Flag Description

two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field

Background:Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964; a decade later it declared itself a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

Total Area: 316 sq km

Land Area:316 sq km

Water Area:0 sq km

Land Boundries Total:

Border Countries:

Coastline:196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)

Lowest Point:Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Highest Point:Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Population:412,655 (July 2014 est.)

Population Growth Rate:0.33% (2014 est.)

Religion:Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2011 est.)

Literacy(%):0.924

Literacy(%) Male:0.912

Literacy(%) Female:93.5% (2005 est.)

Independence Day:21 September 1964 (from the UK)

National Holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)

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