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  Malta  
Flag of Malta
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Malta

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Malta
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 become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.
   Geography    Malta
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 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
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
20 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
400,420 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 40,448; female 37,623)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 136,221; female 134,142)
65 years and over: 13% (male 21,730; female 30,256) (2003 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 37.2 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.73% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 78.43 years
male: 75.94 years
female: 81.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2001 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
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Valletta
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 substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987
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 Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April 1999)
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; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by April 2004); 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: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 54%
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 April 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 [Edward FENECH ADAMI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
C, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta
telephone: [356] 21-235-960
FAX: [356] 2124-3229
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
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 no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for membership in the European Union. The island remains divided politically, however, over the question of joining the EU. Continued sluggishness in the global economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $6.818 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 25.5%
services: 71.7% (1999)
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
2.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
160,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
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
1.768 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.644 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore 17.3%, US 11.4%, UK 9.4%, Germany 9%, France 7.2%, China 6.5%, Italy 6% (2002)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Italy 18.3%, France 12.1%, South Korea 11.3%, UK 7.5%, Singapore 5.3%, Germany 5.2%, Japan 5%, US 4.6%, Spain 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$130 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Maltese lira (MTL)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
MTL
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.43 (2002), 0.45 (2001), 0.44 (2000), 0.4 (1999), 0.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
187,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17,691 (1997)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: 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 Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
6 (2002)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
59,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Malta
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,254 km
paved: 1,972 km
unpaved: 282 km (2000)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,234 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,885,128 GRT/42,467,864 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 3, Bulgaria 19, Canada 2, China 16, Croatia 14, Cuba 1, Cyprus 7, Denmark 3, Estonia 5, Finland 1, Germany 54, Greece 627, Hong Kong 12, Iceland 3, India 10, Iran 2, Israel 26, Italy 36, Japan 2, Latvia 24, Lebanon 6, Monaco 29, Netherlands 10, Nigeria 2, Norway 43, Poland 29, Portugal 2, Romania 15, Russia 85, Saudi Arabia 1, Slovenia 2, South Korea 5, Spain 1, Switzerland 54, Syria 4, Turkey 84, Ukraine 25, UAE 3, UK 4, US 10 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 459, cargo 280, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 10, container 80, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 236, refrigerated cargo 37, roll on/roll off 41, short-sea passenger 7, vehicle carrier 15
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
   Military    Malta
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron and maritime squadron] and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 99,312 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 79,080 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$60 million (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.7% (2000)
   Transnational Issues    Malta
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 December, 2003


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