Capital of Malta: Valletta — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Malta is Valletta. Malta sits in Europe, has a population of 533,286, and uses the EUR. Official languages include Maltese, English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Valletta
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~533,286
- Area: 316 km²
- Population density: 1,688 people per km²
- Official languages: Maltese, English
- Currency: EUR
- ISO code: MT
How big is Malta?
By population, Malta ranks 169th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 188th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Malta has 1,688 people per square kilometre, which is about 28 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Malta is the 40th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Malta in population are Maldives (523,787) and Cabo Verde (593,149).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Maldives (298 km²) and Grenada (344 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Maltese is listed as an official language of Malta alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
The EUR is not unique to Malta — it is also used by Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Croatia, and 21 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
How to remember Malta
Valletta was built by the Knights of Saint John, and the knights link the capital and the flag: red and white are probably their colours. Look for the small George Cross in the corner to tell Malta from other red-and-white flags.
The flag of Malta: white and red, with the George Cross
🇲🇹 The flag is two vertical bands of white and red, with the George Cross, edged in red, in the top-left corner. Britain's King George VI awarded the George Cross to the people of Malta in 1942 for their bravery in World War II, and it was added to the flag. The red and white most likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798.
Region and neighbours
Malta is a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily and north of Libya, made up of Malta, Gozo, Comino and some smaller islands. As an island country it has no land neighbours.
Three facts about Malta
- Malta is the world's tenth-smallest country by area.
- The whole city of Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Megalithic Temples of Malta were built between about 3600 and 2500 BC, which makes them more than 4,500 years old.
Sources: Wikipedia: Malta, Wikipedia: Flag of Malta, Wikipedia: Valletta, Wikipedia: Megalithic Temples of Malta, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Malta
- European capitals quiz — match Malta to Valletta
- European flags quiz — spot the Malta flag among its neighbours
- Island nations quiz — Malta is an island country
Malta capital quiz
What is the capital of Malta 🇲🇹?
- Berlin
- Ljubljana
- Valletta
- Luxembourg
Show answer
Valletta
What is the capital of Montenegro 🇲🇪?
- Nicosia
- San Marino
- Andorra la Vella
- Podgorica
Show answer
Podgorica
What is the capital of Luxembourg 🇱🇺?
- Sarajevo
- Bern
- Luxembourg
- Vienna
Show answer
Luxembourg
What is the capital of Iceland 🇮🇸?
- Vilnius
- ReykjavÃk
- Copenhagen
- Moscow
Show answer
ReykjavÃk
What is the capital of Cyprus 🇨🇾?
- Podgorica
- Nicosia
- Pristina
- Monaco
Show answer
Nicosia
Malta in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Malta belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Malta.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Malta?
The capital of Malta is Valletta.
What is the population of Malta?
About 533,286, making it the 169th most populous country in the world.
How big is Malta?
316 square kilometres, ranking 188th by land area, at a density of 1,688 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Malta use?
The EUR, shared with 25 other countries.
What are the colours of the Malta flag?
The flag of Malta is two vertical bands of white and red, with the George Cross, edged in red, in the top-left corner. Britain's King George VI awarded the George Cross to the people of Malta in 1942 for their bravery in World War II, and it was added to the flag. The red and white most likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798.
Which countries border Malta?
None. Malta is a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily and north of Libya, made up of Malta, Gozo, Comino and some smaller islands, so it has no land borders with other countries.
How can I remember the capital of Malta?
Valletta was built by the Knights of Saint John, and the knights link the capital and the flag: red and white are probably their colours. Look for the small George Cross in the corner to tell Malta from other red-and-white flags.
More capitals to learn
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