Flag of Malta

Meaning and history of the flag of Malta

Malta's flag consists of two equal vertical stripes: white at the hoist and red on the outer edge. In the upper hoist corner of the white stripe sits a representation of the George Cross, edged in red, a British military decoration. The flag was officially adopted in its current form on September 21, 1964, when independence was proclaimed.

White and red date back to the era of the Knights of the Order of Malta, who ruled the islands for centuries. According to tradition, these colors were granted by the Norman count Roger I of Sicily in 1091. The George Cross was awarded to the island by King George VI of the United Kingdom in 1942, in recognition of the population's heroism during the bombing raids of the Second World War.

Malta is one of the few countries in the world whose flag carries a foreign military decoration, making it exceptionally distinctive. Its bicolor layout is shared with other nations such as Poland and Indonesia, though those use horizontal stripes instead. The George Cross, inscribed "For Gallantry," makes the Maltese flag a living testament to the courage shown during one of history's most intense aerial sieges.

You can view the flag of Malta in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Malta profile, its map, or the current local time in Valletta.