Statistical information Malta 1999

Malta in the World
Malta - Introduction 1999
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: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
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, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
top of pagePopulation: 381,603 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.49% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
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: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810)
15-64 years: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390)
65 years and over: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.49% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.02 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.24 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 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
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
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 7.42 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.76 years
Male: 75.43 years
Female: 80.23 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1999 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
Local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
Local 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)
Head of government: Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8 September 1998)
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; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
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 popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003)
Election results: percent of vote by party_PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party_PN 35, MLP 30
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, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony DARMANIN
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 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $13,000 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 3%
Industry: 26%
Services: 71% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: potatoes, cauliflowers, 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 force: 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: 5% (1997)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $1.32 billion
Expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1998 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: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactures (1996)
Partners: France 18%, US 15%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Italy 6% (1997)
Imports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Partners: Italy 20%, France 16%, UK 15%, Germany 10%, US 8% (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $130 million (1997)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1_0.3797 (January 1999), 0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaMalta - Communication 1999
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 1999
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956 GRT/40,706,665 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 18
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalsMalta - Transnational issues 1999
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