The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Malta:
Malta is a small and densely populated sovereign island nation located in Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea.[1] Malta comprises an archipelago of seven islands, of which the three largest are inhabited. Malta is located 93 km (58 mi) south of Sicily, and 288 km (179 mi) north of North Africa, giving the country a warm, Mediterranean climate.[2] The nation's capital is the 16th century city of Valletta.
Throughout much of its history, Malta has been considered a crucial location due in large part to its position in the Mediterranean Sea.[3] It was held by several ancient cultures including Sicilians, Romans, Phoenicians, Byzantines and others. The island is commonly associated with the Knights of St. John who ruled it. This, along with the historic pseudo-historic and religiously claimed shipwreck of St. Paul on the island, and since the 12th century ingrained a Roman Catholic legacy which is still the official religion in Malta today combined with secular values.
The country's official languages are Maltese and English; the former is the national language and the latter a legacy from Malta's period as a British colony. Malta gained independence in 1964 and is, as of 2017, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as the European Union, which it joined in 2004.
- ^ "Malta". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 2, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ The Maltese Islands, Department of Information — Malta.
- ^ "Situation". A History of Malta. 6 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008.