Malta I Belong Test cheat sheet

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, about 90 km south of Sicily and roughly 300 km north of the Libyan coast.

Five islands are inhabited or named: Malta (largest), Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Cominotto and Filfla; total land area is about 316 km².

Malta is divided into five regions for statistical and administrative purposes: Northern, Northern Harbour, Southern Harbour, South Eastern, and Western; Gozo and Comino form a sixth statistical region (Gozo Region).

There are 68 local councils (kunsilli lokali) - 54 on Malta and 14 on Gozo - each with an elected mayor and councillors serving a five-year term.

The capital is Valletta, the smallest EU capital by area; the largest locality by population is St Paul's Bay (San Pawl il-Baħar).

Highest point is Ta' Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs (253 m); Malta has no rivers or lakes and relies on desalination and groundwater for water supply.

The Maltese islands are composed mainly of limestone, with a characteristic north-south tilt: cliffs in the west, gentler slopes and harbours in the east.

Malta lies on the Malta Escarpment and the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary, giving it low but real seismic risk.

Megalithic temples at Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien, Skorba and Ta' Ħaġrat are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, dating from roughly 3600–2500 BCE.

The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean burial complex in Paola, is a UNESCO-listed site dating to about 4000–2500 BCE.

Malta was ruled by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs (from 870 CE), Normans (1091), the Knights of St John (1530–1798), the French (1798–1800), and the British (1800–1964).

The Great Siege of 1565 saw the Knights and Maltese resist an Ottoman force; Valletta was founded in 1566 by Grand Master Jean de Valette.

Malta became a British colony formally in 1814 under the Treaty of Paris; it served as a key naval base and was heavily bombed in World War II, earning the George Cross in 1942.

Malta gained independence on 21 September 1964, became a republic on 13 December 1974, and joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.

The National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta and the Ħaġar Qim/Mnajdra visitor centre preserve the prehistoric legacy; the 'Sleeping Lady' figurine from the Hypogeum is a national icon.

Heritage protection is governed by the Cultural Heritage Act (2002), administered by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Malta.

The Constitution of Malta entered into force on 21 September 1964 and was substantially amended in 1974 when Malta became a republic.

The President of Malta is the head of state, elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; the role is largely ceremonial.

The Prime Minister is the head of government, normally the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives, and appoints ministers.

Parliament is unicameral: the House of Representatives has 65 members elected by proportional representation (Single Transferable Vote) from 13 electoral districts for a five-year term.

An electoral mechanism guarantees a parliamentary majority to the party winning the most seats, and since 2022 a gender-balancing mechanism adds seats to reach parity.

The judiciary is independent; the Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal, and Civil and Criminal Courts sit in Valletta, with magistrates' courts at first instance.

Local government is constitutionally recognised, with 68 local councils and a Local Government Division within the ministry responsible.

The President appoints the Prime Minister and, on the PM's advice, ministers; the President also appoints the Chief Justice on the PM's advice after consulting the Leader of the Opposition.

Maltese citizenship is acquired by descent, birth in Malta (with conditions), adoption, naturalisation, or registration; dual citizenship is permitted.

Fundamental rights are protected in Chapter IV of the Constitution (Articles 32–45), including life, liberty, fair trial, privacy, expression, assembly, association, and property.

The Employment and Industrial Relations Act and the Equality Act (2014) prohibit discrimination on grounds including sex, race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Voting is compulsory for registered voters in general and local elections; failure to vote without valid reason can attract a fine.

Residents must register with Identity Malta for an e-ID and, if non-Maltese, hold a valid residence document; EU citizens register after three months.

Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income; non-residents on Malta-source income only; VAT is 18% standard rate.

Duties include obeying the law, paying taxes, serving on juries when summoned, and respecting the rights of others; military service is not compulsory.

The Commissioner for Standards in Public Life and the Ombudsman provide oversight mechanisms for citizens' complaints.

The national flag is a vertical bicolour of white and red with the George Cross in the upper hoist canton, awarded in 1942 and incorporated in 1964.

The national anthem is 'L-Innu Malti', composed by Robert Samut with lyrics by Dun Karm Psaila; it was adopted in 1964.

The Maltese cross (eight-pointed) is a national emblem associated with the Knights of St John; the Maltese lira was replaced by the euro in 2008.

Maltese (Il-Malti) is a Semitic language written in Latin script and is an official EU language alongside English.

The festa (village feast) is central to Maltese culture, honouring patron saints with processions, band marches and fireworks; Holy Week and Carnival are major traditions.

Traditional cuisine includes pastizzi, ħobż biż-żejt, rabbit stew (fenek), and ftira; the Mediterranean diet is prominent.

The national bird is the blue rock thrush (merill); the national flower is the Maltese centaury (widnet il-baħar).

Religious and cultural events include Mnarja (29 June), the Feast of the Assumption (15 August), and the Malta International Arts Festival.

Healthcare is provided by the public Mater Dei Hospital and regional hospitals, plus private hospitals; residents with a valid ID receive free public healthcare.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers temporary stays in the EU; residents also use the SIS card for public health services.

Compulsory education runs from age 5 to 16; the state school system is free, and Maltese and English are both used as languages of instruction.

The University of Malta is the main higher-education institution; MCAST provides vocational education and apprenticeships.

Employment is regulated by the Employment and Industrial Relations Act; the national minimum wage is set annually and reviewed by the Low Wage Commission.

The national social security system (Social Security Act) provides contributory pensions, sickness, unemployment and child benefits, administered by the Department of Social Security.

Public transport is operated by Malta Public Transport under a government contract; a Tallinja card provides reduced fares for residents.

Utilities are provided by Enemalta (electricity), Water Services Corporation (water), and WasteServ (waste management).

Malta joined the EU on 1 May 2004, adopted the euro on 1 January 2008, and joined the Schengen area (fully) in December 2007.

Malta holds 6 seats in the European Parliament and has one European Commissioner; it held the EU Council Presidency in 2017.

Malta is a member of the Commonwealth, the United Nations (since 1964), the Council of Europe (since 1965), the OSCE, and the World Trade Organization.

Malta is not a NATO member; it maintains a policy of neutrality enshrined in its Constitution (Article 1).

Malta is a member of the eurozone and the Schengen area but retains its own opt-outs on certain justice and home affairs matters.

Malta's economy is service-based, with financial services, tourism, i-gaming and remote gaming, and aviation as key sectors.

Malta participates in the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility and cohesion policy funding; it is a small-island state with special status in EU regional policy.

Diplomatically, Malta has emphasised Mediterranean cooperation, migration, and climate change, hosting the 2020 'Our Ocean' conference.