MALTA
MARCH 25, 2009 BY RANG WHAM
| Introduction | Malta | Top of Page |
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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. 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.
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| Geography | Malta | Top of Page |
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Location:
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
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Geographic coordinates:
35 50 N, 14 35 E
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Map references:
Europe
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Area:
total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
0 km
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Coastline:
196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
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Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm |
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Climate:
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
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Terrain:
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
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Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli) |
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Natural resources:
limestone, salt, arable land
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Land use:
arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
0.07 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards:
NA
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Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
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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 |
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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
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| People | Malta | Top of Page |
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Population:
408,333 (July 2011 est.)
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Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 32,829/female 31,198)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 142,006/female 137,803) 65 years and over: 15.8% (male 28,305/female 36,192) (2011 est.) |
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Median age:
total: 40 years
male: 38.8 years female: 41.4 years (2011 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
0.375% (2011 est.)
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Birth rate:
10.35 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
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Death rate:
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
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Net migration rate:
2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
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Urbanization:
urban population: 95% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.058 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.72 years
male: 77.45 years female: 82.12 years (2011 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
1.52 children born/woman (2011 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
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Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese |
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Ethnic groups:
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
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Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%
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Languages:
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
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Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8% male: 91.7% female: 93.9% (2005 Census) |
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years female: 15 years (2008) |
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Education expenditures:
4.8% of GDP (2004)
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| Government | Malta | Top of Page |
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Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta |
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Government type:
republic
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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 |
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Administrative divisions:
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders and have some responsibility for local road and other public maintenance
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Independence:
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
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National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
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Constitution:
1964; amended many times
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Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by a resolution of 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 usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives |
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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 Parliament elected in 2008 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%, PL 48.8%, other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, PL 34 |
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Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal
note: magistrates and judges for the courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister |
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Political parties and leaders:
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Michael BRIGUGLIO]; Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT]; Malta Labor Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
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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); Ghazda tal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)
other: environmentalists |
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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, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas W. KMIEC
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, FRN 9010 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, VLT1000 telephone: [356] 2561 4000 FAX: [356] 2124 3229 |
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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; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field
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National anthem:
name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta) lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT note: adopted 1945; the anthem is written in the form of a prayer |
| Economy | Malta | Top of Page |
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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 target for illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and in 2008-09 it escaped significant damage from the international financial crisis, largely because the sector is centered on the indigenous real estate market and is not highly leveraged. Locally, the restricted damage from the financial crisis has been attributed to the stability of the Maltese banking system and to its prudent risk-management practices. The global economic downturn and high electricity and water prices hurt Malta's real economy, which is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism, but growth bounced back as the global economy recovered in 2010. Following a 1.2% contraction in 2009, GDP grew 2% in 2010.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.21 billion (2010 est.)
$10.01 billion (2009 est.) $10.13 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.801 billion (2010 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
-1.2% (2009 est.) 1.5% (2008 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,100 (2010 est.)
$24,700 (2009 est.) $25,100 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
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GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 17.4% services: 80.9% (2007 est.) |
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Labor force:
174,000 (2009 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 22.8% services: 75.6% (2009 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
7% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2007)
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Budget:
revenues: $3.136 billion
expenditures: $3.405 billion (2010 est.) |
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Public debt:
72.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
69% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2010 est.)
2.1% (2009 est.)
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Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
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 |
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.47% (31 December 2009 est.)
5.89% (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of narrow money:
$5.195 billion (31 December 2010 est)
$4.956 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders |
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Stock of broad money:
$14.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$13.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Stock of domestic credit:
$13.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$12.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.982 billion (31 December 2009)
$3.572 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.633 billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
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Industries:
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
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Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
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Electricity - production:
2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
1.832 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
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Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
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Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
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Oil - imports:
17,910 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
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Current account balance:
-$403 million (2010 est.)
-$491 million (2009 est.)
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Exports:
$2.954 billion (2010 est.)
$2.383 billion (2009 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans, pharmaceutical products, printed material
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Exports - partners:
Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.5%, France 11.4%, US 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.5%, UK 5.9%, Italy 4.8% (2009 est.)
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Imports:
$4.074 billion (2010 est.)
$3.595 billion (2009 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
mineral fuels and oils, electrical machinery, non-electrical machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
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Imports - partners:
Italy 24.4%, UK 11.7%, Germany 9.3%, France 7.6%, China 4.2% (2009 est.)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$522 million (31 December 2010 est.)
$538.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
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Debt - external:
$41.02 billion (30 June 2010)
$3.75 billion (2008)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
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Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7732 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006)
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| Communications | Malta | Top of Page |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
252,700 (2009)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
422,100 (2009)
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Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 165 per 100 persons international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
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Television broadcast stations:
5 (2006)
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Broadcast media:
1 publicly-owned television station, Television Malta (TVM); several national television stations, two of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are obtainable; publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 stations; roughly 50 commercial radio stations functioning (2008)
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Internet country code:
.mt
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Internet hosts:
24,941 (2010)
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Internet users:
240,600 (2009)
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| Transportation | Malta | Top of Page |
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Airports:
1 (2010)
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Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010) |
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Roadways:
total: 2,227 km
paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2005) |
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Merchant marine:
total: 1,571
by type: bulk carrier 522, cargo 377, carrier 1, chemical tanker 280, container 91, liquefied gas 31, passenger 45, passenger/cargo 22, petroleum tanker 141, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 30, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 15 foreign-owned: 1,401 (Angola 7, Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 14, Bermuda 8, Bulgaria 7, Canada 1, China 11, Croatia 7, Cyprus 29, Denmark 41, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 2, France 13, Germany 127, Greece 458, Hong Kong 2, India 4, Iran 56, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 52, Japan 5, Kuwait 2, Latvia 11, Lebanon 7, Libya 4, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 84, Poland 22, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 47, Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, South Korea 3, Spain 10, Sweden 3, Switzerland 14, Syria 5, Turkey 211, UAE 1, UK 16, Ukraine 30, US 35) registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2010) |
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Ports and terminals:
Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
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| Military | Malta | Top of Page |
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Military branches:
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
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Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 95,499
females age 16-49: 90,919 (2010 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 79,645
females age 16-49: 75,684 (2010 est.) |
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,554
female: 2,385 (2010 est.) |
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Military expenditures:
0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
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| Transnational Issues | Malta | Top of Page |
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Disputes-international:
none
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Illicit drugs:
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
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This page was last updated on 14 May 2009