Malta is divided into districts. The four types of districts are regional councils, statistical districts, electoral districts, and policing districts.
Regional Councils Malta is divided into six regions for local-government and administrative purposes. Three regions were originally created by the Local Councils Act of 1993, and were integrated into the constitution in 2001.[better source needed] Two of the regions were split into smaller ones by Act No. XVI of 2009, and Malta was divided into five regions.Act No. XIV of 2019 reorganized the subdivision, establishing six regions, and was implemented in November 2021
Each region has a Regional Council (Maltese: Kunsill Reġjonali), which consists of a Regional President, a Deputy President, an Executive Secretary and between 10 and 12 members.
Function According to article 37B of the Local Governments' Act, the functions of Regional Councils include issuing calls for tenders for waste management services, conducting social impact evaluations, providing professional assistance across various sectors to local councils, coordinating with government entities and preparing annual Work Plans to address financial and human resource requirements. Current regions
Coat of arms Region Seat Largest city Area(km²) Population(year) Density(per km²) Established Eastern Region San Ġwann (not part of the region) Birkirkara (2021) 2021 Gozo Region Victoria (2020) 1993 Northern Region St. Paul's Bay (2020) 2009 Port Region Tarxien Żabbar (2020) 2021 Southern Region Qormi (2021) 2009 Western Region Rabat Żebbuġ (2020) 2021
Former regions (2009-2021)
Coat of arms Region Seat Largest city Area Population (2014) Population density Established Abolished Central Region San Ġwann Birkirkara 2009 2021 South Eastern Region Valletta Żabbar 2009 2021
Former regions (1993–2009)
Region Largest city Area Population (2005) Population density Established Abolished Malta Majjistral Birkirkara 1993 2009 Malta Xlokk Żabbar 1993 2009
Statistical districts and regions
Malta is divided into six districts for statistical purposes, as defined by the National Statistics Office and Eurostat. Each district comprises a number of local councils (LAU2). At the NUTS-3 level, these districts are grouped into two regions: Malta (comprising the first five districts) and Gozo and Comino (comprising the sixth).
+ Statistical divisions of Malta (EU NUTS and LAU classification) Level (EU classification) Meaning / Area type Number of areas Code Name(s) NUTS – Statistical Regions NUTS 1 Country 1 MT0 Malta NUTS 2 Country 1 MT00 Malta NUTS 3 Islands 2 MT001 Malta (island) MT002 Gozo, Comino LAU – Local Administrative Units LAU 1 Districts 6 — Northern Harbour DistrictSouthern Harbour DistrictSouth Eastern DistrictWestern DistrictNorthern DistrictGozo and Comino District LAU 2 Local councils 68 — —
Historically, the statistical districts were sometimes grouped into three larger statistical regions: Malta Majjistral (comprising the Northern Harbour, Western, and Northern Districts), Malta Xlokk (comprising the Southern Harbour and South Eastern Districts), and Gozo and Comino. This classification is no longer in official use.
Southern Harbour District
The Southern Harbour District forms part of Malta Xlokk. It contains 14 local councils including the all but western suburbs of the capital Valletta and the small cities Birgu, Cospicua, Senglea and Żabbar. Its largest locality is Żabbar; its smallest, Xgħajra. The District's population is 80,170 (as of 31 December 2016) across its 26.1 km2. Thus it then ranked second-most populous and had the fifth-largest extent. Birgu (Vittoriosa) 2,451 population (at end 2016) Bormla (Cospicua) 5,147 Fgura 11,714 Floriana (Furjana) 1,966 Senglea (Isla) 2,691 Kalkara 3,006 Luqa, include the hamlet of Ħal Farruġ 5,793 Marsa (both parishes; the Parish of the Holy Trinity and the Parish of Maria Regina) 5,328 Paola (Raħal Ġdid) (both parishes; the Parish of Christ the King and the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes) 8,241 Santa Luċija 2,929 Tarxien 8,674 Valletta (the four parishes; the Parish of Our Lady of Porto Salvo, the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Parish of St. Paul's Shipwreck and the Parish of St. Augustine) 5,656 Xgħajra 1,673 Żabbar, include the hamlet of St. Peter's 14,901
