1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
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 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, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or 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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810) 15-64 years: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390) 65 years and over: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
11.02 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Infant mortality rate
7.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Maltese (official), English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.76 years male: 75.43 years female: 80.23 years (1999 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
1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
381,603 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
0.49% (1999 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 total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (administered directly from Valletta)
Capital
Valletta
Constitution
1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta
Data code
MT
Executive branch
chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8 September 1998) 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; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote--NA
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, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony DARMANIN chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 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
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 PN [Edward
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 popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party--PN 35, MLP 30
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
potatoes, cauliflowers, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Budget
revenues: $1.32 billion expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Currency
1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$130 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient
$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 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.
Electricity--consumption
1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3797 (January 1999), 0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994)
Exports
$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures (1996)
Exports--partners
France 18%, US 15%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Italy 6% (1997)
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
4% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports--partners
Italy 20%, France 16%, UK 15%, Germany 10%, US 8% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.8% (1997 est.)
Labor force
148,085 (September 1996)
Labor force--by occupation
public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
5% (1997)
Communications
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
2 (1997)
Televisions
300,000 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 1,582 km paved: 1,471 km unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.) Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine
total: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956 GRT/40,706,665 DWT ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 18 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Armed Forces (including an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), 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: 99,067 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 78,855 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
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