Malta

Internet country code

.mt

Internet hosts

7,156 (2004)

Internet users

120,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Telephone system

general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

208,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

290,000 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2000)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.086 billion expenditures: $2.367 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)

Currency

Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code

MTL

Current account balance

$-250 million (2003)

Debt - external

$130 million (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, tourism, and overall growth.

Electricity - consumption

1.644 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.768 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3772 (2003), 0.4336 (2002), 0.4501 (2001), 0.4382 (2000), 0.3989 (1999)

Exports

$2.175 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners

Singapore 17.4%, US 11.6%, UK 9.4%, Germany 8.8%, France 7.5%, China 7% (2003)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.082 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.8% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$2.761 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Italy 19.3%, France 13.7%, UK 8.5%, Germany 6.6%, Singapore 6.1%, Japan 5.7%, South Korea 5.5%, US 4.1% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.1% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

160,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Oil - consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$2.429 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

7% (2003 est.)

Area

total: 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 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, 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: 28.13% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 68.74% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

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

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 long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William GRANT embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01 telephone: [356] 2561 4000 FAX: [356] 21 243229

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004) 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 the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); 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: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

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

Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 12 April 2003 (next to be held by April 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31

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 [Lawrence GONZI]

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 transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May of 2004.

Military branches

Armed Forces: Land Forces (including Air Squadron and Maritime Squadron), Revenue Security Corps

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$33.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 99,324 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 79,128 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.1% (male 36,891; female 34,912) 15-64 years: 68.5% (male 137,259; female 134,611) 65 years and over: 13.4% (male 22,691; female 30,487) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

10.09 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.93 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.68 years male: 76.51 years female: 80.98 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 92.8% male: 92% female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 38 years male: 36.6 years female: 39.5 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate

2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

396,851 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.42% (2004 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.49 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Airports

1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 2,254 km paved: 1,972 km unpaved: 282 km (2000)

Merchant marine

total: 1,176 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,102,401 GRT/41,176,791 DWT by type: bulk 468, cargo 251, chemical tanker 46, combination bulk 8, combination ore/oil 8, container 74, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 210, refrigerated cargo 40, roll on/roll off 35, short-sea/passenger 6, vehicle carrier 15 foreign-owned: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 13, Bulgaria 19, Canada 8, China 14, Croatia 9, Cyprus 6, Denmark 4, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 52, Greece 603, Hong Kong 3, Iceland 5, India 4, Indonesia 2, Iran 4, Israel 20, Italy 24, Japan 3, South Korea 2, Latvia 25, Lebanon 6, Madagascar 1, Monaco 14, Netherlands 5, Nigeria 1, Norway 32, Pakistan 1, Poland 30, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 69, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 3, Switzerland 30, Syria 4, Taiwan 1, Turkey 108, Ukraine 22, United Kingdom 2, United States 8 registered in other countries: 18 (2004 est.)

Ports and harbors

Marsaxlokk, Valletta