This island became independent from British rule in 1964, however, Malta only became a republic in 1974. The island became part of the European Union in 2004. This island has become a popular tourist destination especially in the last decade.

The republic of Malta is made up of the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. A rich architectural blend with cobble streets, ancient churches and beautiful blue waters, Malta is a mystical experience.

BACKGROUND
The population of Malta is 400, 214. The ethnic inhabitants of Malta are Maltese. The Maltese are a mix of Italian and other Mediterranean groupings. The majority of the Maltese follow the Christian religion with 98% of the population being Roman Catholic. Most of the people in Malta are bilingual mainly because both Maltese and English are official languages in the country.

GEOGRAPHY
Malta is a total of 316 sq kilometers and is situated in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. The climate is a Mediterranean type of climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Maltese terrain consists of mostly coastal cliffs and flat plains. Malta has limestone, salt and arable land as its natural resources. Farming is a big part of the Maltese way of life and they grow potatoes, grapes and wheat amongst other crops. Malta falls within the GMT+0100 time zone.