Since 1100 BC Malta is part of the Phoenician state, later of Carthago. Malta is conquered by the Roman Empire in 218 BC and after the division of that empire in 395 it is part of the East Roman Empire. In 870 Malta is seized by the Caliphate, but they lose it to the Viking state of Sicily in 1090. The island is acquired in 1530 by the Saint John Order, then renamed Sovereign Military Order of Malta, under the suzerainty of Sicily. The power of the order ends in 1798 with its peaceful surrender to France. The people of Malta rises against French rule, which lasts 2 years, and with the help of Britan the French are evicted in 1800. In 1814 Malta voluntarily becomes part of the British Empire as the crown colony of Malta. Under the United Kingdom, the island became a military and naval fortress, the headquarters of the British Mediterranean fleet. Since 1921 Malta has a parliamentary constitution. The first prime minister is Joseph Howard of the Unione Popolare Maltese (Maltese Popular Union, UPM), succeeded in 1923 by Francesco Buhagiar. In 1924 Ugo Pasquale Mifsud of the conservative Partit Nazzjonalista (Nationalist Party, PN, successor of the UPM) takes over. He is succeeded in 1927 by Gerald Strickland of the Constitutional Party (CP). Mifsud becomes prime minister in 1932, but in 1933 the post of prime minister is abolished.

More self-government is granted in 1947. Paul Boffa of the Partit Laburista (Malta Labour Party, PL) becomes prime minister, but he is succeeded in 1950 by 1955 George Borg Olivier of the PN. In 1955 Dominic "Dom" Mintoff of the PL succeeds him. Between 1958 and 1962 there is no prime minister. In 1960 the PN under Borg Olivier wins the elections and demands independence. Borg Olivier becomes prime minister in 1962 and in 1964 Malta is granted independence as a parliamentary democracy. In 1971 the elections are won by the PL of Dom Mintoff. Under his leadership the Republic of Malta is proclaimed in 1974. Mintoff wins the parliamentary elections of 1976 and 1981 and remains prime minister.He is succeeded by his co-partisan Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.

In 1987 the PN under Edward "Eddie" Fenech Adami comes to power. It wins also the 1992 elections. In 1996 the PL under Alfred Sant wins a small majority. After new elections in 1998 the PN becomes the largest party and Adami is prime minister again. A referendum in 2003 result in a 54% majority vote in favour of membership in the European Union. The PL, strongly opposed to membership and having conducted a very strong "No" campaign, refuses to recognize the result of the referendum. This leads to new elections, that returns the NP to power. Malta joins the European Union in 2004.