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This page was last updated on 18 January, 2007


Map of Malta



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Malta Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Malta Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Malta Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
400,214 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371) (2006 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.42% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 79.01 years
male: 76.83 years
female: 81.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
   Government    Malta Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 54 N, 14 31 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:
Definition Field Listing
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
1964 constitution; amended many times
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 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:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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    Malta Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 textiles), and tourism. Continued sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.122 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$5.39 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$20,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
160,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 3%
industry: 22%
services: 75% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.291 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.13 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-966.2 million (2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.425 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany 11.2%, Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.077 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US 5.5%, Singapore 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.065 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$188.8 million (2005)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Maltese lira (MTL)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003), 0.43362 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Malta Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
202,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
324,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
6 (2000)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.mt
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,025 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
127,200 (2005)
   Transportation    Malta Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,227 km
paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,220 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,917,414 GRT/38,685,924 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 434, cargo 344, chemical tanker 105, combination ore/oil 1, container 59, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 15, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 146, refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 16
foreign-owned: 1,162 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 10, Bulgaria 13, Canada 18, China 14, Croatia 10, Cyprus 15, Denmark 6, Estonia 4, France 6, Germany 64, Greece 495, Hong Kong 2, Iceland 4, India 1, Iran 14, Israel 23, Italy 29, Japan 1, South Korea 6, Latvia 40, Lebanon 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 6, Norway 49, Pakistan 1, Poland 27, Portugal 3, Romania 9, Russia 70, Slovenia 3, Spain 6, Sweden 3, Switzerland 21, Syria 7, Taiwan 2, Turkey 123, UAE 5, UK 8, Ukraine 24, US 3)
registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, Portugal 1, Russia 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Marsaxlokk, Valletta
   Military    Malta Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 90,651
females age 18-49: 87,047 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 74,525
females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Malta Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

This page was last updated on 18 January, 2007


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