2000 Edition

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. Over the last 15 years, the island has become a major freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.

Area

land

316 sq km

total

316 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

highest point

Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 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 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%

forests and woodland

0%

other

59% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

3%

permanent pastures

0%

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, arable land

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20% (male 41,046; female 38,273) 15-64 years: 67% (male 132,692; female 131,532) 65 years and over: 13% (male 20,091; female 28,036) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

12.75 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.62 years (2000 est.)

male

75.49 years

total population

77.94 years

Literacy

definition

age 10 and over can read and write

female

88% (1985)

male

88%

total population

88%

Nationality

adjective

Maltese

noun

Maltese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

391,670 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.74% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 91%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT

embassy

3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,

mailing address

P. O. Box 535, Valletta

telephone

235960

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador George SALIBA

telephone

(202) 462-3611, 3612

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)

election results

Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - NA

elections

president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by NA April 2004); 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

head of government

Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZE (since 4 May 1999)

FAX

(202) 387-5470

243229

consulate(s)

New York

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

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

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: 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30

elections

last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Political parties and leaders

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD ; Malta Labor Party or MLP ; Nationalist Party or PN

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$1.32 billion

Currency

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$130 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Major 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 1999, over 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $13,800 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

1.507 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

1.62 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.4086 (January 2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995)

Exports

$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners

France 20.7%, US 18.1%, Germany 12.6%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.8% (1998)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $5.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

26%

services

71% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $13,800 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco

Imports - partners

Italy 19.3%, France 17.8%, UK 12.4%, Germany 10.5%, US 8.9% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (1999 est.)

Labor force

143,700 (October 1997)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

5.5% (September 1999)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios

255,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use

171,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

15,650 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

6 (1999)

Televisions

280,000 (1997)

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

1,677 km

total

1,742 km

unpaved

65 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

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.)

ships by type

bulk 431, cargo 424, chemical tanker 54, combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 14, container 64, liquified gas 2, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large load carrier 4, passenger 7, petroleum tanker 331, refrigerated cargo 44, roll-on/roll-off 48, short-sea passenger 21, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 16 (1999 est.)

total

1,484 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,083,952 GRT/46,772,146 DWT

Ports and harbors

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Railways

0 km

Military branches

Armed Forces (including land forces, an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$201 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5.5% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 98,850 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 78,677 (2000 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

MAN

MARSHALL ISLANDS