Maltese Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Malta is a small island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily. It was a British colony until 1964, and the whole island was awarded the George Cross for its courage during the Second World War. Maltese and English are official languages. Maltese people in Birmingham include families, professionals and students.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 47 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Maltese; and 12 residents gave Maltese as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Maltese residents work in healthcare, education, engineering, finance and hospitality, and many are bilingual in Maltese and English. Malta's strong links with Britain mean that many Maltese students choose British universities, including those in Birmingham.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Maltese community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Catholic feasts are at the heart of Maltese life, with village festas celebrated with fireworks and brass bands. Pastizzi, flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas, and rabbit stew are national favourites, and the Maltese language, with its Arabic roots and Latin alphabet, is unique in Europe.

The story of the Maltese community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.