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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 140 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to 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

Natural resources: limestone, salt

Land use: 38% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 59% other; includes 3% irrigated

Geography
Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily, 290 km north of Libya geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1

Population: 371,368 (July 1989), growth rate 0.6% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Maltese (sing. and pl.; adjective - Maltese

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

Languages: Maltese and English (official)

Religions: 98% Roman Catholic

Birth rate: 14 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Environment
Current issues: numerous bays provide good harbors; fresh water very scarce - increasing reliance on desalination

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 77 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1989)

Literacy: 83%

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malta

Government type: parliamentary democracy, independent republic within the Commonwealth

Capital: Valletta

Administrative divisions: none (administration directly from Valletta)

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday: Freedom Day, 31 March

Constitution: 26 April 1974, effective 2 June 1974

Legal system: based on English common law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: universal over age 18; registration required

Executive branch: Chief of State - President Vincent (Censu) TABONE (since 4 April 1989; Head of Government - Prime Minister Dr. Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987; Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)

Legislative branch: executive, consisting of prime minister and Cabinet; unicameral legislature (65-member House of Representatives; independent judiciary

International organization participation: CCC, Commonwealth, Council of Europe, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, IWC - International Wheat Council, NAM,UN, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Salvatore J. STELLINI; Chancery at 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 462-3,611 or 3,612; there is a Maltese Consulate General in New York; US - Ambassador Peter R. SOMMER; Embassy at 2nd Floor, Development House, St. Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta (mailing address is P. O. Box 535, Valletta; telephone Õ356å 623,653 or 620,424, 623,216

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

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 30% of GDP, with the textile and clothing industry a major contributor. In 1987 inflation was held to a modest 0.4% rate and unemployment dropped to 4.4%. Per capita GDP at $4,310 places Malta in the middle-income range of the world's nations.

Agriculture products: 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: tourism, ship repair yard, clothing, construction, food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 6.2% (1987)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 4.4% (1987)

Budget: revenues $639 million; expenditures $762 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (1987 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Exports: $600 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: clothing, textiles, footwear, ships
Partners: FRG 31%, UK 14%, Italy 14%

Imports: $1,130 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: food, petroleum, nonfood raw materials
Partners: FRG 19%, UK 17%, Italy 17%, US 11%

Debt external: $90 million, medium and long-term (December 1987)

Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3359 (January 1989), 0.3306 (1988), 0.3451 (1987), 0.3924 (1986), 0.4676 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 328,000 kW capacity; 1,010 million kWh produced, 2,740 kWh per capita (1988)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $24 million, 2.5% of central government budget (FY87)

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Merchant marine: 261 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,078,387 GRT/5,267,810 DWT; includes 2 passenger, 4 short-sea passenger, 104 cargo, 2 container, 2 passenger-cargo, 3 container, 13 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 2 chemical tanker, 2 combination ore/oil, 51 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 60 bulk, 11 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry