1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (administration directly from Valletta)

Agriculture

accounts for 3% of GDP and 2% of the work force (1992); overall, 20% self-sufficient; main products - potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs; generally adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder, fruits, other basic foodstuffs

Airports

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:

Area

total area: 320 sq km land area: 320 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Birth rate

13.56 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force

Budget

revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $182 million (FY94 est.)

Capital

Valletta

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline

140 km

Constitution

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Currency

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Death rate

7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $21.9 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.)

Digraph

MT

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Albert BORG OLIVIER DE PUGET chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3611 or 3612

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $336 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $48 million

Electricity

capacity: 328,000 kW production: 1.11 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,000 kWh (1992)

Environment

current issues: fresh water very scarce; increasing reliance on desalination natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Ethnic divisions

Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English

Exchange rates

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3951 (January 1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172 (1990), 0.3483 (1989)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister

Exports

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter partners: Italy 30%, Germany 22%, UK 11%

External debt

$118 million (1990)

FAX

(202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York

[356] 243229

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Flag

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

Highways

total: 1,291 km paved: asphalt 1,179 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km

House of Representatives

elections last held on 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February 1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total 69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Imports

$1.93 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods partners: Italy 30%, UK 16%, Germany 13%, US 4%

Independence

21 September 1964 (from UK)

Industrial production

growth rate 5.4% (1992); accounts for 27% of GDP

Industries

tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction, food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco

Infant mortality rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.64% (1992)

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1989)

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal

Labor force

127,200 by occupation: government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%, manufacturing 22%, training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture 2% (1990)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 59%

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Legal system

based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.77 years male: 74.53 years female: 79.18 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1985) total population: 84% male: 86% female: 82%

Location

Southern Europe, in the central Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of Sicily (Italy), 290 km north of Libya

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 98,241; fit for military service 78,071

Map references

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Member of

C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Merchant marine

897 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,959,195 GRT/24,038,587 DWT, barge carrier 3, bulk 259, cargo 296, chemical tanker 25, combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 18, container 26, liquefied gas 2, multifunction large load carrier 3, oil tanker 157, passenger 6, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 20, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 9 note: a flag of convenience registry; China owns 11 ships, Russia owns 42 ships, Cuba owns 10, Vietnam owns 6, Croatia owns 63, Romania owns 4

Names

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion (1992 est.)

National product per capita

$6,600 (1992)

National product real growth rate

4.5% (1992)

Nationality

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Natural resources

limestone, salt

Net migration rate

1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

Overview

Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 27% of GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major contributors and the state-owned Malta drydocks which employs about 4,300 people. In 1992, about 1,000,000 tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP at $6,600 places Malta in the middle-income range of the world's nations.

Political parties and leaders

Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT

Population

366,767 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

0.79% (1994 est.)

Ports

Valletta, Marsaxlokk

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

automatic system satisfies normal requirements; 153,000 telephones; excellent service by broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, and 2 TV; submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands; international service by 1 submarine cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Terrain

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

parliamentary democracy

Unemployment rate

4% (1992)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William A. MOFFITT (new ambassador nominated, but not confirmed) embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta telephone: [356] 235960