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Compare Malta (2002) - British Indian Ocean Territory (2003)

Compare Malta (2002) z British Indian Ocean Territory (2003)

 Malta (2002)British Indian Ocean Territory (2003)
 MaltaBritish Indian Ocean Territory
Administrative divisions none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders -
Age structure 0-14 years: 19.7% (male 40,609; female 37,882)


15-64 years: 67.5% (male 135,047; female 133,207)


65 years and over: 12.8% (male 21,215; female 29,539) (2002 est.)
-
Agriculture - products potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs -
Airports 1 (2001) 1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 316 sq km


land: 316 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 60 sq km


land: 60 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
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 become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership. Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia.
Birth rate 12.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) -
Budget revenues: $1.5 billion


expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
-
Capital Valletta -
Climate Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo) 698 km
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
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
Currency Maltese lira (MTL) -
Death rate 7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) -
Debt - external $130 million (1997) (1997) -
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
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, CMR 01


telephone: [356] 2561-4000


FAX: [356] 2124-3229
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador George SALIBA; note - newly-appointed Ambassador John LOWELL is expected to present his credentials in early 2003


chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


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


FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470


consulate(s): New York
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international none Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US military lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain
Economic aid - recipient $NA -
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 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 and tourism. All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
Electricity - consumption 1.628 billion kWh (2000) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) -
Electricity - production 1.75 billion kWh (2000) NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m


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


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Environment - current issues very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination NA
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 - 0.4542 (January 2002), 0.4499 (2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997) -
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%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Alan HUCKLE (since 2001); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
Exports $2 billion f.o.b. (2001) -
Exports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactures -
Exports - partners US 20.2%, Germany 14.1%, France 10.2%, UK 8.8%, Italy 3.4% (2001) -
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 white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $7 billion (2002 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 26%


services: 72% (1999)
-
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $17,000 (2002 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 2.2% (2002 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 35 50 N, 14 35 E 6 00 S, 71 30 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 archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
Highways total: 1,742 km


paved: 1,677 km


unpaved: 65 km (1997)
total: NA km


paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia


unpaved: NA km
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 $2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001) -
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco -
Imports - partners Italy 19.9%, France 15.0%, US 11.6%, UK 10.0%, Germany 8.7% (2001) -
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 5.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) -
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.4% (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, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO -
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 6 (2002) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1998 est.) 0 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 0 km
Land use arable land: 31.25%


permanent crops: 3.13%


other: 65.62% (1998 est.)
arable land: NEGL


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages Maltese (official), English (official) -
Legal system based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
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
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.26 years


male: 75.78 years


female: 80.96 years (2002 est.)
-
Literacy definition: age 10 and over can read and write


total population: 88.76%


male: 86.91%


female: 89.55% (1995 census)
-
Location Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Map references Europe Political Map of the World
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
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine total: 1,323 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,208,819 GRT/44,617,877 DWT


ships by type: bulk 440, cargo 334, chemical tanker 54, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 12, container 75, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 270, refrigerated cargo 39, roll on/roll off 45, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 17


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, United Arab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 4, United States 10 (2002 est.)
-
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
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: 99,107 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 78,909 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1964) -
Nationality noun: Maltese (singular and plural)


adjective: Maltese
-
Natural hazards NA NA
Natural resources limestone, salt, arable land coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Net migration rate 2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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 397,499 (July 2002 est.) no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960's and 1970's, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% -
Population growth rate 0.73% (2002 est.) -
Ports and harbors Marsaxlokk, Valletta Diego Garcia
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 255,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Roman Catholic 98% -
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 (2002 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)
general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 187,000 (1997) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,691 (1997) -
Television broadcast stations 6 (2000) 1 (1997)
Terrain mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)
Total fertility rate 1.91 children born/woman (2002 est.) -
Unemployment rate 7% (2002 est.) -
Waterways none none
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