Facts about Malta
A quick reference card on the practical and curious facts about Malta — useful before your charter, and handy as conversation starters once you’re on board.
| Capital City: | Valletta |
| Largest City: | Birkirkara |
| National Language: | Maltese |
| Official Languages: | Maltese, English |
| Religion: | Predominantly Roman Catholic — Malta has more than 360 churches across its three main islands. |
| Area: | 316 km² — one of the smallest countries in the world |
| Population: | ~563,000 (2024) — around 9% live on Gozo and a handful live on Comino. Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. |
| Currency: | Euro (€) — EU and Schengen member since 2004 |
| Driving Direction: | Left (British holdover) |
| Calling Code: | +356 |
| Time Zone: | Central European Time (CET / CEST) |
| Electrical Plugs: | British BS-1363 — three-pin rectangular plugs (same as in the UK) |
| Electrical Supply: | 230 volts, 50 Hz |
| Hours of Sunshine: | Around 3,000 hours per year — among the highest in Europe |
| Average Sea Temperature: | Around 16 °C in winter, 25-27 °C in summer (June-October) |
| Coastline Length: | Approximately 196 km — plenty of bays, coves, and harbours within a short sail of each other |
| UNESCO World Heritage Sites: | Three — Valletta, the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, and seven Megalithic Temples |
| Popular films & series shot in Malta: | Gladiator, Gladiator II, Troy, The Da Vinci Code, World War Z, By the Sea, Captain Phillips, Game of Thrones, Murder on the Orient Express, Jurassic World Dominion, Napoleon, House of the Dragon, Popeye (its film set is now a tourist attraction), and many more. |