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Compare Spratly Islands (2008) - Malta (2003)

Compare Spratly Islands (2008) z Malta (2003)

 Spratly Islands (2008)Malta (2003)
 Spratly IslandsMalta
Administrative divisions - none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders
Age structure - 0-14 years: 19.5% (male 40,448; female 37,623)


15-64 years: 67.5% (male 136,221; female 134,142)


65 years and over: 13% (male 21,730; female 30,256) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products - potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Airports 3 (2007) 1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
-
Area total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
total: 316 sq km


land: 316 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative NA slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Background The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim. 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.
Birth rate - 12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget - revenues: $1.5 billion


expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
Capital - Valletta
Climate tropical Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Coastline 926 km 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Constitution - 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Spratly Islands
conventional long form: Republic of Malta


conventional short form: Malta


local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta


local short form: Malta
Currency - Maltese lira (MTL)
Death rate - 7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external - $130 million (1997)
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


telephone: [356] 21-235-960


FAX: [356] 2124-3229
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
Disputes - international all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands none
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
Economy - overview Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. 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, tourism, and overall growth.
Electricity - consumption - 1.644 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production - 1.768 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m


highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Environment - current issues NA very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
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 - 0.43 (2002), 0.45 (2001), 0.44 (2000), 0.4 (1999), 0.39 (1998)
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%
Exports - NA (2001)
Exports - commodities - machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners - Singapore 17.3%, US 11.4%, UK 9.4%, Germany 9%, France 7.2%, China 6.5%, Italy 6% (2002)
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
GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.818 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 2.8%


industry: 25.5%


services: 71.7% (1999)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 1.2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 8 38 N, 111 55 E 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Geography - note strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs 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
Heliports 3 (2007) -
Highways - total: 2,254 km


paved: 1,972 km


unpaved: 282 km (2000)
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 - NA (2001)
Imports - commodities - machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports - partners - Italy 18.3%, France 12.1%, South Korea 11.3%, UK 7.5%, Singapore 5.3%, Germany 5.2%, Japan 5%, US 4.6%, Spain 4.2% (2002)
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: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.87 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 2.4% (2002 est.)
International organization participation - C, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 6 (2002)
Irrigated land 0 sq km 20 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: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 31.25%


permanent crops: 3.13%


other: 65.62% (1998 est.)
Languages - Maltese (official), English (official)
Legal system - based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 78.43 years


male: 75.94 years


female: 81.14 years (2003 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 10 and over can read and write


total population: 92.8%


male: 92%


female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Map references Southeast Asia Europe
Maritime claims NA contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 1,234 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,885,128 GRT/42,467,864 DWT


ships by type: bulk 459, cargo 280, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 10, container 80, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 236, refrigerated cargo 37, roll on/roll off 41, short-sea passenger 7, vehicle carrier 15


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, UAE 3, UK 4, US 10 (2002 est.)
Military - note Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam -
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: 99,312 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 79,080 (2003 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Nationality - noun: Maltese (singular and plural)


adjective: Maltese
Natural hazards typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard NA
Natural resources fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential limestone, salt, arable land
Net migration rate - 2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states
400,420 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 0.73% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors - Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Radio broadcast stations - AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Railways - 0 km
Religions - Roman Catholic 98%
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female


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


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


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 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)
Telephones - main lines in use - 187,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 17,691 (1997)
Television broadcast stations - 6 (2000)
Terrain flat mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Total fertility rate - 1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate - 7% (2002 est.)
Waterways - none
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