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 it declared itself 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

Area
Rank: 208
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 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims
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 highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources: limestone salt arable land

Land use
Permanent crops: 4.06%
Other: 67.81% (2011)

Irrigated land: 32 km² (2007)

Total renewable water resources: 0.05 km³ (2011)

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: 412,655 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 176
Growth rate: 0.33% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 170
Below poverty line: 15.1% (2012)

Nationality
Adjective: Maltese

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

Languages: Maltese (official) 90.1% English (official) 6% multilingual 3% other 0.9% (2005 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2011 est.)

Age structure
15-24 years: 12.6% (male 26,680/female 25,201)
25-54 years: 40.4% (male 85,109/female 81,577)
55-64 years: 14% (male 28,751/female 29,113)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 32,903/female 40,868) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 20.9 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 24.8 %
Potential support ratio: 4 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 39.7 years
Female: 42.1 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.33% (2014 est.)
Rank: 170

Birth rate: 10.24 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 189

Death rate: 8.96 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 69

Net migration rate: 1.99 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 47

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: VALLETTA (capital) 198,000 (2011)

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

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 26.9

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 207
Male: 4 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 3.16 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 33
Male: 77.8 years
Female: 82.56 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 187

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 3.23 physicians/1000 population (2011)

Hospital bed density: 4.4 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 160
People living with hivaids: fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 159
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 141

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 28.8% (2008)
Rank: 32

Education expenditures: 6.9% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 23

Literacy
Total population: 92.4%
Male: 91.2%
Female: 93.5% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 14 years
Female: 15 years (2011)

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

Government type: republic

Capital
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: 68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard Balzan Birgu Birkirkara Birzebbuga Bormla Dingli Fgura Floriana Fontana Ghajnsielem Gharb Gharghur Ghasri Ghaxaq Gudja Gzira Hamrun Iklin Imdina Imgarr Imqabba Imsida Imtarfa Isla Kalkara Kercem Kirkop Lija Luqa Marsa Marsaskala Marsaxlokk Mellieha Mosta Munxar Nadur Naxxar Paola Pembroke Pieta Qala Qormi Qrendi Rabat Rabat (Ghawdex) Safi San Giljan/Saint Julian San Gwann/Saint John San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence Sannat San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia Santa Venera/Saint Venera Siggiewi Sliema Swieqi Tarxien Ta' Xbiex Valletta Xaghra Xewkija Xghajra Zabbar Zebbug Zebbug (Ghawdex) Zejtun Zurrieq

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from the UK)

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

Constitution: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964; amended many times last in 2011 (2011)

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
Head of government: Prime Minister Joseph MUSCAT (since 11 March 2013)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Elections: president appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term; appointment last held on 4 April 2014 (next to be held by April 2019); 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: Marie-Louise Coleiro PRECA appointed president; Joseph MUSCAT elected prime minister

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 2013 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 represented in parliament with none acquiring the absolute majority of votes the party winning the majority of seats prevails
Elections: last held on 9 March 2013 (next to be held by March 2018)
Election results: percent of vote by party - PL 54.8% PN 43.3% other 1.9%; seats by party - PL 39 PN 30

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
Subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section Family Section and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino}

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: Australia Group C CD CE EAPC EBRD ECB EIB EMU EU FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (NGOs) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) 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 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 embassy: Ta' Qali National Park Attard ATD 4,000
From the us mailing address: 5,800 Valetta Place Dulles VA 20,189
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
Lyrics and music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT

Economy overview: Malta - the smallest economy in the euro zone - produces only about 20% of its food needs has limited fresh water supplies and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position between Europe and North Africa makes it a target for irregular migration which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. Malta's fertility rate is below the EU average and population growth in recent years has largely been from immigration putting increasing pressure on the pension system. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade manufacturing and tourism and was hurt by the global economic downturn but fared better than most other EU member states. Malta has low unemployment relative to other European countries and growth has recovered since the 2009 recession. Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and it has avoided contagion from the European financial crisis largely because its debt is mostly held domestically and its banks have low exposure to the sovereign debt of peripheral European countries. The EU reopened an excessive deficit procedure against Malta in June 2013 having found that its forecasted deficit for the year was likely to exceed 3% of GDP.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 153

