Malta Military - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) is a joint force with land, maritime, and air elements, plus a Volunteer Reserve Force (2023)

note: the Malta Police Force maintains internal security; both the Police and the AFM report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Security, and Law Enforcement

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

0.5% of GDP (2021)

0.6% of GDP (2020)

0.5% of GDP (2019)

0.5% of GDP (2018)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 2,000 active-duty personnel (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military has a small inventory that consists of equipment from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy and the US (2023)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2022)

Military - note

Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality, but contributes to EU and UN military missions and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2023)

NOTE: The information regarding Malta on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Malta 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Malta 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.