Malta (2005) | Europa Island (2004) | |
Administrative divisions | none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders | - |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 17.6% (male 36,056/female 34,097)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,537/female 135,666) 65 years and over: 13.6% (male 23,184/female 30,994) (2005 est.) |
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Agriculture - products | potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs | - |
Airports | 1 (2004 est.) | 1 (2003 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
Area | total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC | about 0.16 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 transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May of 2004. | A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. |
Birth rate | 10.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) | - |
Budget | revenues: $2.27 billion
expenditures: $2.549 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Capital | Valletta | - |
Climate | Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers | tropical |
Coastline | 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo) | 22.2 km |
Constitution | 1964 constitution; amended many times | - |
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: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa |
Death rate | 8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) | - |
Debt - external | $130 million (1997) | - |
Dependency status | - | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William GRANT
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01 telephone: [356] 2561 4000 FAX: [356] 21 243229 |
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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 |
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Disputes - international | none | claimed by Madagascar |
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. Continued sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth. | no economic activity |
Electricity - consumption | 2 billion kWh (2002) | - |
Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2002) | - |
Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2002) | - |
Electricity - production | 2.15 billion kWh (2002) | - |
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 24 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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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 - 0.3444 (2004), 0.3773 (2003), 0.4337 (2002), 0.4501 (2001), 0.4382 (2000) | - |
Executive branch | chief of state: President Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004) 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 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); 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: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes |
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Exports | NA | - |
Exports - commodities | machinery and transport equipment, manufactures | - |
Exports - partners | US 15.7%, France 15.5%, Singapore 14.5%, UK 11.2%, Germany 10.8% (2004) | - |
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 | the flag of France is used |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 3%
industry: 23% services: 74% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $18,200 (2004 est.) | - |
GDP - real growth rate | 1% (2004 est.) | - |
Geographic coordinates | 35 50 N, 14 35 E | 22 20 S, 40 22 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 | wildlife sanctuary |
Highways | total: 2,222 km
paved: 2,000 km unpaved: 222 km (2002) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Illicit drugs | minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe | - |
Imports | NA | - |
Imports - commodities | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco | - |
Imports - partners | Italy 25.4%, France 13.1%, UK 12%, Germany 8.9%, US 5.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2004) | - |
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: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.9% (2004 est.) | - |
International organization participation | Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO | - |
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 | agriculture 5%, industry 24%, services 71% (1999 est.) | - |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 28.13%
permanent crops: 3.13% other: 68.74% (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2001) |
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 France, 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 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 |
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Life expectancy at birth | total population: 78.86 years
male: 76.7 years female: 81.15 years (2005 est.) |
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Literacy | definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8% male: 92% female: 93.6% (2003 est.) |
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Location | Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique |
Map references | Europe | Africa |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
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 economic zone: 200 nm |
Merchant marine | total: 1,140 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,102,401 GRT/41,176,791 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 438, cargo 303, chemical tanker 70, combination ore/oil 2, container 54, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 162, refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 26, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 13 foreign-owned: 1,080 (Austria 3, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 12, British 1, Bulgaria 18, Canada 9, China 15, Croatia 10, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 2, Estonia 2, Finland 1, France 5, Germany 51, Greece 527, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 7, Iran 4, Israel 26, Italy 17, Japan 2, Latvia 30, Lebanon 6, Madagascar 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands 3, Norway 42, Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 4, Romania 5, Russia 64, Slovenia 3, South Korea 4, Sweden 3, Switzerland 32, Syria 6, Taiwan 1, Turkey 87, Ukraine 25, UAE 5, United Kingdom 8, United States 3) registered in other countries: 3 (2005) |
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Military - note | - | defense is the responsibility of France |
Military branches | Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2005) | - |
Military expenditures - dollar figure | $31.1 million (2004) | - |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 0.7% (2004) | - |
National holiday | Independence Day, 21 September (1964) | - |
Nationality | noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese |
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Natural hazards | NA | NA |
Natural resources | limestone, salt, arable land | NEGL |
Net migration rate | 2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 [Lawrence GONZI] | - |
Political pressure groups and leaders | NA | - |
Population | 398,534 (July 2005 est.) | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2004 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | - |
Population growth rate | 0.42% (2005 est.) | - |
Ports and harbors | Marsaxlokk, Valletta | none; offshore anchorage only |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999) | - |
Religions | Roman Catholic 98% | - |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
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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: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Telephones - main lines in use | 208,300 (2003) | - |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 290,000 (2003) | - |
Television broadcast stations | 6 (2000) | - |
Terrain | mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs | low and flat |
Total fertility rate | 1.5 children born/woman (2005 est.) | - |
Unemployment rate | 7% (2003 est.) | - |