Malta is an island nation comprising an archipelago of seven islands in the Mediterranean Sea. A country of Southern Europe, Malta lies south of Sicily. The country's official languages are Maltese and English. Christianity is the most practiced religion. The islands constituting the Maltese nation have been ruled by various powers and fought over for centuries, most recently the United Kingdom. Though independent Malta maintains close ties with Great Britain, and is an active member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It has been a member state of the European Union (EU) since 2004 and it is currently the smallest EU country in both population and area.

Notwithstanding its limited geographical size, Malta has a thriving economy that contrary to what many expect is not based solely on tourism (which is strong), but other businesses too, such as financial services, information technology, healthcare services and pharmaceuticals.

Malta is a modern country, with a rich history, unique culture and a versatile population.