Statistical information Malta 1998

Malta in the World
Malta - Introduction 1998
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 320 km²
Land: 320 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claimsContiguous 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m
Natural resources: limestone, salt
Land useArable land: 38%
Permanent crops: 3%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
top of pagePopulation: 379,563 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.58% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Maltese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 21% (male 40,655; female 38,425)
15-64 years: 68% (male 128,958; female 127,391)
65 years and over: 11% (male 18,629; female 25,505) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.58% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.73 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.35 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.45 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
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, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 7.57 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.6 years
Male: 75.3 years
Female: 80.05 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 10 and over can read and write
Total population: 88%
Male: 88%
Female: 88% (1985)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Malta
Conventional short form: Malta
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta)
Dependent areasIndependence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Dr. Alfred SANT (since 28 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign and Environment Minister Dr. George VELLA (since 29 October 1996)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); following House of Representatives 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
Election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote_NA
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: 69 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 26 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2001)
Election results: percent of vote by party_MLP 50.7%, NP 46.5%; seats by party_NP 34, MLP 31 (MLP 35, NP 34 after adjustment)
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
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mark Anthony MICALLEF
In the us chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-3,611, 3,612
In the us fax: [1] (202) 387-5,470
In the us consulates: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
From the us embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
From the us telephone: [356] 235,960
From the us fax: [356] 223,322
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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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. 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 1996, approximately 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $12,900 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2.8% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $12,900 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 5%
Industry: 34%
Services: 61% (1995 est.)
Agriculture products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor forceTotal: 148,085 (September 1996)
By occupation public services: 34%
By occupation other services: 32%
By occupation manufacturing and construction: 22%
By occupation agriculture: 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 3.7% (September 1996)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $1.3 billion
Expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $219 million (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April_31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter
Partners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%
Imports: total value:$2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodoties: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
Partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $134 million (1996)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1_0.3960 (January 1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 250,000 kW (1994)
Production: 1.45 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 3,923 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaMalta - Communication 1998
top of pageTelephones: 191,876 (1992 est.)
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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $65.5 million (FY96/97)
Percent of gdp: 2.7% (FY96/97)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsMalta - Transportation 1998
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 1,287 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,396,164 GRT/37,390,720 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 350, cargo 404, chemical tanker 38, combination bulk 20, combination ore/oil 15, container 55, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 2, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 269, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 43, roll-on/roll-off cargo 42, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 16
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 51 countries among which includes Greece 477, Russia 61, Switzerland 51, Italy 50, Norway 49, Croatia 39, Turkey 38, Germany 30, Georgia 23, and Monaco 23 (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalsMalta - Transnational issues 1998
top of pageDisputes international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe