Compare Malta (2005) - Virgin Islands (2002)

Compare Malta (2005) z Virgin Islands (2002)

	Malta (2005)	Virgin Islands (2002)

Administrative divisions	none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders	none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
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.)	0-14 years: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012) 15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443) 65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products	potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs	fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports	1 (2004 est.)	2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)	total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Area	total: 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC	twice 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.	During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Birth rate	10.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)	15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget	revenues: $2.27 billion expenditures: $2.549 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)	revenues: $364.4 million expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Capital	Valletta	Charlotte Amalie
Climate	Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers	subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Coastline	196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)	188 km
Constitution	1964 constitution; amended many times	Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
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: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies
Currency	-	US dollar (USD)
Death rate	8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)	5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external	$130 million (1997)	$NA
Dependency status	-	organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
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	none (territory of the US)
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	none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international	none	none
Economic aid - recipient	NA	$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.	Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment.
Electricity - consumption	2 billion kWh (2002)	948.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2002)	0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2002)	0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production	2.15 billion kWh (2002)	1.02 billion kWh (1999)
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: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment - current issues	very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination	lack of natural freshwater resources
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	-
Ethnic groups	Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)	black 80%, white 15%, other 5% note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
Exchange rates	Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3444 (2004), 0.3773 (2003), 0.4337 (2002), 0.4501 (2001), 0.4382 (2000)	the US dollar is used
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	chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006) election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de Jongh 24.4%
Exports	NA	$NA
Exports - commodities	machinery and transport equipment, manufactures	refined petroleum products
Exports - partners	US 15.7%, France 15.5%, Singapore 14.5%, UK 11.2%, Germany 10.8% (2004)	US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March	1 October - 30 September
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 a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
GDP	-	purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2003 est.)	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $18,200 (2004 est.)	purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	1% (2004 est.)	NA%
Geographic coordinates	35 50 N, 14 35 E	18 20 N, 64 50 W
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	important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Highways	total: 2,222 km paved: 2,000 km unpaved: 222 km (2002)	total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
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	NA	$NA
Imports - commodities	machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco	crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners	Italy 25.4%, France 13.1%, UK 12%, Germany 8.9%, US 5.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2004)	US, Puerto Rico
Independence	21 September 1964 (from UK)	-
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	NA%
Industries	tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco	tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
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.)	9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2.9% (2004 est.)	NA%
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	ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	-	50 (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	US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Labor force	160,000 (2002 est.)	48,356
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 5%, industry 24%, services 71% (1999 est.)	agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 28.13% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 68.74% (2001)	arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% other: 79% (1998 est.)
Languages	Maltese (official), English (official)	English (official), Spanish, Creole
Legal system	based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations	based on US laws
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	unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 78.86 years male: 76.7 years female: 81.15 years (2005 est.)	total population: 78.43 years male: 74.55 years female: 82.53 years (2002 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 92.8% male: 92% female: 93.6% (2003 est.)	definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Location	Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)	Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references	Europe	Central America and the Caribbean
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	exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 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)	none (2002 est.)
Military - note	-	defense is the responsibility of the US
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)	Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality	noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese	noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander
Natural hazards	NA	several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources	limestone, salt, arable land	sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate	2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)	0.12 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 [Lawrence GONZI]	Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	398,534 (July 2005 est.)	123,498 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA%
Population growth rate	0.42% (2005 est.)	1.04% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors	Marsaxlokk, Valletta	Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)	AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios	-	107,000 (1997)
Railways	-	0 km
Religions	Roman Catholic 98%	Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
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.)	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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)	general assessment: NA domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Telephones - main lines in use	208,300 (2003)	62,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	290,000 (2003)	2,000 (1992)
Television broadcast stations	6 (2000)	2 (2002)
Terrain	mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs	mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate	1.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)	2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate	7% (2003 est.)	4.9% (March 1999)
Waterways	-	none

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