)[b] (EUR)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+356
ISO 3166 code	MT
Internet TLD	.mt[c]
Website www.gov.mt
^ Maltese nationals as referred to in the 2011 census.[3] ^ Maltese lira before 2008. ^ Also .eu, shared with other European Union member states.

Malta is a country in Southern Europe, and a member of the European Union. It is an island near the center of the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. Although it is geologically located on the African Plate, Malta is recognized as a European country. The capital of Malta is Valletta. Around 500,000 people live in Malta and it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Malta is 316 sq km, which makes it one of the smallest countries.^[8] Its many cities and towns grew close to each other over time.

1. ↑ Zammit, Andre (1986). "Valletta and the system of human settlements in the Maltese Islands". Ekistics. 53 (316/317). Athens Center of Ekistics: 89–95. JSTOR 43620704.
2. ↑ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Census 2011. National Statistics Office, Malta
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} "Malta". International Monetary Fund.
5. ↑ "Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income (source: SILC)". Eurostat Data Explorer. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
6. ↑ "2016 Human Development Report". United Nations Development Programme. 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
7. ↑ Lesley, Anne Rose (15 April 2009). Frommer's Malta and Gozo Day by Day. John Wiley & Sons. p. 139. ISBN 978-0470746103.
8. ↑ "Malta". CIA Factbook. 4 March 2022.