Compare Arctic Ocean (2002) - Malta (2003)

Compare Arctic Ocean (2002) z Malta (2003)

	Arctic Ocean (2002)	Malta (2003)

Administrative divisions	-	none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders
Age structure	-	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.)
Agriculture - products	-	potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Airports	-	1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	-	total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Area	total: 14.056 million sq km note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies	total: 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US	slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Background	The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.	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.
Birth rate	-	12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	-	revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
Capital	-	Valletta
Climate	polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow	Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Coastline	45,389 km	196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Constitution	-	1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987
Country name	-	conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta
Currency	-	Maltese lira (MTL)
Death rate	-	7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external	-	$130 million (1997)
Diplomatic representation from the US	-	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
Diplomatic representation in the US	-	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
Disputes - international	some maritime disputes (see littoral states); Russia is the first state to submit data to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend its continental shelf by claiming two undersea ridges in the Arctic Ocean	none
Economic aid - recipient	-	$NA
Economy - overview	Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.	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.
Electricity - consumption	-	1.644 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	-	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	-	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	-	1.768 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source	-	fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m highest point: sea level 0 m	lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Environment - current issues	endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack	very 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	-	Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Exchange rates	-	Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.43 (2002), 0.45 (2001), 0.44 (2000), 0.4 (1999), 0.39 (1998)
Executive branch	-	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%
Exports	-	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	-	machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners	-	Singapore 17.3%, US 11.4%, UK 9.4%, Germany 9%, France 7.2%, China 6.5%, Italy 6% (2002)
Fiscal year	-	1 April - 31 March
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
GDP	-	purchasing power parity - $6.818 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	-	agriculture: 2.8% industry: 25.5% services: 71.7% (1999)
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	-	1.2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	90 00 N, 0 00 E	35 50 N, 14 35 E
Geography - note	major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months	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
Highways	-	total: 2,254 km paved: 1,972 km unpaved: 282 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	-	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	-	minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
Imports	-	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	-	machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports - partners	-	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)
Independence	-	21 September 1964 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate	-	NA%
Industries	-	tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Infant mortality rate	-	total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	-	2.4% (2002 est.)
International organization participation	-	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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	-	6 (2002)
Irrigated land	-	20 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	-	Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Labor force	-	160,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	-	industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries	-	0 km
Land use	-	arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (1998 est.)
Languages	-	Maltese (official), English (official)
Legal system	-	based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch	-	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
Life expectancy at birth	-	total population: 78.43 years male: 75.94 years female: 81.14 years (2003 est.)
Literacy	-	definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 92.8% male: 92% female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Location	body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle	Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Map references	Arctic Region	Europe
Maritime claims	-	contiguous zone: 24 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine	-	total: 1,234 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,885,128 GRT/42,467,864 DWT 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 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.)
Military branches	-	Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron and maritime squadron] and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	$60 million (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	1.7% (2000)
Military manpower - availability	-	males age 15-49: 99,312 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	-	males age 15-49: 79,080 (2003 est.)
National holiday	-	Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Nationality	-	noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese
Natural hazards	ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May	NA
Natural resources	sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)	limestone, salt, arable land
Net migration rate	-	2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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 [Edward FENECH ADAMI]
Political pressure groups and leaders	-	NA
Population	-	400,420 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	-	NA%
Population growth rate	-	0.73% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)	Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Radio broadcast stations	-	AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Railways	-	0 km
Religions	-	Roman Catholic 98%
Sex ratio	-	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.)
Suffrage	-	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	-	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)
Telephones - main lines in use	-	187,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	-	17,691 (1997)
Television broadcast stations	-	6 (2000)
Terrain	central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)	mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Total fertility rate	-	1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Transportation - note	sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways	-
Unemployment rate	-	7% (2002 est.)
Waterways	-	none

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