The Northern Region () is one of six

regions In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...

. The region includes the northwestern part of the main island of Malta. The region borders the

Eastern Eastern or Easterns may refer to: Transportation Airlines *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai * Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 192 ...

, Southern and

Western Regions The Western Regions or Xiyu (Hsi-yü; ) was a historical name specified in Ancient Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to the 8th century AD that referred to the regions west of the Yumen Pass, most often the Tarim Basin in prese ...

, and is also close to

Gozo Region Gozo Region () is one of six regions of Malta. The region includes the islands of Gozo, Comino and several little islets such as Cominotto. The region does not border any other regions, but it is close to the Northern Region. It was created by t ...

. It was created by the Act No. XVI of 2009 out of part of Malta Majjistral. Act No. XIV of 2019, which led to a regional reform in 2021, altered the region's composition and reduced its local councils from 12 to 9.

Administrative divisions

Districts

Northern Region includes the entire Northern District and parts of the

Northern Harbour District Malta is for non-local government purposes divided into districts as opposed to the local government regions at the same level. The three main types of such districts – statistical, electoral at national level, and policing – have no ...

and Western Districts.

Current local councils

Northern Region includes 9 local councils: *

Attard Attard () is a town in the Northern Region of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija, it forms part of the " Three Villages" () and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. It has a population of 12,268 as of 2021. Attard's traditional ...

(annexed in 2021 from Central region) *

Balzan Balzan () is a municipality in the Northern Region, Malta, Northern Region of Malta, and together with Attard and Lija, forms part of the "Three villages of Malta, Three Villages" (). The village originally consisted of a group of small dwellin ...

(annexed in 2021 from Central region) *

Mellieħa Mellieħa ( ) is a large village in the Northern Region of Malta. It has a population of 10,087 as of March 2014. Mellieħa is also a tourist resort, popular for its sandy beaches, natural environment, and Popeye Village nearby. Etymology The n ...

- includes the areas of

Ċirkewwa Ċirkewwa () is a harbour and zone situated at the northernmost point of Malta, part of the locality of Mellieħa. It is the site of the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, from where regular car ferries operate to the port of Mġarr in Gozo. In the sum ...

Marfa Marfa may refer to: Music * Marfa (instrument), an African percussion instrument * Marfa (music), celebratory music of the Hyderabadi Muslims Places * Márfa, a village in Baranya county, Hungary * Marfa, Chad * Marfa, Texas, a city in the hi ...

, Armier Bay, Għadira, Manikata,

Golden Bay Golden Bay may refer to: * Golden Bay / Mohua Golden Bay / Mohua is a large shallow bay in New Zealand's Tasman District, near the northern tip of the South Island. An arm of the Tasman Sea, the bay lies northwest of Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aore ...

Santa Maria Estate Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring gifts during the ...

, Paradise Bay, Anchor Bay (

Popeye Village Popeye Village, also known as Sweethaven Village, is a purpose-built film set village that has been converted into a small attraction fun park, consisting of a collection of rustic and ramshackle wooden buildings. It is located at Prajjet Bay/Anc ...

), Ta' Pennellu, Mġiebaħ, and

Selmun Palace Selmun Palace (), also known as Selmun Tower, is a villa on the Selmun Peninsula in Mellieħa, Malta. It was built in the 18th century by the Monte della Redenzione degli Schiavi, funded by the Monte di Pietà. The palace was located on the gro ...

and Selmunett. *

Mġarr Mġarr (), formerly known as ''Mgiarro'', is a village in the Northern Region of Malta. Mġarr is a rural village, isolated from nearby towns and cities. Mġarr lies west of Mosta and is surrounded by farmland and vineyards. Many of the 4,840 ...

- includes the areas of Żebbiegħ,

Ġnejna Bay Ġnejna Bay () is a popular tourist destination located about 1 kilometer from the village of Mġarr on the western coast of Malta. The beach surrounding the bay is mostly sandy. A secluded strip of shore under the steep cliff on the northern sid ...

, Binġemma, Ta' Mrejnu,

Għajn Tuffieħa Għajn Tuffieħa () is a bay and sandy, red beach which is located in Mġarr, Malta. The bay is south of Golden Bay. It is less busy than Golden Bay and often visited by Maltese natives as well as tourists. To reach this beach, one needs to desce ...

, Ballut, Lippija, Santi,

Fomm ir-Riħ Fomm ir-Riħ (meaning ''mouth of the wind'' in Maltese) is a small bay in the limits of Mġarr on the western side of the island of Malta. The area is characterised by a fault line which creates an interesting landscape with vertical cliffs and a ...

, Abatija and

Mselliet Mselliet () is an area in northern Malta, lying within the limits of Mġarr and St. Paul's Bay. It is primarily made up of agricultural land Agricultural land is typically land ''devoted to'' agriculture, the systematic and controlled use of oth ...

. *

Mosta Mosta () is a small but densely populated city in the Northern Region of Malta. The most prominent building in Mosta is the Rotunda, a large basilica built by its parishioners' volunteer labour. It features the world's 3rd largest unsupported ...

- includes the areas of

Bidnija Bidnija is a rural hamlet between Mosta, St. Paul's Bay and Mġarr. It is located in the northern region of Malta and is home to roughly 308 people as of 2008, the second least populated habitable zone on the Maltese islands after Mdina (306 peo ...

, Blata l-Għolja, Santa Margarita, Tarġa Gap, Ta' Żokkrija and Ta' Mlit *

Mtarfa Mtarfa () is a small town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of 2,572 as of March 2014. It was considered to be a suburb of Rabat until 2000, when it became a separate local council. History A number of historic silos were disc ...

