|
Background: |
Great Britain formally acquired
possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through
both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became
independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about
the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight
transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta
became an EU member in May 2004 and began to use the euro as currency in
2008. |
|
Location: |
Southern Europe, islands in the
Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
35 50 N, 14 35 E |
|
Map references: |
Europe |
|
Area: |
total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
|
Area - comparative: |
slightly less than twice the
size of Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries: |
0 km |
|
Coastline: |
196.8 km (does not include
56.01 km for the island of Gozo) |
|
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m
depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
25 nm |
|
Climate: |
Mediterranean; mild, rainy
winters; hot, dry summers |
|
Terrain: |
mostly low, rocky, flat to
dissected plains; many coastal cliffs |
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near
Dingli) |
|
Natural resources: |
limestone, salt, arable land
|
|
Land use: |
arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005) |
|
Irrigated land: |
20 sq km (2003) |
|
Total renewable water resources: |
0.07 cu km (2005) |
|
Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 0.02 cu km/yr
(74%/1%/25%)
per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000) |
|
Natural hazards: |
NA |
|
Environment - current issues: |
limited natural fresh water
resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
|
Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Air Pollution,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
|
Geography - note: |
the country comprises an
archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo,
and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good
harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of
the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration |
|
Population: |
403,532 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 16.4% (male
33,954/female 32,158)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 142,338/female
138,792)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 24,240/female 32,050)
(2008 est.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 39.2 years
male: 37.9 years
female: 40.6 years (2008 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate: |
0.407% (2008 est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
10.33 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
8.29 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
2.03 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.06
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64
years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76
male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008
est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 3.79 deaths/1,000
live births
male: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 79.3
years
male: 77.08 years
female: 81.64 years (2008
est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
1.51 children born/woman (2008
est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 500 (2003 est.)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 100 (2003 est.)
|
|
Nationality: |
noun: Maltese (singular
and plural)
adjective: Maltese |
|
Ethnic groups: |
Maltese (descendants of ancient
Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other
Mediterranean stock) |
|
Religions: |
Roman Catholic 98% |
|
Languages: |
Maltese (official), English
(official) |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 10 and
over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.) |
|
Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local
long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
|
|
Government type: |
republic |
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Capital: |
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
time
difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March;
ends last Sunday in October |
|
Administrative divisions: |
none (administered directly
from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
|
|
Independence: |
21 September 1964 (from UK)
|
|
National holiday: |
Independence Day, 21 September
(1964) |
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Constitution: |
1964 constitution; amended many
times |
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Legal system: |
based on English common law and
Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
|
|
Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
head of
government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of
Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by
the president on the advice of the prime minister
election
results: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; House of
Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes |
|
Legislative branch: |
unicameral House of
Representatives (usually 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on
the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms; note -
additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to
ensure a legislative majority)
elections: last held on 8 March
2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results: percent
of vote by party - PN 49.3%, MLP 48.8%, other 1.9%; seats by party - PN
35, MLP 34 |
|
Judicial branch: |
Constitutional Court; Court of
Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister |
|
Political parties and leaders: |
Alternativa
Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta
Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
|
|
Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
|
International organization participation: |
Australia Group, C, CE, CPLP
(associate), EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA
chancery: 2017 Connecticut
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611,
3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
|
|
Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Molly BORDONARO
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development
House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, VLT 01
mailing address: P.
O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 21 243229 |
|
Flag description: |
two equal vertical bands of
white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a
representation of the George Cross, edged in red |
|
Economy - overview: |
Major resources are limestone,
a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta
produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water
supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on
foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and pharmaceuticals),
and tourism. Economic recovery of the European economy has lifted exports,
tourism, and overall growth. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.
|
|
GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$9.342 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate): |
$6.45 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
3.4% (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$23,200 (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 22.3%
services: 74.9% (2003 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
164,000 (2006 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 3%
industry: 22%
services: 75% (2005 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
6.8% (2005 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line: |
NA% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
28 (2005) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
0.9% (2007 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed): |
10.7% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $3.316 billion
expenditures: $3.368 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products: |
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes,
wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk,
poultry, eggs |
|
Industries: |
tourism, electronics, ship
building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals,
footwear, clothing, tobacco |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
NA% |
|
Electricity - production: |
2.106 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
|
|
Electricity - consumption: |
1.959 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
|
Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption: |
18,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports: |
0 bbl/day (2004) |
|
Oil - imports: |
18,210 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
|
|
Current account balance: |
-$411 million (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports: |
$3.403 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
machinery and transport
equipment, manufactures |
|
Exports - partners: |
France 15.3%, Singapore 13.2%,
US 13%, Germany 12.5%, UK 9.5%, Japan 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.2% (2006) |
|
Imports: |
$4.212 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.) |
|
Imports - commodities: |
machinery and transport
equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
|
|
Imports - partners: |
Italy 28%, UK 10.5%, France
8.7%, Germany 7.6%, Singapore 6.8%, US 5.6% (2006) |
|
Economic aid - recipient: |
$6.19 million (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$3.522 billion (31 December
2007 est.) |
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Debt - external: |
$188.8 million (2005) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
|
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
|
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$4.097 billion (2005) |
|
Currency (code): |
euro (EUR) as of 1 January
2008; Maltese lira (MTL) before then |
|
Currency code: |
MTL |
|
Exchange rates: |
euros per US dollar - 0.6795
(January 2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006),
0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003) |
|
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use: |
202,300 (2006) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
346,800 (2006) |
|
Telephone system: |
general assessment:
automatic system satisfies normal requirements; fixed-line teledensity 50
per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 per 100 persons
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between
islands
international: country code - 356; submarine cable
connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
|
|
Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
|
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Radios: |
255,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
5 (2006) |
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Televisions: |
280,000 (1997) |
|
Internet country code: |
.mt |
|
Internet hosts: |
21,386 (2007) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
6 (2002) |
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Internet users: |
127,200 (2005) |
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Airports: |
1 (2007) |
|
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 1
over
3,047 m: 1 (2007) |
|
Roadways: |
total: 2,227 km
paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2004) |
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 1,281 ships (1000
GRT or over) 25,213,650 GRT/41,033,203 DWT
by type: bulk
carrier 439, cargo 382, chemical tanker 125, combination ore/oil 2,
container 65, liquefied gas 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 15,
passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 132, refrigerated cargo 41, roll
on/roll off 31, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned: 1,197 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 3, Bangladesh 3,
Belgium 10, Bulgaria 15, Malta 15, China 13, Croatia 12, Cyprus 15,
Denmark 10, Estonia 7, France 4, Germany 67, Greece 448, Hong Kong 1,
Iceland 7, India 3, Iran 24, Israel 21, Italy 45, Japan 3, South Korea 3,
Latvia 36, Lebanon 12, Libya 3, Monaco 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 71,
Pakistan 2, Poland 25, Portugal 3, Romania 10, Russia 66, Slovenia 3,
Spain 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 22, Syria 4, Turkey 143, Ukraine 28, UAE
10, UK 12, US 11)
registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 2,
Portugal 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 1) (2007) |
|
Ports and terminals: |
Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport),
Valletta |
|
Military branches: |
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM;
includes air and maritime elements) (2007) |
|
Military service age and obligation: |
17 years 6 months of age for
voluntary military service; no conscription (2008) |
|
Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 96,309
females age 16-49: 92,242 (2008 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 80,227
females age 16-49: 76,623 (2008 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.7% (2006 est.)
|
| Transnational Issues |
Malta |
|
Disputes - international: |
none |
|
Illicit drugs: |
minor transshipment point for
hashish from North Africa to Western Europe |
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