FACTS

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Area (only Total) total: 316 sq km

Climate: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Population: 403,532 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Maltese

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Valletta

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

February 10 Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

March 19 Feast of St Joseph

March 21 Good Friday

March 23 Easter

March 31 Freedom Day

May 1 Worker's Day

June 7 Commemoration of the uprising of 7th June 1919

June 29 Feast of St Peter and St Paul (Mnarja, Harvest festival)

August 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Marija)

September 8 Feast of Our Lady of Victories

September 21 Independence Day

December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception

December 13 Republic Day

December 25 Christmas Day

Other Observance

November 1 All Saint's Day

November 2 All Soul's Day

Last two days of Carnival (Monday and Tuesday)

Weekend - Sunday