Malta

Republic of Malta

parliamentary democracyIndependence 21 September 1964 (from UK)

Malta as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalValletta

Area320 sq km

LocationSouthern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of

Populationas each edition published it

369,609 people July 1995 est. · 353,465 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.75% 1995 est. · 0.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 37.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.02 years 1995 est. · 76.52 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.92 children per woman 1995 est. · 2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 8 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$10,760 1994 est. · $7,600 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.4% 1994 est. · 5.9% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 320 sq km

arable land 38%permanent crops 3%forest and woodland 0%other 59%meadows and pastures 0% in all · irrigated 10 sq km (1989)

Area

320sq km

land area: 320 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

140km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 25 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

International disputes

Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain

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

Environment

current issues:: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification

Note

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

People

15 fields

Population

369,609

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.75% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

13.22Death

7.43Net migration

1.7

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years77.02

74.75 · 79.48

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy84%

86% · 82%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Labor force

127,200

by occupation: government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%, manufacturing 22%, training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture 2% (1990)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22% (female 39,199; male 41,581)
15-64 years:: 67% (female 123,665; male 124,167)
65 years and over:: 11% (female 23,597; male 17,400) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Maltese

Ethnic divisions

Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994); Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

51.8%

NP 51.8%MLP 46.5%

Legislature, 65 seatsone dot, one seat

(usually 65 total) MLP 36NP 29

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Malta
conventional short form:: Malta

Administrative divisions

none (administration directly from Valletta)

Constitution

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Legal system

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government:: Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)
cabinet:: Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister

House of Representatives

elections last held 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February 1997);
results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%;
seats - (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29;
note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority;
current total: 69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)

Political parties and leaders

Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET
chancery:: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

FAX

[1] (202) 387-5470; consulate(s): New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Joseph R. PAOLINO, Jr.
embassy:: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta
mailing address:: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone:: [356] 235960

FAX

[356] 243229

Flag

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

Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic | location, and a productive labor force.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$10,760

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

4.4%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 5.4% (1992); accounts for 27% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.5%

(March 1994)

Budget

Revenues

$1.4 billionExpenditures

$1.4 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $215 million (FY94/95 est.)

Installed generating capacity, 250,000 kW

Electricity production

1.1 billionElectricity consumption per capita

2,749 (1993)

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 24% of GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major contributors and with the state-owned Malta drydocks employing about 4,300 people. In 1994, over 1,000,000 tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $10,760 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.9 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter
partners:: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%

Imports

$2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
partners:: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%

External debt

$603 million (1992)

Industries

tourism, electronics, ship repairyard, construction, food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco

Agriculture

accounts for 3% of GDP and 2% of the work force (1992);
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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Economic aid

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $336 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $48 million

Currency

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3656 (January 1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172 (1990)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 1 in all

over 3,047 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

1,291Railroads

Highways: paved: asphalt 1,179 km · unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km

Highways

total:: 1,291 km
paved:: asphalt 1,179 km
unpaved:: gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km

Ports

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Merchant marine

total:: 964 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,518,359 GRT/26,604,739 DWT
ships by type:: barge carrier 3, bulk 272, cargo 300, chemical tanker 30, combination bulk 26, combination ore/oil 16, container 33, liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 191, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26, short-sea passenger 20, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 11

note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 49 countries; the 10

major fleet flags are:: Greece 351 ships, Russia 66, Croatia 63, Switzerland 31, Montenegro 29, Italy 27, Germany 23, Monaco 20, UK 20, and Georgia 10

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

153,000 telephones; automatic system satisfies normal requirements

local:: NA
intercity:: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international:: 1 submarine cable and 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 2
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force