1998 Edition

Area

total: 320 sq km land: 320 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline

140 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m

Environment-current issues

very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment-international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Geography-note

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 59% (1993 est.)

Location

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

limestone, salt

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 21% (male 40,655; female 38,425) 15-64 years: 68% (male 128,958; female 127,391) 65 years and over: 11% (male 18,629; female 25,505) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

11.73 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

7.35 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Infant mortality rate

7.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.6 years male: 75.3 years female: 80.05 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)

Nationality

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate

1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

379,563 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

0.58% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (administered directly from Valletta)

Constitution

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Country name

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

Data code

MT

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Alfred SANT (since 28 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign and Environment Minister Dr. George VELLA (since 29 October 1996) 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 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); following House of Representatives 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 election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote-NA

FAX

[1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta telephone: [356] 235960

[356] 223322

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

21 September 1964 (from UK)

International organization participation

C, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark Anthony MICALLEF chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party or NP [Edward FENECH ADAMI]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]

Legal system

based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted 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; current total: 69 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-MLP 50.7%, NP 46.5%; seats by party-NP 34, MLP 31 (MLP 35, NP 34 after adjustment)

National capital

Valletta

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Budget

revenues: $1.3 billion expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $219 million (1997 est.)

Currency

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$134 million (1996)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy-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. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1996, approximately 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $12,900 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU.

Electricity-capacity

250,000 kW (1994)

Electricity-consumption per capita

3,923 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

1.45 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1-0.3960 (January 1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993)

Exports

total value: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter partners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$4.9 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 34% services: 61% (1995 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$12,900 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

2.8% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Inflation rate-consumer price index

2.3% (1996)

Labor force

total: 148,085 (September 1996) by occupation: public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

189,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

191,876 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1996 est.)

Televisions

300,000 (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.7% (September 1996)

Airports

1 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 1,582 km paved: 1,471 km unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.) Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Merchant marine

total: 1,287 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,396,164 GRT/37,390,720 DWT ships by type: bulk 350, cargo 404, chemical tanker 38, combination bulk 20, combination ore/oil 15, container 55, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 2, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 269, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 43, roll-on/roll-off cargo 42, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 16 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 51 countries among which includes Greece 477, Russia 61, Switzerland 51, Italy 50, Norway 49, Croatia 39, Turkey 38, Germany 30, Georgia 23, and Monaco 23 (1997 est.)

Railways

0 km

Military branches

Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$65.5 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.7% (FY96/97)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 99,066 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 78,805 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe (British crown dependency)