Naxxar Naxxar () is a town and local council in the Northern Region of Malta. The population in March 2014 was 14,891. The Naxxar Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories. The annual village feast is celebrated on 8 September. It formerly hoste ...

- includes the areas of Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Salna,

Magħtab Magħtab is a Malta, Maltese village. It lies in the valley of the same name in the Local councils of Malta, local council of Naxxar. It is the site of the largest landfill in the island, commonly known as 'Mount Magħtab'. That landfill was clos ...

, Birguma, Sgħajtar, San Pawl tat-Tarġa and Simblija *

San Ġwann San Ġwann () is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of 14,244 as of 2021. Prior to its establishment as a distinct municipality, it was a fragmented community comprising parts of Birkirkara and St. Julian's. San Ġwann e ...

(annexed in 2021 from Central region) *

St. Paul's Bay Saint Paul's Bay () is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Region. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. As per the 2021 population census, it has also ...

- includes the areas of

Burmarrad Burmarrad is a hamlet in St. Paul's Bay, Malta. The main heritage site is the San Pawl Milqi zone, where there is a chapel dedicated to St. Paul, built on the remains of a Roman temple Ancient Roman temples were among the most important ...

Buġibba Buġibba (English pronunciation: ) is a zone within St. Paul's Bay in the Northern Region, Malta. Situated adjacent to Qawra, it is a popular tourist resort, containing numerous hotels, restaurants, pubs, archit clubs, and a casino. History Duri ...

Qawra Qawra (, ) is a zone within St. Paul's Bay in the Northern Region, Malta, Northern Region, Malta. Located close to Buġibba and Salina, Malta, Salina, it is a popular tourist resort, containing many hotels and restaurants. Around 1638, the Knigh ...

Xemxija Xemxija (, pronounced ''shem-shee-ya'') is a suburb in the western part of St. Paul's Bay in the Northern Region, Malta. It is a quiet resort, surrounded by the countryside and some of the most fertile valleys in Malta. There is also a picturesq ...

Wardija Wardija is a hamlet (place), hamlet in St. Paul's Bay, Malta, about 363 feet above sea level. Its name is corrupted from the Sicilian or Italian word , meaning 'to watch'). Although the name of the hamlet has Arabic lexicons, it was probably named ...

Pwales Pwales is a settlement in St. Paul's Bay, Malta. The area was believed to have been named for its marshland, being a valley, and comes from the Latin word ''palus'' that means wetland. It is home to Is-Simar Nature Reserve, a number of farmhouses ...

, San Martin, Mbordin and

San Pawl Milqi San Pawl Milqi ("Saint Paul the welcome or the healer" in maltese) are the ruins of a Roman period agricultural villa and pagan temple, the largest ever discovered in Malta. A Christian church was built on the site based on the Biblical mention ...

and part of Bidnija

Hamlets

* Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq *

Local councils lost in 2021

After the 2021 local government reform, the region ceded 6 of its local councils to the Eastern and Western regions: *

Dingli Dingli () is a village in the Western Region of Malta, with a population of 3,865 as of 2021. It is from the capital Valletta and two kilometers () from the nearest town, Rabat. The village lies on a plateau some 230 metres above sea level, ...

- includes the areas of

Buskett The Buskett Gardens (), forming one of the few woodland areas in Malta, are located in the fertile valley of ''Wied il-Luq'' in Rabat,_Malta. The 30 ha site lies to the west of Siġġiewi (Città Ferdinand) and just east of Dingli. The Ver ...

and

Dingli Cliffs Dingli () is a village in the Western Region of Malta, with a population of 3,865 as of 2021. It is from the capital Valletta and two kilometers () from the nearest town, Rabat. The village lies on a plateau some 230 metres above sea level, ...

(ceded to Western region) *

Għargħur Għargħur () is a village in the Eastern Region of Malta. It is situated on a hilltop between two valleys, and has a population of 2,768, as of March 2014. Għargħur Festa In Malta, each village celebrates a different patron saint or two de ...

- includes the area of Xwieki (ceded to Eastern region) * Mdina (Città Notabile) (ceded to Western region) * Pembroke - includes the areas of St. Andrew's, St. Patrick's and White Rocks (ceded to Eastern region) *

Rabat Rabat (, also , ; ) is the Capital (political), capital city of Morocco and the List of cities in Morocco, country's seventh-largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan population of over 1.2 million. ...

- includes the areas of

Baħrija Baħrija is a village in Rabat, Malta, Rabat, Malta, with a low population density. The name Baħrija means ''moth'' in Maltese language, Maltese. It is also known in English as Baħria, of which the Counts Moscati had owned the fiefdom that was gr ...

, Tal-Virtù, Mtaħleb, Kunċizzjoni, Bieb ir-Ruwa and Għar Barka (ceded to Western region) *

Swieqi Swieqi () is a town in the Eastern Region of Malta. It is a residential area just 15 minutes by bus from Sliema and within walking distance of Malta's nightlife and entertainment centres, Paceville and St. Julian's. As the town developed, re ...

- includes the areas of

Madliena Madliena (), formerly spelt Madalena, is an area in Swieqi, in Northern Region, Malta, Northern Region, Malta, formerly part of the adjacent town of Għargħur. Etymology It takes its name from a chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, which w ...

, Ibraġ, Victoria Gardens and High Ridge (ceded to Eastern region) ;Hamlets ;*

;* Tal-Virtù

Regional Council

The current Northern Regional Council () is made up of:

References

External links

* {{Regions of Malta Regions of Malta States and territories established in 2009 2009 establishments in Malta