Malta
Republic of MaltaRepubblika ta' Malta
republicIndependence 21 September 1964 (from the UK)
Malta as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 132 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 using the euro as currency in 2008.
Geography
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
20 fieldsLand useshare of 316 sq km
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
- per capita:
- 50 cu m/yr (2000)
Environment - current issues
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
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
People
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Sex ratio
- 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 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Ethnic groups
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Government
Republic; President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009); Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 69 seats, elected 8 March 2008one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Malta
- conventional short form:
- Malta
- local long form:
- Repubblika ta' Malta
- local short form:
- Malta
Capital
- 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
Administrative divisions
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
Legal system
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009)
- 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 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014);
- 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:
- George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms; note - the current Parliament is composed of 69 seats; when the political party winning the plurality of votes does not win a majority of seats, the constitution provides that a sufficient number of seats will be added to Parliament to ensure that the party that won the elections has a majority in Parliament)
- elections:
- last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, MLP 48.9%, other 1.8%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 34
Judicial branch
- Constitutional Court;
- Court of Appeal;
- judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders
- Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Arnold CASSOLA];
- Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT];
- Malta Labor Party or MLP [Joseph MUSCAT];
- Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, the rights existent in other EU member states);
- Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (for traditional values, anti-immigration);
- Alternattiva Demokratika (pro-environment);
- Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate in democratic government);
- Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar (pro-environment);
- Ghazdatal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)
- other:
- environmentalists
International organization participation
Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA
- chancery:
- 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 387-5470
- consulate(s):
- New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jason DAVIS
- 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
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
Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources.
50 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position between the EU and Africa makes it a recipient of illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. The financial services industry has grown in recent years, but is not fully modernized.
Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism all of which have been negatively affected by the global economic downturn. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. The Maltese government in 2009 will be challenged to contain the budget deficit, which ballooned in 2008 to about 4.1% of GDP, placing it above the euro zone's 3% maximum.
Central bank discount rate
3% (31 December 2008) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate
5.89% (31 December 2008) · 6.24% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 130
Stock of money
$4.639 billion (31 January 2008) · $4.603 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 56 note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Maltese liri in circulation prior to Malta joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money
$8.771 billion (31 January 2008 est.) · $7.645 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 56
Stock of domestic credit
$16.17 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $10.99 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 64
Agriculture - products
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Current account balance
-$445 million (2008 est.) · -$468 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$373.4 million (31 December 2008 est.) · $3.798 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- automatic system is adequate; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 150 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) (2008)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 1,438 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2007)
6 fieldsMilitary service age and obligation
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Malta.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/malta/2009.