Northern Harbour District
The Northern Harbour District forms part of the Central Region. It contains 13 local councils including the city of Qormi, with the largest locality being Birkirkara ( 22,314). The smallest one is Ta' Xbiex (pop. 1,657). The population of the District is 131,056 (as of 31 December 2016) across its 24.1 km2. It is the most populous and yet the smallest. Birkirkara (include the hamlets of Fleur-de-Lys (Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) and Is-Swatar (Parish of St. George Preca) and the Parish of St. Helen, the Parish of St. Joseph the Worker and the Parish of St. Mary) Il-Gżira Il-Ħamrun (both parishes; the Parish of St. Gaetano and the Parish of the Immaculate Conception) L-Imsida Pembroke Tal-Pietà (include the hamlet of Guardamangia) Ħal Qormi (both parishes; the Parish of St. George and the Parish of St. Sebastian) San Ġiljan (include the hamlet of Paceville and the parish area of Balluta Bay) San Ġwann (include the hamlet of Il-Kappara) Santa Venera Tas-Sliema (the five parishes; the Parish of Stella Maris, the Parish of Sacro Cour, the Parish of St. Gregory, the Parish of Jesus of Nazareth and the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) Is-Swieqi (include the hamlet of Madliena) Ta' Xbiex
South Eastern District
The South Eastern District forms part of Malta Xlokk. It contains 11 local councils including the city of Żejtun, with the largest locality being Marsaskala ( 12,281) while the smallest one is Ħal Safi (pop. 2,168). The population of the District is 68,044 (as of 31 December 2016) across its 54.3 km2. It is the fourth-largest district by population and area. Birżebbuġa Ħal Għaxaq Il-Gudja Ħal Kirkop Marsaskala (Wied il-Għajn) Marsaxlokk L-Imqabba Il-Qrendi Ħal Safi Iż-Żejtun Iż-Żurrieq (include the hamlet of Bubaqra)
Western District
The Western District forms part of Malta Majjistral. It contains 10 local councils including the cities of Mdina, Siġġiewi and Żebbuġ, the most populous locality being Żebbuġ ( 11,759). The smallest one is Mdina (pop. 229). The population of the District is 59,817 (as of 31 December 2016) across its 72.5 km2. Thus it was the fifth-largest by population and has the second-largest extent. Ħ'Attard Ħal Balzan Ħad-Dingli L-Iklin Ħal Lija L-Imdina L-Imtarfa Ir-Rabat (include the hamlets of Baħrija and Tal-Virtù) Is-Siġġiewi Ħaż-Żebbuġ
Northern District
The Northern District forms part of the Northern Region. It contains 6 local councils but no cities, with the largest locality being St. Paul's Bay ( 29,843); its smallest is Għargħur ( 2,743). The population of the District is 69,467 (as of 31 December 2016) across its 73.6 km2. It is the third most populous and is the largest. Ħal Għargħur Il-Mellieħa (include the parish area of Manikata) L-Imġarr Il-Mosta In-Naxxar (include the hamlet of Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq) San Pawl il-Baħar (include the hamlets of Buġibba, Burmarrad and Qawra)
Gozo and Comino District
The Gozo and Comino District is also the Gozo Region. It contains 14 local councils including the city of Victoria (or Rabat). This is also the largest locality ( 6,211) while the smallest one is Għasri (pop. 418). The population of the District is 31,879 (as of 31 December 2016) across its 68.7 km2. It is the least populous district and the third biggest. Il-Fontana Għajnsielem (including Comino) L-Għarb L-Għasri Ta' Kerċem Il-Munxar In-Nadur Il-Qala San Lawrenz Ta' Sannat Ix-Xagħra Ix-Xewkija Ir-Rabat (Victoria) Iż-Żebbuġ
Electoral districts
There are currently 13 Electoral Divisions for the unicameral (single-assembly) parliament. Each consists of a number of localities (although there is no requirement that electoral boundaries follow the boundaries of localities).
