Malta

The English name Malta derives from classical Latin Melita, from Latinised forms of the ancient Greek Melítē (Μελίτη), of uncertain meaning, possibly from the Phoenician Maleth. The name Melítē—shared by the Croatian island Mljet in antiquity—literally means "place of honey" or "place of sweetness", derived from the combining form of méli (μέλι, honey or any similarly sweet thing), and the suffix -ē (-η). The ancient Greeks may have named the island this after Malta's endemic subspecies of bees. Other scholars, however, argue for derivation of the Greek name from an original Phoenician or Punic Maleth (𐤌𐤋𐤈, mlṭ), meaning "haven", "refuge", or "port", in reference to its Grand Harbour and its primary settlement at Cospicua following the rise in sea level that separated the Maltese islands and flooded their original coastal settlements in the 10th century BC. …

Malta was first inhabited between 8000 and 6500 BC with the arrival of Mesolithic era hunter-gatherers, likely from Sicily. Neolithic farmers, also originating from Sicily, are thought to have arrived on the islands by around 5400 BC. Prehistoric settlements dating to the Early Neolithic era include the Għar Dalam cave site in the uppermost layers, associated with domesticated animals. The Neolithic population of Malta grew cereals, raised livestock and, like many other European civilisations, worshipped a mother goddess. Later, the Maltese started to build megalithic temples. Around 3500 BC, these people built some of the world's oldest existing free-standing structures in the form of the Ġgantija temples on Gozo. Other early temples include those at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. …

Malta is an archipelago in the eastern basin of the central Mediterranean Sea, some 80 km (50 mi) from southern Italy across the Malta Channel. Only the three largest islands—Malta, Gozo, and Comino— have permanent residences, though Comino is practically uninhabited. The islands of the archipelago lie on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of a land bridge between Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last ice age. The archipelago is located on the African tectonic plate. Malta is the largest of the three inhabited islands, as well as both the easternmost and the southernmost. It also has the largest population, and serves as the country's administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island, and both the northernmost and the westernmost, as well as more rural. …

Maltese folk tales include various stories about mysterious creatures and supernatural events. The most comprehensive compilation was done by Manwel Magri, a scholar and pioneer in Maltese archaeology in his core criticism Ħrejjef Missirijietna (Fables from our Forefathers). This collection of material inspired other researchers and academics to gather traditional legends from all over the archipelago. Local festivals, similar to those in Southern Italy, are commonplace in Malta and Gozo, celebrating weddings, christenings and, most prominently, saints' days. The largest festival is possibly that of the Assumption of Mary, celebrated in eight parishes on 15 August and in two other parishes the following Sunday. Carnival (Maltese: il-karnival ta' Malta) has had an important place on the cultural calendar. …

Malta is classified as an advanced economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It has a large amount of limestone contributing to its economy. Maltese agriculture produces only around 20 percent of its food needs, with limited fresh water supplies in the summer and no domestic energy sources (although there is solar power potential). The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. The agriculture is mainly small-scale farms by families who have other jobs. Film production has also contributed to the Maltese economy. The country's variety of landscapes and destinations has become a significant draw for filmmakers. Films shot on the island include both Gladiator films, Gladiator and Gladiator II, and several episodes of the 1970s British spy drama The Sandbaggers. Access to biocapacity in Malta is below the world average. …

As of the 2025 census, Maltese-born natives make up the majority, numbering 574,348 out of a total population of 588,254. All in all, 89.1 percent are Caucasian; 5.2 percent Asian; 1.7 percent Arabian; 1.5 percent African; 1.3 percent Hispanic; and 1.2 percent a mix between two or more of these ethnicities. The majority of Malta is ethnically Maltese, which is considered as a mix of various ethnicities. Since 2000, the shift in age towards an older Maltese population continued, with the median age increasing from 38.5 in 2005 to 40.5 in 2011: the result of an increase in people aged 55 and above along with a decrease in the number of people under 25. The average age in Gozo and Comino (41.6 years) was higher than that in Malta. People aged 65 and over more represented 16.3 percent of the total population in 2011, compared to 13.7 percent in 2005. …