2015 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 while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

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; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

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

Elevation extremes

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

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)

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

arable land 28.4%; permanent crops 3.9%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

32.3%

forest

0.9%

other

66.8% (2011 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, arable land

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

0.05 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

15.05% (male 31,943/female 30,341)

15-24 years

12.22% (male 26,028/female 24,570)

25-54 years

40.24% (male 85,145/female 81,447)

55-64 years

13.98% (male 28,702/female 29,185)

65 years and over

18.5% (male 34,345/female 42,259) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

10.18 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

9.09 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

29%

potential support ratio

3.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.8%

youth dependency ratio

21.8%

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 (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

8% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

8.7% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

3.97 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.56 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.71 years (2015 est.)

male

77.92 years

total population

80.25 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.8% (2015 est.)

male

93.1%

total population

94.4%

Major urban areas - population

VALLETTA (capital) 197,000 (2014)

Median age

female

42.4 years (2015 est.)

male

40 years

total

41.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Maltese

noun

Maltese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

1.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.7% (2014)

Physicians density

3.49 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

413,965 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.31% (2015 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 (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2012)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

14.5% (2012 est.)

male

14%

total

14.2%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.46% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

95.4% of total population (2015)

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

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 2014 (2014)

Country name

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

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 Valletta Place, Dulles, VA 20189

telephone

[356] 2561 4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Marisa Maria Louise MICALLEF (since 22 August 2013)

FAX

[1] (202) 387-5470

telephone

[1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612

Executive branch

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 (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous; Joseph MUSCAT (PL) appointed prime minister

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a 5-year term (1-term limit); election last held on 4 April 2014 (next to be held by April 2019); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; 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), ICCt, 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

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

description

unicameral House of Representatives or Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati, a component of the Parliament of Malta (normally 65 seats; members directly elected in 5 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the parliament elected in 2013 has 69 seats

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 mid-summer 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT

name

"L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)

note

adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

Maltese eight-pointed cross; national colors: red, white

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) or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, women's rights)

Alliance for Change (Alleanza Bidla) (Euros-septic)

Together for a Better Environment (Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar) or FAA (pro-environment)

other

environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age (16 in Local Council elections); universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$4.918 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$4.721 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.05% (31 December 2014)

0.25% (31 December 2013)

note

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

0.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

0.75% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$286 million (2014 est.)

$311.7 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$122.8 billion (30 December 2014 est.)

$112.7 billion (31 December 2013)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

27.9 (2013)

27.1 (2012)

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. Malta has weathered the Eurozone crisis better than most EU member states due to a low debt-to-GDP ratio and financially sound banking sector. It has low unemployment relative to other European countries, and growth has recovered since the 2009 recession. In 2014, Malta led the Eurozone in growth, expanding by nearly 3.5%. Also in 2014, the government began promoting public-private partnerships in the healthcare sector to establish Malta as a Mediterranean health hub for medical tourism, reduced residential and commercial energy tariffs by 25%, and implemented a citizenship purchase program to increase government revenue and attract foreign investors. The government has implemented new programs, including free child care, to encourage increased labor participation. The high cost of borrowing and small labor market present potential constraints to future economic growth.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.7489 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.78 (2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

0.755 (2010 est.)

Exports

$4.938 billion (2014 est.)

$5.105 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 20.1%, France 12.8%, Italy 9.3%, Libya 6.7%, UK 6.6% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

147%

government consumption

20.2%

household consumption

53.8%

imports of goods and services

-139.5%

investment in fixed capital

18.8%

investment in inventories

-0.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.1%

industry

23.7%

services

75.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$33,200 (2014 est.)

$32,100 (2013 est.)

$31,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2014 est.)

2.7% (2013 est.)

2.5% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.58 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.12 billion (2014 est.)

$13.64 billion (2013 est.)

$13.28 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

21.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

22% of GDP (2013 est.)

21.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$8.384 billion (2014 est.)

$7.437 billion (2013 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

Imports - partners

Italy 22.8%, US 8.6%, UK 7.4%, Germany 5.9%, Canada 5.6%, Spain 4.6%, Netherlands 4.5%, France 4.4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-3.6% (2014)

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)

0.3% (2014 est.)

1.4% (2013 est.)

Labor force

180,100 (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1.5%

industry

25.7%

services

72.8% (2014)

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

15.7% (2013 est.)

Public debt

75.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

69.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$617.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$596.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$19.12 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$16.72 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$177.6 billion (31 June 2014 est.)

$181.7 billion (31 December 2013)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$47.34 billion (31 June 2014)

$46.35 billion (31 December 2013)

Stock of domestic credit

$20.94 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$20.38 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$12.63 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$9.928 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

44.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.9% (2014 est.)

6.4% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.697 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

2.061 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

91.7% of total installed capacity (2014 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

8.3% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

653,200 kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

2.17 billion kWh (2014)

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 (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

39,450 bbl/day (2013 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 (2014 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 users

percent of population

40.2% (2014 est.)

total

166,000

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Telephone system

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

56 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

230,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

132 (2014 est.)

total

546,200

Television broadcast stations

6 (2009)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

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

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

container port(s) (TEUs)

Marsaxlokk (2,360,000)

major seaport(s)

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Roadways

paved

2,704 km

total

3,096 km

unpaved

392 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

90,919 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

95,499

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

75,684 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

79,645

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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 (2013)

0.61% of GDP (2012)

0.61% of GDP (2011)

0.61% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe