Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Malta: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna grade (MCB, ranked #93 of 195).
Malta is a parliamentary republic in Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy). The country's capital is Valletta; it covers 316 sq km. Independence: 21 September 1964 (from the UK). Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs. Climate: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers. Population: 522,000 (2025 estimate). Population growth: +0.65% per year. Median age: 42.1 years. Life expectancy: 83.6 years (2024 est.). Languages: Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.) Urban population: 94.9% of total population …
| Capital | Valletta |
|---|---|
| Population | 521,828 (2025 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $34.731 billion (2024 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $60,500 (2024 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 6% (2024 est.) |
| Inflation | 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 2.8% |
| Public debt | 50.7% of GDP (2017 est.) |
| Exports | $29.245 billion (2024 est.) |
| Imports | $24.505 billion (2024 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 83.6 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 42.1 |
| Urbanization | 94.9% of total population (2023) |
| Government | parliamentary republic |
| Independence | 21 September 1964 (from the UK) |
| Languages | Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.) |
MCB · 49/100 — The Magna grade is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
A quiet quarter: no major shocks, no breakthroughs. The country's trajectory is set by structural forces larger than any single season.
The honest reading is steadiness — neither crisis nor windfall — with the long currents of demography, trade and institutions deciding more than any three months.
Salt.
Robert Abela — Prime Minister. President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)
Malta maintains 28 embassies and 4 consulates abroad, hosts 24 foreign diplomatic missions, holds permanent missions to UN New York, UN Geneva, EU Brussels, OSCE Vienna, CoE Strasbourg. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 28 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 4 |
| Foreign missions hosted | 24 |
| Multilateral missions | UN New York, UN Geneva, EU Brussels, OSCE Vienna, CoE Strasbourg |
Source: Abroad: Consular Affairs Center, of-country ranking, Jan 2026 (28/4), Zenodo https://zenodo.org/records/18109976/ . Hosted: Malta Customs Department official diplomatic-entities list (24 diplomatic missions), counted from https://mtca.gov.mt/docs/default-source/documents/customs/customs-assigned-vat-nos.pdf?sfvrsn=eac08c45_1 . Multilateral rosters as for AUT.
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 196.8 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 1 + 2 heliports (registration prefix 9H) |
| Major seaports | Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors |
Malta International Airport (MLA) — Valletta.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28)
| Political system | parliamentary republic |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
MCB · 49 Ranked #93 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Malta.
