What is the capital of Malta?
Valletta occupies a peninsula between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, covering just 0.61 square kilometres.
Valletta is the capital and seat of government of Malta, a role it has held since 1571. Malta itself has an estimated population of 579,704 (2025).
Valletta is not the largest city in Malta. That is St. Paul's Bay, which makes Malta one of the countries whose capital is not their biggest city.
Valletta at a glance
| City population | 5,157 (2021) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇲🇹 Malta |
| Founded | 1566 |
| Capital since | 1571 |
| Largest city in Malta | St. Paul's Bay |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
About Valletta
The city was founded on 28 March 1566 and its 16th-century buildings were put up by the Knights Hospitaller. It is named after Jean Parisot de Valette, the French Grand Master who founded it.
Valletta has been the capital of Malta since 1571, when the seat of government moved here on 18 March 1571.
Valletta is the smallest capital city in the European Union and the southernmost capital in Europe.
Fewer than 6,000 people live inside the city itself, though the built-up area around it holds close to half a million.
Its formal title is Citta Umilissima, 'the humblest city'.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Valletta.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Malta?
Is Valletta the largest city in Malta?
What is the population of Valletta?
Where is Valletta located?
When did Valletta become the capital of Malta?
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What currency is used in Valletta?
See the full profile of Malta on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.