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. Since about the mid-1980s the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point a financial center and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N 14 35 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 316 km²
Rank: 207
Land: 316 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm

Climate: Mediterranean; mild rainy winters; hot dry summers

Terrain: mostly low rocky flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources: limestone salt arable land

Land use
Arable land: 31.25%
Permanent crops: 3.13%
Other: 65.62% (2005)

Irrigated land: 32 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 0.07 km³ (2005)

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 408,333 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 174
Growth rate: 0.375% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 160
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Maltese
Adjective: Maltese

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

Languages: Maltese (official) 90.2% English (official) 6% multilingual 3% other 0.8% (2005 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic (official) 98%

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.7%
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 142,006/female 137,803)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 28,305/female 36,192) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 40 years
Male: 38.8 years
Female: 41.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.375% (2011 est.)
Rank: 160

Birth rate: 10.35 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 184

Death rate: 8.6 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 84

Net migration rate: 2.01 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 41

Urbanization
Urban population: 95% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Environment
Current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.058 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.69 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 206
Male: 4.12 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 3.22 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.72 years
Rank: 34
Male: 77.45 years
Female: 82.12 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 183

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 3.073 physicians/1000 population (2009)
Rank: 37

Hospital bed density: 4.88 beds/1000 population (2009)
Rank: 41

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 141
People living with hivaids: fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 154
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 122

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 20.7% (2007)
Rank: 21

Education expenditures: 6.4% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 22

Literacy
Definition: age 10 and over can read and write
Total population: 92.8%
Male: 91.7%
Female: 93.9% (2005 Census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 14 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 15 years (2008)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Malta
Conventional short form: Malta
Local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
Local short form: Malta

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Valletta
Geographic coordinates: 35 53 N 14 30 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders and have some responsibility for local road and other public maintenance

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 21 September (1964); Republic Day 13 December (1974)

Constitution: 1964; amended many times

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and civil law (based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes)

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President George ABELA
Head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Elections: president elected by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held on 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014); following legislative elections the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Election results: George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation by the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) to serve five-year terms; note - the parliament elected in 2008 is composed of 69 seats; when the political party winning an absolute majority of first-count votes (or a plurality of first-count votes in an election where only two parties are represented in parliament) does not win an absolute majority of seats the constitution provides for the winning party to be awarded additional number of seats in parliament to guarantee it an absolute majority; in the event that more than two parties are repressented in parliament with none acquiring the absolute majority of votes the party winning the majority of seats prevails
Elections: last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
Election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3% PL 48.8% other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35 PL 34

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal
Note: magistrates and judges for the courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Michael BRIGUGLIO]; Labor Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]; The Malta Communist Party [Victor DEGIOVANNI]

International organization participation: Australia Group C CE EAPC EBRD EIB EMU EU FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA NSG OAS (observer) OPCW OSCE PCA PFP Schengen Convention UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO Union Latina (observer) UNWTO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador ; Charge d'Affaires Dennis GRECH
In the us chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-3,611 through 3,612
In the us fax: [1] (202) 387-5,470
In the us consulate: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas W. KMIEC
From the us embassy: 3rd Floor Development House Saint Anne Street Floriana FRN 9,010
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 535 Valletta VLT1000
From the us telephone: [356] 2,561 4,000
From the us fax: [356] 2,124 3,229

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

National symbols: Maltese cross

National anthem
Name: 'L-Innu Malti'
Lyricsmusic: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
Note: adopted 1945; the anthem is written in the form of a prayer

Economy overview: Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs has limited fresh water supplies and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position between the EU and Africa makes it a target for illegal immigration which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and in 2008-09 it escaped significant damage from the international financial crisis largely because the sector is centered on the indigenous real estate market and is not highly leveraged. Locally the restricted damage from the financial crisis has been attributed to the stability of the Maltese banking system and to its prudent risk-management practices. The global economic downturn and high electricity and water prices hurt Malta's real economy which is dependent on foreign trade manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism but growth bounced back as the global economy recovered in 2010. Following a 1.2% contraction in 2009 GDP grew 2% in 2010. In early 2011 the EU ended excessive deficit procedures against Malta after Malta had taken measures to correct an excessive deficit in 2010 and appeared likely to reach its deficit target of 2.8% of GDP in 2011.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 151
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 106

