Malta is the most densely populated country in the EU and one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 1,265 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,000 per square mile). This compares with about 32 per square kilometre (85 per square mile) for the United States. A census (held every 10 years) was held in November 2005.

Inhabited since prehistoric times, Malta was first colonized by the Phoenicians. Subsequently, Arabs, Italians, Spanish, French and the British and Irish have influenced Maltese life and culture to varying degrees. Most of the foreign community in Malta, predominantly active or retired British nationals and their dependents, is centred on Sliema and surrounding modern suburbs. Phoenicia (or Phenicia ,[1] from Biblical Phenice [1]) was an ancient civilization centered in the north of ancient Canaan, with its heartland along the coast of modern day Lebanon and Syria. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Water front of Sliema, with the Portomaso tower in the background Sliema (or Tas-Sliema) is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta. ...

Malta has seen emigration of a large portion of their people to live elsewhere, and Maltese communities exist throughout Europe (esp. Maltese laborers who relocated in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Greece and the United Kingdom), while larger Maltese immigrant communities are in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil , the United States and to a smaller extant, Puerto Rico. ^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Roman Catholicism is established by law as the religion of Malta; however, full liberty of conscience and freedom of worship is guaranteed, and a number of faiths have places of worship on the island (small sects of Protestants, Eastern Orthodoxs, Muslims and Jews). The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Coptic Orthodox Pope · Roman Catholic Pope Archbishop of Canterbury · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Faith... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ...

Malta has two official languages--Maltese (a Semitic language derived from Arabic and heavily influenced by Sicilian) and English. Both languages are compulsory subjects in Maltese primary and secondary schools. A large portion of the population is also fluent in Italian, which was, until 1936, the national language of Malta. The literacy rate has reached 93%, compared to 63% in 1946. Schooling is compulsory until age 16. Sicilian (, Italian: ) is a Romance language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Demographics of Malta, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

Population: 400,214 (2006 est.) Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Possible meanings: Faro Airport (Portugal) Federation of Astrobiology Organizations Financial Aid Office Food and Agriculture Organization This page expands a three-character combination which might be any or all of: an abbreviation, an acronym, an initialism, a word in English, or a word in another language. ...

Largest Cities:

• Birkirkara
• Mosta
• Qormi
• Żabbar
• San Pawl il-Baħar
• Sliema
• San Ġwann
• Rabat
• Żejtun
• Naxxar

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264; female 33,368)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890; female 136,767)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554; female 31,371) (2006 est.) Birkirkara (or BKara) is a city of 21,775 inhabitants (as of November 2005) in central Malta. ... Mosta (or Il-Mosta) is a town situated in the middle of the island of Malta, to the north-west of Valletta. ... Statue of The Last Supper, used during the Good Friday procession in Qormi. ... Żabbar (or Ħaż-Żabbar) is the fourth largest town in Malta, with a population of 14,694 (Nov 2005). ... St Pauls Bay (San Pawl il-Baħar in Maltese) is situated in the north west of the island of Malta, sixteen kilometres from the capital city Valletta. ... Water front of Sliema, with the Portomaso tower in the background Sliema (or Tas-Sliema) is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta. ... San Ġwann is the 7th-largest city in Malta, with a population of 12,630 (Nov 2005) behind Birkirkara (21,775), Mosta (18,676), Qormi (16,576), Zabbar (14,694), St. ... Rabat (or Ir-Rabat) is a village just outside Mdina, Malta. ... Chapel of St. ... Naxxar (or In-Naxxar) is a village in the central north of Malta, with a population of about 11,947 people (Nov 2005). ...

Population growth rate: 0.42% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.01 years
male: 76.83 years
female: 81.31 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian, Spanish, Arab ^[1],^[2], and other Mediterranean stock)

Religions: Roman Catholic 98%

Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

References

1. ^ Charles A. Gauci [1]
2. ^ The Arabs in Malta / G. Wettinger. In: Malta : Studies of its Heritage and History / ed. Mid-Med Bank (Malta, 1986), pp. 87-104. [2]

See also

• Malta
• Culture of Malta
• Maltese people
• Maltese Italians