Map of Malta | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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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.


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

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 320 km²
Land: 320 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 140 km

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

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain: Mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m

Elevation

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 38%
Permanent crops: 3%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 59%

Irrigated land: 10 km² (1989)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups: Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English

Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)

Religions: Roman Catholic 98%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years:
15-64 years:
65 years and over:

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Current issues Natural hazards: NA
International agreements: party to_Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified_Biodiversity, Desertification
International agreements note: The country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

Air pollutants

Sex ratio: at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
All ages:

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.11 years (1996 est.), 77.02 years (1995 est.)
Male: 75.77 years (1996 est.), 74.75 years (1995 est.)
Female: 80.6 years (1996 est.), 79.48 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1985)
Total population: 84%
Male: 86%
Female: 82%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Malta
Conventional short form: Malta

Government type: Parliamentary democracy

Capital: Valletta

Administrative divisions: None (administration directly from Valletta)

Dependent areas

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from U.K.)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Legal system: Based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
Head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Minister (since 14 May 1987) and Foreign Minister (since 1990) Dr. Guido DE MARCO
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: Unicameral House of Representatives:Elections last held 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February 1997; results_NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats_(usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note_additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total:69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 24% of GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major contributors and with the state-owned Malta drydocks employing about 4,300 people. In 1994, over 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $12,000 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Accounts for 3% of GDP and 2% of the work force (1992; overall, 20% self-sufficient; main products_potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs; generally adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder, fruits, other basic foodstuffs

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate 5.4% (1992; accounts for 27% of GDP

Labor force: 139,600 (1994)
By occupation Government (excluding job corps): 37%
By occupation Services: 26%
By occupation Manufacturing: 22%
By occupation Training programs: 9%
By occupation Construction: 4%
By occupation Agriculture: 2% (1990)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.4 billion
Expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $215 million (FY94/95 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April_31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports:
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports
Total value:
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $603 million (1992)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1_0.3570 (January 1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172 (1990)


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Electricity
Capacity: 250,000 kW
Production: 1.1 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 2,749 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 191,876 (1992 est.) telephones; automatic system satisfies normal requirements
Local: NA
Intercity: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
International: 1 submarine cable and 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $21.0 million, 1.0% of GDP (FY92/93)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1
With paved runways: over 3,047 m :1 (1995 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 1,045 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,082,925 GRT/28,829,144 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 285, cargo 331, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 16, container 39, liquefied gas tanker 4, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 208, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off cargo 29, short-sea passenger 23, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 12
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 47 countries among which are Greece 425, Croatia 62, Russia 43, Switzerland 39, Italy 32, Norway 25, Monaco 23, Georgia 23, UK 22, and Germany 19 (1995 est.)
Major fleet flags are: Greece, Russia, Croatia, Switzerland, Montenegro, Italy, Germany, Monaco, U.K., and Georgia

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: Transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe