from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Malta
Introduction
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 2004.
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea,
south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic 35 50 N, 14 35 E
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
Area: total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of
Gozo)
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many
coastal cliffs
Elevation lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural limestone, salt, arable land
resources:
Land use: arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated 20 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural NA
hazards:
Environment - very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing
current reliance on desalination
issues:
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
agreements: 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
Geography - the country comprises an archipelago, with only the
note: 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
People
Population: 400,214 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 38.7 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.42% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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 (2006 est.)
Infant total: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 79.01 years
expectancy at male: 76.83 years
birth: female: 81.31 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.5 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.2% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 500 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 100 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and
Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other
Mediterranean stock)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 54 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative none (administered directly from Valletta); note -
divisions: local councils carry out administrative orders
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
holiday:
Constitution: 1964 constitution; amended many times
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4
branch: 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 (eligible for a
second 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;
House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes
Legislative unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats;
branch: 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
August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%,
MLP 47.6%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both
branch: courts are appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister
Political Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or
parties and AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred
leaders: SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member),
organization FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
participation: IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL
representation chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONARO
representation embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne
from the US: Street, Floriana, VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 21 243229
Flag two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red;
description: in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of
the George Cross, edged in red
Economy
Economy - Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic
overview: location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces
only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh
water supplies, and has few 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.
GDP $7.861 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $5.193 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 1% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $19,700 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 3%
composition by industry: 23%
sector: services: 74% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 160,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 3%
by occupation: industry: 22%
services: 75% (2005 est.)
Unemployment 7.8% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 3% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 22.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes,
products: citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk,
poultry, eggs
Industries: tourism, electronics, ship building and repair,
construction, food and beverages, textiles, footwear,
clothing, tobacco
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 2.082 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 1.936 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 18,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NEGL (2001)
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-598 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $2.744 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
commodities:
Exports - France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%,
partners: Germany 11.2%, Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005)
Imports: $3.859 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and
commodities: semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US
partners: 5.5%, Singapore 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of $2.579 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $188.8 million (2005)
external:
Economic aid - $NA
recipient:
Currency Maltese lira (MTL)
(code):
Currency code: MTL
Exchange Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466
rates: (2004), 0.37723 (2003), 0.43362 (2002), 0.45004 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 202,100 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 324,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal
system: requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay
between islands
international: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 255,000 (1997)
Television 6 (2000)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 280,000 (1997)
Internet .mt
country code:
Internet 14,025 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 6 (2002)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 127,200 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 1
with paved over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
runways:
Roadways: total: 2,227 km
paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2004)
Merchant total: 1,220 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,917,414 GRT/
marine: 38,685,924 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 434, cargo 344, chemical tanker
105, combination ore/oil 1, container 59, liquefied gas
7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 15, passenger/cargo
14, petroleum tanker 146, refrigerated cargo 43, roll
on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier
16
foreign-owned: 1,162 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2,
Bangladesh 3, Belgium 10, Bulgaria 13, Canada 18, China
14, Croatia 10, Cyprus 15, Denmark 6, Estonia 4, France
6, Germany 64, Greece 495, Hong Kong 2, Iceland 4,
India 1, Iran 14, Israel 23, Italy 29, Japan 1, South
Korea 6, Latvia 40, Lebanon 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands
6, Norway 49, Pakistan 1, Poland 27, Portugal 3,
Romania 9, Russia 70, Slovenia 3, Spain 6, Sweden 3,
Switzerland 21, Syria 7, Taiwan 2, Turkey 123, UAE 5,
UK 8, Ukraine 24, US 3)
registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, Portugal 1,
Russia 4) (2006)
Ports and Marsaxlokk, Valletta
terminals:
Military
Military Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime
branches: elements) (2005)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
service age conscription (2001)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 90,651
available for females age 18-49: 87,047 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 74,525
for military females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)
service:
Military $38.168 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - none
international:
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa
to Western Europe