Malta

Malta Population: 403,532
BackgroundGrt Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwlth 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 and began to use the euro as currency in 2008.Map data ©2009 Europa Technologies - Terms of Use
GeographyThe 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 ation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration.Loion:Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterrann S, south of Sicily (Italy)Geographic coordinates:35 50 N, 14 35 r:total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq kmSize comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries:0 kmCoastline:196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)Maritime claims:territorial s: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of ation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nmClimate:Mediterrann; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summersTerrain:mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffsElevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterrann S 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (nr Dingli)Natural resources:limestone, salt, arable landLand use:arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005)Irrigated land:20 sq km (2003)Natural hazards:NACurrent Environment Issues:limited natural fresh water resources; incrsing reliance on desalinationInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertifiion, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the S, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
PeoplePopulation:403,532 (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 16.4% (male 33,954/female 32,158)
15-64 yrs: 69.7% (male 142,338/female 138,792)
65 yrs and over: 13.9% (male 24,240/female 32,050) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 39.2 yrs
male: 37.9 yrs
female: 40.6 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:0.407% (2008 est.)Birth rate:10.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:8.29 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 3.79 dths/1,000 live births
male: 4.25 dths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.3 yrs
male: 77.08 yrs
female: 81.64 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:fewer than 500 (2003 est.)HIV/AIDS - dths:fewer than 100 (2003 est.)Nationality:noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: MalteseEthnic groups:Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterrann stock)Religions:Roman holic 98%Languages:Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can rd and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: MaltaGovernment type:republicCapital:name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahd of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in OctoberAdministrative divisions:none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative ordersIndependence:21 September 1964 (from UK)National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1964)Constitution:1964 constitution; amended many timesLegal system:based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservationsSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
hd 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-yr term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislative elections, the lder of the majority party or lder of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-yr 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 votesLegislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 sts; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-yr terms; note - additional sts are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority)
elections: last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, MLP 48.9%, other 1.8%; sts by party - PN 35, MLP 34Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Court of Appl; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime ministerPolitical parties and lders:Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Dr. Joseph MUS]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]Political pressure groups and lders:Allnza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra ro ALDM (against illegal immigration); Allnza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (encourages tourism); Alternattiva Demokratika (campaign to reform rent law, and other campaigns); Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate in democratic government); Ghazdatal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights); Nazi Watch Malta (exposing Nazis)
other: environmentalistsInternational organization participation:Australia Group, C, CE, PC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New YorkDiplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONARO
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 21 243229
EconomyMalta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position beween the EU and Africa makes it a target for illegal immigration, which can strain Malta's political and economic resources. The financial services industry has grown in recent yrs, but is not fully modernized. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism all of which have been negatively affected by global economic downturn. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. The Maltese government in 2009 will be challenged to contain public spending, which ballooned in 2008 to about 4.1% of GDP placing it above the euro zone's 3% eral deficit maximum.GDP (purchasing power parity):$9.801 billion (2008 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$8.584 billion (2008 est.)GDP - rl growth rate:3% (2008 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):$24,200 (2008 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 22.3%
services: 74.9% (2003 est.)Labor force:170,000 (2007)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 2%
industry: 29.6%
services: 68% (2005 est.)Unemployment rate:6.4% (2007)Population below poverty line:NA%Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%Distribution of family income - Gini index:26 (2007)Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.4% (2008 est.)Investment (gross fixed):20% of GDP (2008 est.)Budget:revenues: $3.457 billion
expenditures: $3.653 billion (2008 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwr, clothing, tobaccoIndustrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - consumption:1.85 billion kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - consumption:18,680 bbl/day (2006 est.)Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)Oil - imports:18,910 bbl/day (2005)Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)Current account balance:-$538 million (2008 est.)Exports:$3.491 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufacturesExports - partners:Singapore 14.4%, Germany 13.7%, France 12.6%, US 11.3%, UK 10%, Hong Kong 6.1%, Japan 4.9%, Italy 4% (2007)Imports:$4.963 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobaccoImports - partners:Italy 26%, UK 15%, France 9.5%, Germany 8.8%, Singapore 5.2% (2007)Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$4.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.)Debt - external:$188.8 million (2005)Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:$NAStock of direct foreign investment - abroad:$NAMarket value of publicly traded shares:$5.633 billion (31 December 2007)Currency ():euro (EUR) as of 1 January 2008; Maltese lira (MTL) before thenExchange rates:euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2008 est.), 0.6795 (January 2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)Fiscal yr:calendar yr
CommuniionsTele in use:198,100 (2007)Cellular in use:371,500 (2007)Telephone system:eral assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements; fixed-line teledensity 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 per 100 persons
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: country - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite rth station - 1 sat (Atlantic Ocn) (2007)Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)Television broadcast stations:5 (2006)Internet country :.mtInternet hosts:26,494 (2008)Internet users:158,000 (2007)^Back to TopTransportationAirports:1 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)Roadways:total: 2,227 km
paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2005)Merchant marine:total: 1,438
by type: bulk carrier 459, cargo 411, carrier 2, chemical tanker 171, container 80, liquefied gas 25, passenger 29, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 159, refrigerated cargo 32, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned: 1,343 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 2, Beium 15, Buaria 5, Canada 1, China 12, Croatia 9, Cyprus 31, Denmark 30, Egypt 1, Estonia 11, France 5, Germany 91, Greece 452, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 5, India 2, Iran 79, Israel 18, Italy 50, Japan 8, South Kor 2, Laia 19, Lebanon 11, Libya 3, Lithuania 1, Norway 93, Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 58, Slovenia 4, Spain 3, Sweden 2, Switzerland 20, Syria 6, Tur 176, Ukraine 30, UAE 5, UK 19, US 23)
registered in other countries: 3 (Panama 3) (2008)Ports and terminals:Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
Military
Military branches:Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2007)Military service age and obligation:17 yrs 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 96,309
females age 16-49: 92,242 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 80,227
females age 16-49: 76,623 (2008 est.)