Malta

Republic of MaltaRepubblika ta' Malta

parliamentary democracyIndependence 21 September 1964 (from UK)

Malta as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 101 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

Position35 50 N, 14 35 E

Area320 sq km

LocationSouthern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea,

Populationas each edition published it

381,603 people July 1999 est. · 353,465 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.49% 1999 est. · 0.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 37.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.76 years 1999 est. · 76.52 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.63 children per woman 1999 est. · 2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.42 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 8 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$13,000 1998 est. · $7,600 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1998 est. · 5.9% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 320 sq km

arable land 38%permanent crops 3%other 59% (1993 est.)irrigated 10 sq km (1993 est.)permanent pastures: NA% · forests and woodland: NA%

Area

320sq km

land: 320 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly 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

Highest point

253m

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

Location

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

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

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

People

15 fields

Population

381,603

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 0.49% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

11.02Death

7.37Net migration

1.24

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)77.76

75.43 · 80.23

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1985)88%

88% · 88%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 10 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390)
65 years and over:: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

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

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994); Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6 September 1998)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

51.8%

-PN 51.8%MLP 46.9%AD 1.2%last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003)

Legislature, 65 seats, elected 5 September 1998one dot, one seat

-PN 35MLP 30

Percent of vote

-PN 51.8%MLP 46.9%AD 1.2%

Country name

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

Administrative divisions

none (administered 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 Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8 September 1998)
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 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999);
following House of Representatives 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:: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote--NA

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; current

total:: 69 seats; 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

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony DARMANIN
chancery:: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s):: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
embassy:: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta
mailing address:: P. O. Box 535, Valletta

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

Economy

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

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$13,000

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.8%

(1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1997)

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 3%industry 26%services 71% (1997 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

Italy

20%

18%

France

16%

15%

Germany

10%

15%

Exports $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)Imports $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)(1997)

Budget

Revenues

$1.32 billionExpenditures

$1.76 billion (1998 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

1.425 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

1.425 billion (1996)

Economy--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. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism;

the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force

148,085 (September 1996)

Labor force--by occupation

public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)

Industries

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

Agriculture--products

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

Exports

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures (1996)

Imports

$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities

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

Debt--external

$130 million (1997)

Economic aid--recipient

$NA

Currency

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3797 (January 1999), 0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994)

Fiscal year

1 April--31 March

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

191,876

(1992 est.)

Telephone system

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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

189,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

300,000 (1996 est.)

Transportation

6 fields

Merchant marine, 1,361 ships by typeships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956 GRT/40,706,665 DWT

bulk 370cargo 400chemical tanker 49combination bulk 18combination ore/oil 17container 56liquefied gas tanker 2livestock carrier 3multifunction large-load carrier 3oil tanker 302passenger 7refrigerated cargo 46roll-on/roll-off cargo 47short-sea passenger 19specialized tanker 4vehicle carrier 18note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

Networkskm

Highways

1,582Railways

Highways: paved: 1,471 km · unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)