2014 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 it declared itself 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 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

Area

316 sq km 316 sq km 0 sq km

total

316 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)

Elevation extremes

Mediterranean Sea 0 m Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

highest point

Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.05 cu km/yr (64%/1%/35%) 134.1 cu m/yr (2009)

per capita

134.1 cu m/yr (2009)

total

0.05 cu km/yr (64%/1%/35%)

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

Irrigated land

32 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

28.12% 4.06% 67.81% (2011)

arable land

28.12%

other

67.81% (2011)

permanent crops

4.06%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation 25 nm

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

Total renewable water resources

0.05 cu km (2011)

Age structure

15.1% (male 32,021/female 30,432) 12.6% (male 26,680/female 25,201) 40.4% (male 85,109/female 81,577) 14% (male 28,751/female 29,113) 17.2% (male 32,903/female 40,868) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

15.1% (male 32,021/female 30,432)

15-24 years

12.6% (male 26,680/female 25,201)

25-54 years

40.4% (male 85,109/female 81,577)

55-64 years

14% (male 28,751/female 29,113)

65 years and over

17.2% (male 32,903/female 40,868) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

10.24 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate

8.96 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

45.7 % 20.9 % 24.8 % 4 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

24.8 %

potential support ratio

4 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.7 %

youth dependency ratio

20.9 %

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2012 est.)

urban

0% of population

Education expenditures

6.9% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

8.5% of GDP (2010)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

3.59 deaths/1,000 live births 4 deaths/1,000 live births 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

3.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

80.11 years 77.8 years 82.56 years (2014 est.)

female

82.56 years (2014 est.)

total population

80.11 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 92.4% 91.2% 93.5% (2005 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.5% (2005 est.)

male

91.2%

total population

92.4%

Major urban areas - population

VALLETTA (capital) 198,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

40.9 years 39.7 years 42.1 years (2014 est.)

female

42.1 years (2014 est.)

male

39.7 years

total

40.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.9 data refer to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births (2010 est.)

Nationality

Maltese (singular and plural) Maltese

adjective

Maltese

noun

Maltese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.8% (2008)

Physicians density

3.23 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

412,655 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0.33% (2014 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2012 est.)

urban

0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

15 years 14 years 15 years (2011)

female

15 years (2011)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

14.2% 14% 14.5% (2012)

female

14.5% (2012)

total

14.2%

Urbanization

94.8% of total population (2011) 0.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

94.8% of total population (2011)

Administrative divisions

68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq

Capital

Valletta 35 53 N, 14 30 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

35 53 N, 14 30 E

name

Valletta

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964; amended many times, last in 2011 (2011)

Country name

Republic of Malta Malta Repubblika ta' Malta Malta

conventional long form

Republic of Malta

conventional short form

Malta

local long form

Repubblika ta' Malta

local short form

Malta

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Gina ABERCROMBIE-WINSTANLEY (since 18 April 2012) Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000 5800 Valetta Place, Dulles, VA 20189 [356] 2561 4000 [356] 2124 3229

chief of mission

Ambassador Gina ABERCROMBIE-WINSTANLEY (since 18 April 2012)

embassy

Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000

FAX

[356] 2124 3229

mailing address

5800 Valetta Place, Dulles, VA 20189

telephone

[356] 2561 4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Marisa Maria Louise MICALLEF (since 22 August 2013) 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612 [1] (202) 387-5470 New York

chancery

2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Marisa Maria Louise MICALLEF (since 22 August 2013)

consulate(s)

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 387-5470

telephone

[1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612

Executive branch

President Marie-Louise Coleiro PRECA (since 4 April 2014) Prime Minister Joseph MUSCAT (since 11 March 2013) Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister president appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term; appointment last held on 4 April 2014 (next to be held by April 2019); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister Marie-Louise Coleiro PRECA appointed president; Joseph MUSCAT elected prime minister

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Marie-Louise Coleiro PRECA (since 4 April 2014)

election results

Marie-Louise Coleiro PRECA appointed president; Joseph MUSCAT elected prime minister

elections

president appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term; appointment last held on 4 April 2014 (next to be held by April 2019); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Joseph MUSCAT (since 11 March 2013)

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; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field

Government type

republic

Independence

21 September 1964 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges) Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65 Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino}

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65

subordinate courts

Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino}

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and civil law (based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes)

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation by the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) to serve five-year terms; note - the parliament elected in 2013 is composed of 69 seats; when the political party winning an absolute majority of first-count votes (or a plurality of first-count votes in an election where only two parties are represented in parliament) does not win an absolute majority of seats, the constitution provides for the winning party to be awarded additional number of seats in parliament to guarantee it an absolute majority; in the event that more than two parties are represented in parliament, with none acquiring the absolute majority of votes, the party winning the majority of seats prevails last held on 9 March 2013 (next to be held by March 2018) percent of vote by party - PL 54.8%, PN 43.3%, other 1.9%; seats by party - PL 39, PN 30 in 2009, provisions in the law were made for communities with elected representatives to be established within localities and for an elected chairperson to sit in on council meetings

election results

percent of vote by party - PL 54.8%, PN 43.3%, other 1.9%; seats by party - PL 39, PN 30

elections

last held on 9 March 2013 (next to be held by March 2018)

National anthem

"L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem) Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT adopted 1945; the anthem is written in the form of a prayer

lyrics/music

Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT

name

"L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)

National symbol(s)

Maltese cross

Political parties and leaders

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD (Green Party) [Arnold CASSOLA] Labor Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT] Nationalist Party or PN [Simon BUSUTTIL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Alliance of Liberal Democrats Malta (Alleanza Liberali-Demokratika Malta) of ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, women's rights) Together for a Better Environment (Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar) or FAA (pro-environment) environmentalists

other

environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$4.843 billion $4.322 billion (2013 est.)

expenditures

$4.322 billion (2013 est.)

revenues

$4.843 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

5.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2013) 1.5% (31 December 2010) this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

0.25% (31 December 2013 est.) 0.75% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$133.1 million (2013 est.) $181.5 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$51.08 billion (30 September 2013 est.) $46.72 billion (31 December 2012)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

27.1 (2012) 26 (2007)

Economy - overview

Malta - the smallest economy in the euro zone - produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position between Europe and North Africa makes it a target for irregular migration, which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. Malta's fertility rate is below the EU average, and population growth in recent years has largely been from immigration, putting increasing pressure on the pension system. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing, and tourism, and was hurt by the global economic downturn, but fared better than most other EU member states. Malta has low unemployment relative to other European countries, and growth has recovered since the 2009 recession. Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and it has avoided contagion from the European financial crisis, largely because its debt is mostly held domestically and its banks have low exposure to the sovereign debt of peripheral European countries. The EU reopened an excessive deficit procedure against Malta in June 2013, having found that its forecasted deficit for the year was likely to exceed 3% of GDP.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.7752 (2012 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$5.105 billion (2013 est.) $5.893 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and mechanical appliances; mineral fuels, oils and products; pharmaceutical products; printed books and newspapers; aircraft/spacecraft and parts; toys, games, and sports equipment

Exports - partners

Germany 8.9%, Singapore 7.1%, Libya 6.2%, France 6.2%, United States 4.4% (2013 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

56.8% 20.8% 14.5% -0.5% 92% -86.4% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

92%

government consumption

20.8%

household consumption

56.8%

imports of goods and services

-86.4%

investment in fixed capital

14.5%

investment in inventories

-0.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

1.4% 25.3% 73.3% (2013 est.)

agriculture

1.4%

industry

25.3%

services

73.3% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$29,200 (2012 est.) $28,800 (2011 est.) $28,300 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2013 est.) 0.6% (2012 est.) 1.6% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.541 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.22 billion (2013 est.) $10.96 billion (2012 est.) $10.89 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving

13.7% of GDP (2013 est.) 13.5% of GDP (2012 est.) 12.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$7.436 billion (2013 est.) $8.209 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

mineral fuels, oils and products; electrical machinery; aircraft/spacecraft and parts thereof; machinery and mechanical appliances; plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; vehicles and parts thereof

Imports - partners

Italy 24.6%, Germany 5.6%, United Kingdom 5.4%, Russia 5.1%, France 5% (2013 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

-6.9% (2013)

Industries

tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2013 est.) 3.2% (2012 est.)

