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Compare Malta (2001) - Solomon Islands (2004)

Compare Malta (2001) z Solomon Islands (2004)

 Malta (2001)Solomon Islands (2004)
 MaltaSolomon Islands
Administrative divisions none (administered directly from Valletta) 9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Age structure 0-14 years:
19.98% (male 40,791; female 38,062)

15-64 years:
67.49% (male 133,914; female 132,402)

65 years and over:
12.53% (male 20,643; female 28,771) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 113,183; female 108,816)


15-64 years: 54.4% (male 144,157; female 140,769)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 8,058; female 8,634) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish
Airports 1 (2000 est.) 33 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

over 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 31


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total:
316 sq km

land:
316 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 28,450 sq km


land: 27,540 sq km


water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Maryland
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. Over the last 15 years, the island has become a major freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership. The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has been very effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
Birth rate 12.75 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 31.6 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$1.6 billion

expenditures:
$1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $265.4 million (1999)
revenues: $38 million


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA (2001)
Capital Valletta Honiara
Climate Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Coastline 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo) 5,313 km
Constitution 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 7 July 1978
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Malta

conventional short form:
Malta

local long form:
Repubblika ta' Malta

local short form:
Malta
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Solomon Islands


former: British Solomon Islands
Currency Maltese lira (MTL) Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)
Death rate 7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.04 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $130 million (1997) $162.5 million (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador George SALIBA

embassy:
3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01

mailing address:
P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR 01

telephone:
[356] 235960 through 235965

FAX:
[356] 243229
the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Ambassador Robert W. FITTS, is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador George SALIBA

chancery:
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

FAX:
[1] (202) 387-5470

consulate(s):
New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK


chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193


FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Disputes - international none Australian defense personnel are dispatched at the invitation of the Solomon Islands' Government to restore law and order on the islands and reinforce regional security
Economic aid - recipient $NA $28 million annually, mainly from Australia (2001 est.)
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 freshwater 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. However, the island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern. The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. However, severe ethnic violence, the closing of key business enterprises, and an empty government treasury have led to serious economic disarray, indeed near collapse. Tanker deliveries of crucial fuel supplies (including those for electrical generation) have become sporadic due to the government's inability to pay and attacks against ships. Telecommunications are threatened by the nonpayment of bills and by the lack of technical and maintenance staff many of whom have left the country. The disintegration of law and order left the economy in tatters by mid-2003, and on 24 July 2003 more than 2000 Australian soldiers entered the Solomon Islands to restore order and to facilitate the restoration of basic services.
Electricity - consumption 1.534 billion kWh (1999) 29.76 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.65 billion kWh (1999) 32 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Environment - current issues very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling


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) Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Exchange rates Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.4370 (January 2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996) Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - NA (2003), 6.7488 (2002), 5.278 (2001), 5.0889 (2000), 4.8381 (1999)
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 GONZE (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 NA 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%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July 2004)


head of government: Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA (since 17 December 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Snyder RINI (since 17 December 2001)


cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five years; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
Exports $2 billion (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactures timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners US 21.4%, France 15.2%, Germany 12.6%, UK 9.3%, Italy 4.9% (1999) China 25.2%, South Korea 17.6%, Japan 13.4%, Philippines 8.4%, Singapore 5.9%, Thailand 5.9% (2003)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the Saint George Cross, edged in red divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $800 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
2.8%

industry:
25.5%

services:
71.7% (1999)
agriculture: 42%


industry: 11%


services: 47% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $14,300 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.4% (2000 est.) -10% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 35 50 N, 14 35 E 8 00 S, 159 00 E
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 strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea
Government - note - June 2003 Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the intervention of Australia to aid in restoring order; parliament approved the request for intervention in July 2003; troops from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003
Highways total:
1,742 km

paved:
1,677 km

unpaved:
65 km (1997)
total: 1,360 km


paved: 34 km


unpaved: 1,326 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe -
Imports $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners France 19.1%, Italy 16.7%, UK 10.9%, Germany 10.0%, US 8.5% (1999) Australia 29.7%, Singapore 21.9%, Fiji 4.7%, New Zealand 4.7% (2003)
Independence 21 September 1964 (from UK) 7 July 1978 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA
Industries tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco fish (tuna), mining, timber
Infant mortality rate 5.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 22.09 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 25.15 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 18.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.5% (2000 est.) 9% (2002 est.)
International organization participation C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land 11.45 sq km (2000 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister Court of Appeal
Labor force 145,901 (1999) 26,840 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.) agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land:
32%

permanent crops:
3%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
4%

other:
61% (2000 est.)
arable land: 0.64%


permanent crops: 2%


other: 97.36% (2001)
Languages Maltese (official), English (official) Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population


note: 120 indigenous languages
Legal system based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations English common law, which is widely disregarded
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 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 December 2001 (next to be held not later than December 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 40%, SIACC 40%, PPP 20%; seats by party - PAP 16, SIACC 13, PPP 2, SILP 1, independents 18
Life expectancy at birth total population:
78.1 years

male:
75.64 years

female:
80.79 years (2001 est.)
total population: 72.38 years


male: 69.9 years


female: 74.98 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 10 and over can read and write

total population:
88.76%

male:
86.91%

female:
89.55% (1995 census)
definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Location Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Map references Europe Oceania
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
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine total:
1,414 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,191,090 GRT/46,773,603 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 443, cargo 394, chemical tanker 48, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 14, container 69, liquefied gas 2, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 296, refrigerated cargo 37, roll on/roll off 50, short-sea passenger 15, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 18

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 1, Bermuda 1, Belgium 1, Bangladesh 2, Bulgaria 11, China 7, Costa Rica 1, Cuba 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Estonia 2, Finland 1, Germany 23, Greece 258, Hong Kong 3, Croatia 9, Hungary 1, India 2, Israel 2, Italy 17, South Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Latvia 2, Lithuania 1, Monaco 14, Nigeria 1, Netherlands 10, Norway 31, Poland 8, Romania 3, Russia 39, Singapore 6, Spain 3, Sweden 3, Syria 1, Switzerland 25, UAE 2, Turkey 24, UK 8, Ukraine 9, US 9, Venezuela 1, Vietnam 1 (2000 est.)
none
Military branches Armed Forces (including land forces, an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $201 million (FY98) NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.5% (FY98) NA
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
98,953 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
78,783 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1964) Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Nationality noun:
Maltese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Maltese
noun: Solomon Islander(s)


adjective: Solomon Islander
Natural hazards NA typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Natural resources limestone, salt, arable land fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Net migration rate 2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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] Association of Independents [Snyder RINI]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [Allan KEMAKEZA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Mannaseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon Islands Alliance for Change Coalition or SIACC [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]


note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 394,583 (July 2001 est.) 523,617 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA
Population growth rate 0.74% (2001 est.) 2.76% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Marsaxlokk, Valletta Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999) AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 255,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Roman Catholic 91% Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 12%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, other Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.09 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 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)
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 187,000 (1997) 6,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,691 (1997) 1,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 6 (2000) 0 (1997)
Terrain mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Total fertility rate 1.92 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.19 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.5% (3rd Quarter 2000) NA
Waterways none -
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