With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008.
Geography
Location
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total : 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 208
Area – comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Climate
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation
highest point: Ta’Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
limestone, salt, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 27.3% (2022 est.)
arable land: 24.4% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.4% (2022 est.)
other: 71.2% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
39 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Natural hazards
occasional droughts
Geography – note
the country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
People and Society
Population
total: 469,730 (2024 est.)
male: 237,023
female: 232,707
comparison rankings: total 174; female 174; male 174
Nationality
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Languages
Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248)
65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 53.7 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 32.4 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 43.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 42.4 years
female: 44.7 years
comparison ranking: total 35
Population growth rate
0.51% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 150
Birth rate
9.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 193
Death rate
8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 67
Net migration rate
4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 21
Population distribution
most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Urbanization
urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
29.3 years (2020 est.)
note: data refers to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births
Maternal mortality ratio
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 181
Infant mortality rate
total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 182
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 81.5 years
female: 85.8 years
comparison ranking: total population 12
Total fertility rate
1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 201
Gross reproduction rate
0.74 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
10.6% of GDP (2021)
16.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
7.86 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
4.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
28.9% (2016)
comparison ranking: 29
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 43
Tobacco use
total: 22.1% (2025 est.)
male: 23.9% (2025 est.)
female: 20.2% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 51
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.2% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
4.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
12.7% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 70
Literacy
total population: 94.9%
male: 93.4%
female: 96.4% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2020)
Environment
Environment – current issues
limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; wildlife preservation
Environment – international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Land use
agricultural land: 27.3% (2022 est.)
arable land: 24.4% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.4% (2022 est.)
other: 71.2% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 1.34 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.2 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 269,000 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 17,996 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.7% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta’ Malta
local short form: Malta
etymology: the origin is unclear; the name may come from the ancient term mel, meaning “high” and probably referring to the island’s rocks; the ancient Greeks called the island “Melite,” possibly from the Greek word meli, meaning “honey” and referring to the island’s honey production
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: named in honor of Jean Parizot de la VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who founded the city in 1566
Administrative divisions
68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul’s Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta’ Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
Constitution
history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
amendment process: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 27 March 2024 (next to be held by March 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
election results:
2024: Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote – unanimous
2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote – unanimous
Legislative branch
legislature name: House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 65 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 3/26/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)
percentage of women in chamber: 29.1%
expected date of next election: March 2027
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually on the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
Political parties
AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD)
Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL
Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (771) 213-4050
FAX: [1] (202) 530-9753​
email address and website:
[email protected]
The Embassy (gov.mt)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ken TOKO (since 20 January 2025)
embassy: Ta’ Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC 20521-5800
telephone: [356] 2561-4000
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://mt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
Flag description
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors come from the red-and-white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily, who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091, but the colors more likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, Britain’s King George VI awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared on the white field
National symbol(s)
Maltese eight-pointed cross
National colors
red, white
National anthem
name: “L-Innu Malti” (The Maltese Anthem)
lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
note: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$33.787 billion (2023 est.)
$31.43 billion (2022 est.)
$30.178 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 144
Real GDP growth rate
7.5% (2023 est.)
4.15% (2022 est.)
12.51% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 16
Real GDP per capita
$61,100 (2023 est.)
$59,100 (2022 est.)
$58,200 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 29
GDP (official exchange rate)
$22.329 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.1% (2023 est.)
6.2% (2022 est.)
1.5% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 152
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
industry: 11.7% (2023 est.)
services: 80.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 15; industry 183; agriculture 191
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 45.8% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 16.6% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 18.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.9% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 122.8% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -104.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, cauliflower/broccoli, cabbages, pork, pumpkins/squash, watermelons (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
Industrial production growth rate
5.29% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 46
Labor force
309,600 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 167
Unemployment rate
2.7% (2024 est.)
3.1% (2023 est.)
2.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 34
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 7.8% (2024 est.)
male: 9.6% (2024 est.)
female: 5.7% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 148
Population below poverty line
16.7% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
31.4 (2020 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 117
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.1% (2020 est.)
highest 10%: 25.1% (2020 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.07% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.06% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.07% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $6.106 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $6.922 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central, state, and local governments, and social security funds
comparison ranking: 105
Taxes and other revenues
21.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 67
Current account balance
$1.425 billion (2023 est.)
-$167.611 million (2022 est.)
$1.844 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 51
Exports
$26.647 billion (2023 est.)
$23.566 billion (2022 est.)
$22.605 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 85
Exports – partners
Nigeria 28%, Germany 10%, China 6%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$22.637 billion (2023 est.)
$21.406 billion (2022 est.)
$18.795 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 92
Imports – partners
Italy 18%, China 10%, Germany 8%, France 7%, Turkey 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.402 billion (2024 est.)
$1.223 billion (2023 est.)
$1.199 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 141
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 829,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.766 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 28 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 648 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 199.086 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 65; imports 88; exports 96; consumption 145; installed generating capacity 138
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 8.4 metric tons (2021 est.)
imports: 3.9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
8.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 8.113 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 852,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 111
Energy consumption per capita
234.698 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 12
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 259,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 112
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 749,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 170
Broadcast media
2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta and an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2019)
Internet country code
.mt
Internet users
percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 236,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 119
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9H
Airports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 220
Heliports
2 (2025)
comparison ranking: 139
Merchant marine
total: 1,957 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613
comparison ranking: total 14
Ports
total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors
Military and Security
Military and security forces
the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM): Land Component (combat, combat support, and combat service support divided into three regiments), Maritime Squadron, Air Wing; Volunteer Reserve Force (2025)
note: the Malta Police Force maintains internal security; both the Police and the AFM report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Security, and Law Enforcement
Military expenditures
0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces of Malta (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a small inventory that consists of equipment from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy, and the US (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)
Military – note
the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities; the AFM’s primary roles include maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, monitoring and policing its territorial waters, participating in overseas peacekeeping and stability operations, and providing search and rescue and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities; secondary missions include assisting civil authorities during emergencies, supporting the police and other security services, and providing ceremonial and other public support duties
Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality but contributes to EU, Organization for the Security and Cooperation (OSCE), and UN military missions and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 5,890 (Ukraine) (as of 16 July 2023)
stateless persons: 11 (2022)
note: 8,556 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (January 2015-November 2022)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch list — Malta did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/malta/
Illicit drugs
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
