Asem | ASEAN India

Useful Links

Malta

About:

Malta is a southern European country and consists of an archipelago. It is situated centrally in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily, Italy. Malta’s geographic position between the EU and Africa makes it a target for immigration. The government system is a republic. The chief of state is the President and the head of government is the Prime Minister. Malta has a mixed economic system in which the economy includes a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Malta is a member of the European Union (EU).

Malta is an archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean with two main islands – Gozo and Malta (map). Its total area is very small at only 122 square miles (316 sq km), but the overall topography of the islands varies. There are for example many rocky coastal cliffs, but the center of the islands is dominated by low, flat plains. The highest point on Malta is Ta’Dmerjrek at 830 feet (253 m). The largest city in Malta is Birkirkara.

The Maltese population has almost doubled in the past 100 years, soaring to 416,000 in 2011 from just over 211,000, according to preliminary census results. The rate of growth, however, is on the decline. In 2005, the population totalled 404,962 rising to 416,055 last year, with an average annual increase of 1,849 compared to nearly 2,700 in the previous decade.

The Maltese Islands have an extremely rich culture, entwined with their eclectic history and dating back hundreds of years. As a result, the Islands are home to numerous lively activities and events, including annual feasts and special occasions. Among the many festivals and traditions is Carnival, held for a week in February, ahead of the more sombre period of Lent. On this occasion, children and adults dress in fancy costumes and join extravagant parades with bright Carnival floats in Valletta. More macabre celebrations are held in Nadur, Gozo.