Malta

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2002)

Internet country code

.mt

Internet users

59,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios

255,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

187,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

17,691 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2000)

Televisions

280,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Budget

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

Currency

Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code

MTL

Debt - external

$130 million (1997) (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for membership in the European Union. The island remains divided politically, however, over the question of joining the EU. Continued sluggishness in the global economy is holding back exports and tourism.

Electricity - consumption

1.628 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

1.75 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.4542 (January 2002), 0.4499 (2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997)

Exports

$2 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners

US 20.2%, Germany 14.1%, France 10.2%, UK 8.8%, Italy 3.4% (2001)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 72% (1999)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $17,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco

Imports - partners

Italy 19.9%, France 15.0%, US 11.6%, UK 10.0%, Germany 8.7% (2001)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2002 est.)

Labor force

160,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

7% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 316 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline

196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

35 50 N, 14 35 E

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (1998 est.)

Location

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

limestone, salt, arable land

Terrain

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Administrative divisions

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders

Capital

Valletta

Constitution

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR 01 telephone: [356] 2561-4000 FAX: [356] 2124-3229

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador George SALIBA; note - newly-appointed Ambassador John LOWELL is expected to present his credentials in early 2003 consulate(s): New York FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch

chief of state: President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April 1999) 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 1999 (next to be held by April 2004); following legislative 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: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 54%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

21 September 1964 (from UK)

International organization participation

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Legal system

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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; 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Political parties and leaders

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.

Military branches

Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron and maritime squadron] and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$60 million (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (2000)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 99,107 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 78,909 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.7% (male 40,609; female 37,882) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 135,047; female 133,207) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 21,215; female 29,539) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

12.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.52% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

5.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.26 years female: 80.96 years (2002 est.) male: 75.78 years

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88.76% male: 86.91% female: 89.55% (1995 census)

Nationality

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate

2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

397,499 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

0.73% (2002 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Airports

1 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Highways

total: 1,742 km paved: 1,677 km unpaved: 65 km (1997)

Merchant marine

total: 1,323 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,208,819 GRT/44,617,877 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 3, Bulgaria 19, Canada 2, China 16, Croatia 14, Cuba 1, Cyprus 7, Denmark 3, Estonia 5, Finland 1, Germany 54, Greece 627, Hong Kong 12, Iceland 3, India 10, Iran 2, Israel 26, Italy 36, Japan 2, Latvia 24, Lebanon 6, Monaco 29, Netherlands 10, Nigeria 2, Norway 43, Poland 29, Portugal 2, Romania 15, Russia 85, Saudi Arabia 1, Slovenia 2, South Korea 5, Spain 1, Switzerland 54, Syria 4, Turkey 84, Ukraine 25, United Arab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 4, United States 10 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 440, cargo 334, chemical tanker 54, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 12, container 75, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 270, refrigerated cargo 39, roll on/roll off 45, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 17

Ports and harbors

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none