Languages spoken in Malta
Valletta
574250
The main languages spoken in Malta are:
Maltese - the official national language, spoken by ~90.1% of the population; the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet and an official EU language.
English - also an official language, spoken by ~6%, and used widely in business and education.
Both Maltese and English are official languages of Malta.
| Geography |
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 316 sq km; an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo/Ghawdex, Comino/Kemmuna) inhabited
Geography - note: numerous bays provide good harbors; situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta has long served as a strategic military asset
| People |
Population: 519,186-563,443 (2024-2025 est.); the EU''s smallest country by both population and geographic size
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 83.2 years
male: 81.11 years
female: 85.38 years
Infant mortality rate: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Nationality:
noun/adjective: Maltese
Religions: Roman Catholic (official) more than 90%
Languages: Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9%
Population distribution: most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
| Government |
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta'' Malta
Data code: MT
Government type: parliamentary republic
National capital: Valletta
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from the UK); declared itself a republic 10 years later, in 1974
Background: a civilization dating back thousands of years, home to some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world; the islands fell under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French over the centuries; most recently a British colony (since 1814), staunchly supporting the UK through both world wars; joined the EU in 2004, the Schengen area in 2007, and the Eurozone in 2008
| Economy |
Economy - overview: high-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; large welfare system and educated workforce; since the mid-1980s, transformed into a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination
GDP (purchasing power parity): $36.9-67.68 billion (varies by year/source; 2024 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.0% (2024f)
GDP - per capita: $67,682 PPP (2024 est.)
Inflation rate: 0.8% (2020 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.9% (2025 est.)
Industries: tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
Currency: Euro (EUR)
| Military |
Military branches: Armed Forces of Malta (AFM): Land Component (3 regiments: combat, combat support, combat service support), Maritime Squadron, Air Wing; Volunteer Reserve Force (2025)
Military manpower: approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces of Malta personnel (2025)