Malta is a country island located south of Sicily, Italy, in the Mediterranean Sea.
Malta is an island state in Europe located in the middle of the Mediterranean, 93 kilometers south of Sicily. It is made up of an archipelago of eight islands, four of which are inhabited, and several islets and rocks. The country's capital is Valletta, established on the island of Malta.
Its strategic location n the middle of the Mediterranean Sea has earned it the covetousness and occupation of many powers over the ages. Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1964. It has been a member of the European Union since May 1, 2004.
With its 316 km2 area, it is the smallest state in the European Union. The country had 449,043 inhabitants in 2018. Its population density is the highest in the European Union, with 1,421 inhabitants per km2.
Malta has one national language, Maltese, and two official languages, Maltese and English; Italian is also understood and practiced by many Maltese.