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 53
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.9%
Industry: 17.2%
Services: 80.9% (2010 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 pharmaceuticals footwear clothing tobacco aviation services financial services information technology services

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 265,200 (2010 est.)
Rank: 166
By occupation agriculture: 1.3%
By occupation industry: 24.8%
By occupation services: 73.9% (2010)

Unemployment rate: 7% (2009 est.)
Rank: 68

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index: 26 (2007)
Rank: 135

Budget
Revenues: $3.207 billion
Expenditures: $3.507 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -3.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 111

Taxes and other revenues: 38.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 50

Public debt: 67% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 26

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.1% (2009 est.)
Rank: 45

Central bank discount rate: 1.75% (31 December 2009)
Rank: 128
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: 4.492% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 169

Stock of narrow money: $5.283 billion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 90
Note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money: $12.94 billion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 95

Stock of domestic credit: $20.4 billion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 83

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 96

Current account balance: -$601 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 99

Exports: $2.427 billion (2009)
Rank: 122
Commodities: electrical machinery mechanical appliances fish and crustaceans pharmaceutical products printed material
Partners: Germany 18.4% France 15.7% UK 9.1% Italy 6.6% Libya 6% US 5.7% (2010)

Imports: $3.798 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 123
Commodities: mineral fuels and oils electrical machinery non-electrical machinery aircraft and other transport equipment plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; food drink tobacco
Partners: Italy 24.1% UK 8.6% Germany 8.5% France 8.2% Singapore 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $538.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 148

Debt external: $5.978 billion (31 December 2010)
Rank: 59

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $8.24 billion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 72

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $1.213 billion (2010 est.)
Rank: 72

Exchange rates:
Note: on 1 January 2008 Malta adopted the euro as legal tender

Electricity
Production: 2.113 billion kWh (2010)
Production rank: 134
Consumption: 1.991 billion kWh (2010)
Consumption rank: 136
Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 102
Consumption: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 203
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 147
Imports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 154
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 169

Telephones
Main lines in use: 247,300 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 123
Mobile cellular: 455,400 (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 165

Telephone system
General assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 165 per 100 persons
International: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Broadcast media: 2 publicly-owned television stations Television Malta (TVM) broadcasting nationally and 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 obtainable; publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 1 station; roughly 20 commercial radio stations operating (2011)

Internet
Country code: .mt
Hosts: 24,941 (2010)
Hosts rank: 102
Users: 240,600 (2009)
Users rank: 137

Military expenditures: 0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Rank: 152

Military service age and obligation: 17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Airports: 1 (2010)
Rank: 226
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways
Total: 3,096 km
Rank: 164
Paved: 2,710 km
Unpaved: 386 km (2008)

Merchant marine
Total: 1571
Rank: 4
By type: bulk carrier 522 cargo 377 carrier 1 chemical tanker 280 container 91 liquefied gas 31 passenger 45 passenger/cargo 22 petroleum tanker 141 refrigerated cargo 14 roll on/roll off 30 specialized tanker 2 vehicle carrier 15
Foreign owned: 1401 (Angola 7 Austria 1 Azerbaijan 1 Bahamas 1 Bangladesh 1 Belgium 14 Bermuda 8 Bulgaria 7 Canada 1 China 11 Croatia 7 Cyprus 29 Denmark 41 Egypt 1 Estonia 16 Finland 2 France 13 Germany 127 Greece 458 Hong Kong 2 India 4 Iran 56 Ireland 1 Israel 5 Italy 52 Japan 5 Kuwait 2 Latvia 11 Lebanon 7 Libya 4 Luxembourg 3 Malaysia 1 Netherlands 2 Nigeria 1 Norway 84 Poland 22 Portugal 3 Romania 8 Russia 47 Singapore 3 Slovenia 4 South Korea 3 Spain 10 Sweden 3 Switzerland 14 Syria 5 Turkey 211 UAE 1 UK 16 Ukraine 30 US 35)
Note: this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag; these ships operate under the laws of the flag state
Registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport) Valletta

Disputes international: none

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