Flag of Malta

What the flag looks like

Two equal vertical bands, white at the hoist and red, with a representation of the George Cross edged in red in the upper hoist corner.

What it means

White and red are traditional Maltese colors; the George Cross was awarded to the island by King George VI in 1942 for its bravery during the Second World War.

How to remember it

Malta splits white and red vertically and pins a small gray medal, the George Cross, in the white corner.

Fun facts

• The George Cross was awarded collectively to the people of Malta on 15 April 1942, during a long wartime siege.
• Maltese is the only Semitic language that is an official language of the European Union, and it is written in the Latin alphabet.

Malta at a glance

Capital

Valletta

Region

Southern Europe

Population

568,847

Area

316 km²

Languages

English, Maltese

Currency

Euro (€)

Flag adopted

1964