District 1 Il-Belt Valletta Birkirkara (part of) Fleur-De-Lys, Birkirkara Il-Furjana Il-Ħamrun Il-Marsa Gwardamanġa Santa Venera
District 2 Il-Birgu L-Isla Bormla Ħaż-Żabbar (including St. Peter's) Marsaskala (part of) Il-Kalkara Ix-Xgħajra Il-Fgura (Tal-Gallu area)
District 3 Iż-Żejtun Ħal Għaxaq Marsaskala (part of) Marsaxlokk
District 4 Il-Fgura (Mater Boni Consigli and Tal-Liedna areas) Il-Gudja Paola Santa Luċija Ħal Tarxien
District 5 Birżebbuġa Ħal Kirkop L-Imqabba Il-Qrendi Ħal Safi Iż-Żurrieq (including Bubaqra)
District 6 Ħal Luqa Ħal Qormi Is-Siġġiewi Ħal Farruġ, Ħal Luqa
District 7 Ħad-Dingli L-Imdina L-Imtarfa Ir-Rabat (including Il-Baħrija and Tal-Virtù) Ħaż-Żebbuġ (Malta)
District 8 Birkirkara (including Fleur-de-Lys and part of Swatar) L-Iklin Ħal Lija Ħal Balzan In-Naxxar (part of)
District 9 Ħal Għargħur L-Imsida (including part of Swatar) Tal-Pietà San Ġwann (including Il-Kappara) Is-Swieqi (including Tal-Ibraġ and Il-Madliena) Ta' Xbiex
District 10 Il-Gżira Pembroke San Ġiljan (including Paceville) Tas-Sliema In-Naxxar (San Pawl tat-Tarġa, Birguma, Magħtab and Salina areas) Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq
District 11 Ħ'Attard Il-Mosta
District 12 L-Imġarr Il-Mellieħa (including Il-Manikata) San Pawl il-Baħar (including Burmarrad)
District 13 This district consists of the islands of Gozo and Comino
Ir-Rabat (Victoria) Il-Fontana Għajnsielem (including Comino) L-Għarb L-Għasri Ta' Kerċem (including Santa Luċija) Il-Munxar Ix-Xlendi In-Nadur Il-Qala San Lawrenz Ta' Sannat Ix-Xagħra Ix-Xewkija Iż-Żebbuġ (including Marsalforn)
Police districts Following the 2022 amendments to the police district's boundaries and compositions, Malta has 2 police regions which fall under the responsibility of 2 distinct Assistant Commissioners. Each of these 2 regions consist of 6 police districts, amounting to a total of 12 districts. Each district is administered by its nominated Superintendent and has its own police headquarters.
Region A District 1 Il-Belt Valletta, Archbishop Street Il-Furjana, St. Anne Street Pinto Police, Valletta Waterfront Headquarters in Valletta, the capital city of Malta
District 2 Il-Ħamrun, St. Paul's Square Santa Venera, St. Joseph High Road Tal-Pietà and Gwardamanġa, St. Luke's Square Il-Marsa, Balbi Street Headquarters in Ħamrun
District 3 Paola, Valletta Road Il-Fgura, Hompesch Road Santa Luċija, Tower Promenade Ħal Tarxien, Nelson Avenue Ħal Luqa and Ħal Farruġ St. Andrew Square Headquarters in Paola (Raħal Ġdid)
District 4 Bormla St. Paul's Street Il-Birgu, Desain Street L-Isla, 4 September Street Il-Kalkara, Archbishop Gonzi Square Ix-Xgħajra, Church Street Ħaż-Żabbar and St. Peter's, Ċawsli Street Marsaskala, Żonqor Road Headquarters in Bormla (Città Cospicua)
District 5 Iż-Żejtun, Mater Boni Consiglii Street Birżebbuġa, Pretty Bay Marsaxlokk, Fishermen's Strand Il-Gudja, Raymond Caruana Street Ħal Għaxaq, Labour Avenue L-Imqabba, Parish Street Ħal Kirkop, St. Benedict Street Ħal Safi, St. Paul's Street Iż-Żurrieq and Bubaqra, St. Catherine Street Wied iż-Żurrieq Il-Qrendi, Church Street Headquarters in Iż-Żejtun (Città Beland)
District 6 Ħal Qormi Main Street Ħaż-Żebbuġ Parish Street Is-Siġġiewi St. Nicholas Square Għar Lapsi
Headquarters in Qormi (Città Pinto)
Region B District 7 Tas-Sliema, Rudolph Street Il-Gżira, Belvedere Street L-Imsida and Ta' Xbiex, Rue d'Argens Headquarters in Tas-Sliema
District 8 San Ġiljan, Paceville, and Pembroke, St. George's Road, Spinola Bay Is-Swieqi and Il-Madliena, Keffa Street San Ġwann and Il-Kappara, Naxxar Road Headquarters in San Giljan
District 9 Birkirkara, Fleur-de-Lys and Is-Swatar, Main Street Ħal Balzan, Ħal Lija and L-Iklin, Bertu Fenech Square (Balzan) Ħ'Attard, Main Street Ta' Qali, Pitkalija In-Naxxar and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Żenqa Street Ħal Għargħur, St. Albert Street Headquarters in Birkirkara, the second largest locality in Malta
District 10 Il-Mosta, Constitution Street L-Imġarr, Fisher Street