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.

It accommodated 8,099 people as of November 2005; a small number of service industries, IT facilities and English-language schools have taken root.

Madliena is indicated with the red letter M. Swieqi has its own local council, and in 2007 it had its own postal code instated (SWQ....).

The town fell under the jurisdiction of St. Julian's, Birkirkara, San Ġwann, Naxxar and Ħal Għargħur at different times in its history.

[citation needed] Swieqi is a predominantly Nationalist-oriented town, and at one time, the PN even polled 85% of the total votes, though it elected Professor Arnold Cassola to its local council, who would also become General Secretary of the Green Party in Europe, and who successfully contested Italian elections.

The aims of the exchange were "To create an intercultural awareness for disadvantaged youths in Malta and Ireland, to give Malta and Ireland a better understanding of youths and culture within an EU Country and an applicant country, to create a greater union with the EU and to take a holistic approach with young people from a disadvantaged background".

The group visited Galway, the Aran Islands and Connemara, with its partner, Foroige, an Irish youths organization.

In the first few twenty years of the 16th century, a certain Augustinu Borg occupied a piece of land in Swieqi, in an area known as Nadur Callel.

A couple of Birkirkara residents, amongst them Ġorġ Lanza Zarb, could not bear to see public land to be stolen so selfishly.