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 134

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 52

Gross national saving:
Rank: 115

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 20.8%
Investment in fixed capital: 14.5%
Investment in inventories: -0.5%
Exports of goods and services: 92%
Imports of goods and services: -86.4%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 25.3%
Services: 73.3% (2013 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: -6.9% (2013)
Rank: 192

Labor force: 190,400 (2013 est.)
Rank: 174
By occupation industry: 22.2%
By occupation services: 76.4% (2013)

Unemployment rate: 6.5% (2012 est.)
Rank: 65

Population below poverty line: 15.1% (2012)

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

Distribution of family income gini index: 26 (2007)
Rank: 129

Budget
Expenditures: $4.322 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 5.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 8

Taxes and other revenues: 50.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 13

Public debt: 70.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 33

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.2% (2012 est.)
Rank: 25

Central bank discount rate: 1.5% (31 December 2010)
Rank: 119

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 0.75% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 176

Stock of narrow money: $7.892 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 83

Stock of broad money: $13.88 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 90

Stock of domestic credit: $20.72 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 83

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 83

Current account balance: $181.5 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 57

Exports: $5.893 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 116
Commodities: machinery and mechanical appliances; mineral fuels oils and products; pharmaceutical products; printed books and newspapers; aircraft/spacecraft and parts; toys games and sports equipment
Partners: Germany 8.9% Singapore 7.1% Libya 6.2% France 6.2% United States 4.4% (2013 est.)

Imports: $8.209 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 111
Commodities: mineral fuels oils and products; electrical machinery; aircraft/spacecraft and parts thereof; machinery and mechanical appliances; plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; vehicles and parts thereof
Partners: Italy 24.6% Germany 5.6% United Kingdom 5.4% Russia 5.1% France 5% (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $481.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 150

Debt external: $46.72 billion (31 December 2012)
Rank: 62

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $16.4 billion (31 December 2012)
Rank: 80

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $1.471 billion (31 December 2012)
Rank: 76

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 2.221 billion kWh (2013)
Production rank: 133
Consumption: 2.211 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 139
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 170
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 173
Installed generating capacity: 530,000 kW (2013 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 136
Generation sources fossil fuels: 97.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 60
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 142
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 184
Generation sources other renewable sources: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 67

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 198
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 156
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 95
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 166

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 176
Products consumption: 19,520 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 129
Products exports: 14,410 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 77
Products imports: 36,480 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 82

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 169
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 174
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 151
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 98
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (July 5 1905 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 172

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 2.682 million Mt (2011 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 229,700 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 125
Mobile cellular: 539,500 (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 168

Telephone system
Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 180 per 100 persons
International: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Broadcast media: 2 publicly owned TV stations Television Malta (TVM) broadcasting nationally plus 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 available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 1 station; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2011)

Internet
Country code: .mt
Hosts: 14,754 (2012)
Hosts rank: 125
Users: 240,600 (2009)
Users rank: 137

Military expenditures:
Rank: 122

Military service age and obligation: 17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 226
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports: 2 (2013)

Roadways
Rank: 164
Paved: 2,704 km
Unpaved: 392 km (2008)

Merchant marine
Rank: 4
By type: bulk carrier 544 cargo 351 carrier 1 chemical tanker 324 container 117 liquefied gas 36 passenger 50 passenger/cargo 18 petroleum tanker 160 refrigerated cargo 7 roll on/roll off 22 specialized tanker 2 vehicle carrier 18
Foreign owned: 1437 (Angola 7 Azerbaijan 1 Belgium 7 Bermuda 15 Bulgaria 8 Canada 5 China 6 Croatia 6 Cyprus 32 Denmark 34 Egypt 1 Estonia 16 Finland 3 France 8 Germany 135 Greece 469 Hong Kong 4 India 3 Iran 48 Ireland 4 Israel 3 Italy 45 Japan 5 Kuwait 3 Latvia 8 Lebanon 6 Libya 5 Luxembourg 3 Malaysia 1 Monaco 3 Netherlands 3 Norway 96 Oman 5 Poland 21 Portugal 3 Romania 7 Russia 45 Saudi Arabia 2 Singapore 4 Slovenia 4 South Korea 2 Spain 8 Sweden 1 Switzerland 20 Syria 4 Turkey 233 UAE 1 UK 21 Ukraine 29 US 34)
Registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals
Container port: Marsaxlokk (2,360,000)

Disputes international: none

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