Malta

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

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

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 157

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 (2022 est.)

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0% of population (2022 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

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2023 est.)

male: 15 years (2023 est.)

female: 17 years (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; wildlife preservation

International environmental 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

Urbanization

urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 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

Particulate matter emissions

13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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

election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

most recent election date: 27 March 2024

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

expected date of next election: by March 2029

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 color(s)

red, white

National anthem(s)

title: “L-Innu Malti” (The Hymn of Malta)

lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT

history: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country

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)

$34.731 billion (2024 est.)
$32.774 billion (2023 est.)
$30.689 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 142

Real GDP growth rate

6% (2024 est.)
6.8% (2023 est.)
4.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 22

Real GDP per capita

$60,500 (2024 est.)
$59,300 (2023 est.)
$57,800 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 30

GDP (official exchange rate)

$24.322 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2024 est.)
5.1% (2023 est.)
6.2% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 40

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.)

industry: 11.4% (2024 est.)

services: 80.8% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 11; industry 178; agriculture 198

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 46.6% (2024 est.)

government consumption: 17.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services: 123.5% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services: -106.1% (2024 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

5.6% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 38

Labor force

318,200 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 166

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2024 est.)
3.2% (2023 est.)
3% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 30

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 140

Population below poverty line

16.7% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

34.6 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 85

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 27.7% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2022 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: 99

Taxes and other revenues

21.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 36

Current account balance

$1.383 billion (2024 est.)
$1.425 billion (2023 est.)
-$167.611 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 55

Exports

$29.245 billion (2024 est.)
$26.647 billion (2023 est.)
$23.566 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 84

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

$24.505 billion (2024 est.)
$22.637 billion (2023 est.)
$21.406 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 87

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

$1.418 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: 137

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.)

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

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: 9,284 (2024 est.)

stateless persons: 171 (2024 est.)

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/