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Compare Malta (2002) - Solomon Islands (2002)

Compare Malta (2002) z Solomon Islands (2002)

 Malta (2002)Solomon Islands (2002)
 MaltaSolomon Islands
Administrative divisions none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders 9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul (Lauru), Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell/Bellona, Temotu, Western
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.)
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 109,339; female 105,170)


15-64 years: 53.5% (male 134,125; female 130,804)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 7,467; female 7,881) (2002 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 (2001) 31 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 30


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
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. 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. The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter 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.
Birth rate 12.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 33.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $1.5 billion


expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
revenues: $38 million (2001)


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 and again in 1987 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 7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $130 million (1997) (1997) $137 million (2001 est.)
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
the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
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
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jeremiah MANELE


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


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


FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $28 million mainly from Japan, Australia, China, and NZ (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 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. 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.
Electricity - consumption 1.628 billion kWh (2000) 29.76 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 1.75 billion kWh (2000) 32 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
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: 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, 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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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 - 0.4542 (January 2002), 0.4499 (2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997) Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 5.3728 (December 2001), 5.0889 (2000), 4.8381 (1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.7169 (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), represented by Governor General Sir John LAPLI (since NA 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister 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. (2001) $165 million f.o.b. (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactures timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners US 20.2%, Germany 14.1%, France 10.2%, UK 8.8%, Italy 3.4% (2001) Japan 22%, China 15%, Philippines 13%, South Korea 12%, UK 12%, Thailand 5% (2000)
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 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 - $7 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $800 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 26%


services: 72% (1999)
agriculture: 42%


industry: 11%


services: 47% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $17,000 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.2% (2002 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
Highways total: 1,742 km


paved: 1,677 km


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


paved: 34 km


unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1996 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 $2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001) $152 million f.o.b. (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco plant and equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners Italy 19.9%, France 15.0%, US 11.6%, UK 10.0%, Germany 8.7% (2001) Australia 27%, Singapore 25%, NZ 5.5%, Japan 5.3%, US 5.1% (2000)
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 5.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 23.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.4% (2002 est.) 7.9% (2001 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 ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 6 (2002) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1998 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 160,000 (2002 est.) 26,842
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: 31.25%


permanent crops: 3.13%


other: 65.62% (1998 est.)
arable land: 1.5%


permanent crops: 0.64%


other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
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 by 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: 78.26 years


male: 75.78 years


female: 80.96 years (2002 est.)
total population: 71.82 years


male: 69.38 years


female: 74.39 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)
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


continental shelf: 200 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 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.)
none (2002 est.)
Military branches Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron and 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 $60 million (2000 est.) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.7% (2000) NA%
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) 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 2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 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] 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 397,499 (July 2002 est.) 494,786 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.73% (2002 est.) 2.91% (2002 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) 57,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 98% 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 (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 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: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 187,000 (1997) 8,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,691 (1997) 658 (1997)
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 1.91 children born/woman (2002 est.) 4.5 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 7% (2002 est.) NA%
Waterways none none
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