Malta

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 2004 and began to use the euro as currency in 2008.

• Mediterranean;
• mild, rainy winters;
• hot, dry summers

total:

0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)

per capita:

50 cu m/yr (2000)

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

• 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

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.76 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

noun:

Maltese (singular and plural)

adjective:

Maltese

conventional long form:

Republic of Malta

conventional short form:

Malta

local long form:

Repubblika ta' Malta

local short form:

Malta

name:

Valletta

geographic coordinates:

35 53 N, 14 30 E

time difference:

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time:

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

chief of state:

President Edward 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 (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 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; House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

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

• Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO];
• Malta Labor Party or MLP [acting leader Charles MANGION];
• Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

• Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra ro ALDM (against illegal immigration);
• Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (encourages tourism);
• Alternattiva Demokratika (campaign to reform rent law, and other campaigns);
• Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate in democratic government);
• Ghazdatal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights);
• Nazi Watch Malta (exposing Nazis)

other:

environmentalists

chief of mission:

Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA

chancery:

2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

FAX:

[1] (202) 387-5470

consulate(s):

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Molly BORDONARO

embassy:

3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, VLT 01

mailing address:

P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01

telephone:

[356] 2561 4000

FAX:

[356] 21 243229

agriculture:

3%

industry:

22%

services:

75% (2005 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

general assessment:

• automatic system satisfies normal requirements;
• fixed-line teledensity 50 per 100 persons;
• mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 per 100 persons

domestic:

submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands

international:

• country code - 356;
• submarine cable connects to Italy;
• satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

total:

2,227 km

paved:

2,014 km

unpaved:

213 km (2005)

males age 16-49:

96,309

females age 16-49:

92,242 (2008 est.)

males age 16-49:

80,227

females age 16-49:

76,623 (2008 est.)

male:

2,815

female:

2,657 (2008 est.)