Malta is a Mediterranean island nation located in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. It is the smallest of the EU member states, with a population of just over 450, 000 people. Malta has a long history, having been inhabited since around 5200 BC. It has been ruled by a variety of different powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and the British. Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and joined the European Union in 2004.