COUNTRY PROFILE

Malta Flag, Capital and Country Facts

Malta is a small island nation in the central Mediterranean south of Sicily. The capital Valletta is located on a narrow peninsula between natural ports. Despite its small area, the country has several very different historical layers: prehistoric temples, the reign of the Order of St. John and the British period. Maltese and English reflect different connections of this island space.

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Malta Flag: Meaning & Country Facts · supplied learning collection

Malta at a glance

Capital: Valletta
Quiz continent: Europe
Languages in reference record: Maltese and English
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 579,704 (2025, World Bank)
Area: 316 km²
Coastal setting: Not landlocked
ISO codes: MT / MLT
Internet country suffix: .mt

Main Islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino
Independence: 21 September 1964
Republic since: 13 December 1974
Foundation of Valletta: 1566
Award on the flag: George's Cross of 1942
Port of Valletta: Grand Harbour

Malta Flag: Design, Meaning and History

The flag is vertically divided into a white left half and a red right half. In the upper left corner is the grey George's Cross with a red border. It is not the eight-pointed Maltese Cross. This difference is crucial for an accurate flag description, even though both crosses are linked to Malta.

The George Cross was awarded to the islanders in 1942 for their courage in the Second World War. It became part of the national flag after independence in 1964. The origin of red and white is often associated with the Order of St. John. The story that Count Roger left a piece of his banner in 1091, on the other hand, should be treated as a tradition and not as a secure explanation.

Capital: Valletta

Valletta is located on a hilly peninsula between Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour. The fortified city was built in 1566 under the Order of St. John and named after Grand Master Jean de la Valette. The port space was an important prerequisite for its military and political importance.

UNESCO has listed Valletta as a World Heritage Site since 1980. In a confined area, planned streets, bastions, churches and administrative buildings are connected. The actual capital community is small; the adjoining agglomeration reaches far beyond them. A size comparison based solely on municipal population figures would therefore only show a section of urban Malta.

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Malta: Geography, History and Culture

The main islands are Malta, Gozo and Comino. Their limestone landscape is predominantly low and strongly divided by the sea. Large natural rivers are lacking, and water availability is a fundamental issue. The short distance between locations must therefore not obscure the fact that land use, dense construction and technical supply are in close competition on the islands.

Maltese belongs to the Semitic area in terms of language history, but is written with Latin script. Italian and English influences are evident in vocabulary and history. English is also an official language. This combination distinguishes Malta from many other European small states and illustrates the situation as a point of contact between North Africa and southern Europe.

The prehistoric temples are much older than the city of Valletta. Later, the Mediterranean situation and natural ports made the islands significant to different powers. Malta became independent from Britain in 1964 and republic in 1974. The two data describe different policy steps. The image of the country therefore includes not only fortresses and holiday coasts, but also a long succession of changing economic and dominion areas.

Fortified Planned City

Valletta was created in the 16th century and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Its peninsular position connects urban planning with the two port basins.