Malta

Republic of MaltaRepubblika ta' Malta

parliamentary democracyIndependence 21 September 1964 (from UK)

Malta as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 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

Area316 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

391,670 people July 2000 est. · 353,465 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.74% 2000 est. · 0.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 37.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.94 years 2000 est. · 76.52 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.92 children per woman 2000 est. · 2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

5.94 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 8 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$13,800 1999 est. · $7,600 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1999 est. · 5.9% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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. Over the last 15 years, the island has become a major freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 316 sq km

arable land 38%permanent crops 3%forests and woodland 0%other 59% (1993 est.)permanent pastures 0% in all · irrigated 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

316sq km

land: 316 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)

Geographic coordinates

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references

Europe

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain

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

Natural resources

limestone, salt, arable land

Natural hazards

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

391,670

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.74% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

12.75Death

7.7Net migration

2.39

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)77.94

75.49 · 80.62

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1985)88%

88% · 88%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 10 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 20% (male 41,046; female 38,273)
15-64 years:: 67% (male 132,692; female 131,532)
65 years and over:: 13% (male 20,091; female 28,036) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 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 (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2000 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)

Religions

Roman Catholic 91%

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999); Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998)

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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

Data code

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Valletta

Administrative divisions

none (administered directly from Valletta)

Independence

21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 GONZE (since 4 May 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 NA 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 - 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: 65 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

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]

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 George SALIBA
chancery:: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX:: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s):: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
embassy:: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta
mailing address:: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone:: [356] 235960
FAX:: [356] 243229

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

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

31 fields

Real growth rate

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

1.8%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.5%

(September 1999)

Labor force

143,700

(October 1997)

GDP - composition by sector(1997 est.)

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

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

20.7%

France

17.8%

4.8%

Italy

19.3%

18.1%

8.9%

12.6%

Germany

10.5%

7.7%

12.4%

Exports $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)Imports $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)(1998)

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

1.62 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

1.507 billion (1998)

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 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 1999, over 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $13,800 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 - $5.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $13,800 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

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

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Imports

$2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

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 - 0.4086 (January 2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

15,650

(1999)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

171,000

(1995)

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 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios

255,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

6 (1999)

Televisions

280,000 (1997)

Transportation

6 fields

Merchant marine, 1,484 ships by type(1999 est.)

bulk 431cargo 424chemical tanker 54combination bulk 16combination ore/oil 14container 64liquified gas 2livestock carrier 3multi-functional large load carrier 4passenger 7petroleum tanker 331refrigerated cargo 44roll-on/roll-off 48short-sea passenger 21specialized tanker 5vehicle carrier 16note: 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

1,742Railways

Highways: paved: 1,677 km · unpaved: 65 km (1997 est.)