Labor force

190,400 (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

1.4% 22.2% 76.4% (2013)

agriculture

1.4%

industry

22.2%

services

76.4% (2013)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.631 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.424 billion (31 December 2011) $2.399 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.1% (2012)

Public debt

75.3% of GDP (2013 est.) 70.8% of GDP (2012 est.) Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central government, state government, local government and social security funds

Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in E

currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central government, state government, local government and social security funds

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$377 million (31 December 2013 est.) $481.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$15.44 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $13.88 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.442 billion (31 June 2013 est.) $1.471 billion (31 December 2012)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$15.17 billion (31 June 2013) $16.4 billion (31 December 2012)

Stock of domestic credit

$19.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $20.72 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.932 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $7.892 billion (31 December 2012 est.) see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

50.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.4% (2013 est.) 6.5% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.682 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl

Electricity - consumption

2.211 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

97.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

530,000 kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

2.221 billion kWh (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (July 5, 1905 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,520 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

14,410 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

36,480 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta (TVM) broadcasting nationally plus an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, two of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 1 station; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2011)

Internet country code

.mt

Internet hosts

14,754 (2012)

Internet users

240,600 (2009)

Telephone system

automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 180 per 100 persons country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 180 per 100 persons

general assessment

automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands

international

country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

229,700 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

539,500 (2012)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant marine

1,650 bulk carrier 544, cargo 351, carrier 1, chemical tanker 324, container 117, liquefied gas 36, passenger 50, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 160, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 22, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 18 1,437 (Angola 7, Azerbaijan 1, Belgium 7, Bermuda 15, Bulgaria 8, Canada 5, China 6, Croatia 6, Cyprus 32, Denmark 34, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 135, Greece 469, Hong Kong 4, India 3, Iran 48, Ireland 4, Israel 3, Italy 45, Japan 5, Kuwait 3, Latvia 8, Lebanon 6, Libya 5, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands 3, Norway 96, Oman 5, Poland 21, Portugal 3, Romania 7, Russia 45, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 4, Slovenia 4, South Korea 2, Spain 8, Sweden 1, Switzerland 20, Syria 4, Turkey 233, UAE 1, UK 21, Ukraine 29, US 34) 2 (Panama 2) (2010)

foreign-owned

1,437 (Angola 7, Azerbaijan 1, Belgium 7, Bermuda 15, Bulgaria 8, Canada 5, China 6, Croatia 6, Cyprus 32, Denmark 34, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 135, Greece 469, Hong Kong 4, India 3, Iran 48, Ireland 4, Israel 3, Italy 45, Japan 5, Kuwait 3, Latvia 8, Lebanon 6, Libya 5, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands 3, Norway 96, Oman 5, Poland 21, Portugal 3, Romania 7, Russia 45, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 4, Slovenia 4, South Korea 2, Spain 8, Sweden 1, Switzerland 20, Syria 4, Turkey 233, UAE 1, UK 21, Ukraine 29, US 34)

registered in other countries

2 (Panama 2) (2010)

total

1,650

Ports and terminals

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta Marsaxlokk (2,360,000)

container port(s) (TEUs)

Marsaxlokk (2,360,000)

major seaport(s)

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Roadways

3,096 km 2,704 km 392 km (2008)

total

3,096 km

unpaved

392 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

95,499 90,919 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

90,919 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

95,499

Manpower fit for military service

79,645 75,684 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

75,684 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

79,645

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

2,554 2,385 (2010 est.)

female

2,385 (2010 est.)

male

2,554

Military branches

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes land, maritime, and air elements) (2013)

Military expenditures

0.61% of GDP (2012) 0.61% of GDP (2011) 0.61% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Refugees and internally displaced persons

5,543 (Somalia) (2013)

refugees (country of origin)

5,543 (Somalia) (2013)