2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 36,056/female 34,097) 15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,537/female 135,666) 65 years and over: 13.6% (male 23,184/female 30,994) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.) Military Malta

Area

land

316 sq km

total

316 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

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. 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 of 2004. Geography Malta

Birth rate

10.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.549 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$2.27 billion

Capital

Valletta

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline

196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Constitution

1964 constitution; amended many times

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Malta

conventional short form

Malta

local long form

Repubblika ta' Malta

local short form

Malta

Currency (code)

Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code

MTL

Current account balance

$-241 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$130 million (1997)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William GRANT

embassy

3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01

FAX

[356] 21 243229

mailing address

P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01

telephone

[356] 2561 4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador John LOWELL

consulate(s)

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 387-5470

telephone

[1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

Disputes - international

none

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 fresh water supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Continued sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth.

Electricity - consumption

2 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

2.15 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3444 (2004), 0.3773 (2003), 0.4337 (2002), 0.4501 (2001), 0.4382 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)

election results

Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

elections

president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); 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 Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)

Exports

$2.625 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners

US 15.7%, France 15.5%, Singapore 14.5%, UK 11.2%, Germany 10.8% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Malta

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 Economy Malta

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

23%

services

74% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $18,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.223 billion (2004 est.)

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

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

2,000 km

total

2,222 km

unpaved

222 km (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$3.407 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Italy 25.4%, France 13.1%, UK 12%, Germany 8.9%, US 5.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2004)

Independence

21 September 1964 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

4.38 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.mt

Internet hosts

7,156 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2002)

Internet users

120,000 (2002) Transportation Malta

Investment (gross fixed)

26.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Labor force

160,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

28.13%

other

68.74% (2001)

permanent crops

3.13%

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Legal system

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts 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; 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 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31

elections

last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by April 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.15 years (2005 est.)

male

76.7 years

total population

78.86 years

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write

female

93.6% (2003 est.) Government Malta

male

92%

total population

92.8%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 90,651 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 74,525 (2005 est.)

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

Median age

female

39.84 years (2005 est.)

male

36.91 years

total

38.36 years

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 438, cargo 303, chemical tanker 70, combination ore/oil 2, container 54, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 162, refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 26, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 13

foreign-owned

1,080 (Austria 3, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 12, British 1, Bulgaria 18, Canada 9, China 15, Croatia 10, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 2, Estonia 2, Finland 1, France 5, Germany 51, Greece 527, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 7, Iran 4, Israel 26, Italy 17, Japan 2, Latvia 30, Lebanon 6, Madagascar 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands 3, Norway 42, Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 4, Romania 5, Russia 64, Slovenia 3, South Korea 4, Sweden 3, Switzerland 32, Syria 6, Taiwan 1, Turkey 87, Ukraine 25, UAE 5, United Kingdom 8, United States 3)

registered in other countries

3 (2005)

total

1,140 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,102,401 GRT/41,176,791 DWT

Military branches

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$31.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (2004) Transnational Issues Malta

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Nationality

adjective

Maltese

noun

Maltese (singular and plural)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

limestone, salt, arable land

Net migration rate

2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

398,534 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.42% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios

255,000 (1997)

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.865 billion (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands

general assessment

automatic system satisfies normal requirements

international

country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

208,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

290,000 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2000)

Televisions

280,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

7% (2003 est.)