How many people speak Maltese?

It's difficult to give a precise number for how many people speak Maltese, as there are varying factors and definitions:

* Native speakers: Estimates suggest that around 400,000 people in Malta itself speak Maltese as their native language.

* Total speakers: Adding in speakers in other countries (mainly Australia, Canada, and the UK), the number could be closer to 500,000.

* Fluency level: This number likely includes people with varying levels of fluency, from native speakers to those who learned it as a second language.

Therefore, while we can't provide a definitive count, it's safe to say that around half a million people worldwide speak Maltese.