The country
The Republic of Malta is a group of seven islands, but only Malta itself and Gozo are inhabited.
Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, it has an ancient and rich history. The country has been inhabited since around 5200 BC, and a significant prehistoric civilisation existed on the islands prior to the arrival of the Phoenicians who named the main island Malta ("safe haven").
Many other civilizations ruled the islands, including the Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Knights of St. John, French.
It became a British colony in 1813, but gained independence from the UK in 1964.
A member country of the European Union since 2004, Malta is the most densely populated country in the EU and one of the most densely populated countries in the world. It has about 1,662 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Some of the population also speaks Italian, which is historically an official language.
It's currency is the Euro.