Malta

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios

255,000 (1997)

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

171,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

15,650 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

6 (1999)

Televisions

280,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.32 billion expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Currency

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$130 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

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.

Electricity - consumption

1.507 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

1.62 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

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)

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners

France 20.7%, US 18.1%, Germany 12.6%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.8% (1998)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $5.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Italy 19.3%, France 17.8%, UK 12.4%, Germany 10.5%, US 8.9% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (1999 est.)

Labor force

143,700 (October 1997)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

5.5% (September 1999)

Area

total: 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline

140 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

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

Geographic coordinates

35 50 N, 14 35 E

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 59% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

limestone, salt, arable land

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

none (administered directly from Valletta)

Capital

Valletta

Constitution

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Country name

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

Data code

MT

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

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

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

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

21 September 1964 (from UK)

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

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

Legal system

based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military branches

Armed Forces (including land forces, an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$201 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5.5% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 98,850 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 78,677 (2000 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

12.75 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.94 years male: 75.49 years female: 80.62 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)

Nationality

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate

2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

391,670 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.74% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 91%

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 1,742 km paved: 1,677 km unpaved: 65 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1,484 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,083,952 GRT/46,772,146 DWT ships by type: bulk 431, cargo 424, chemical tanker 54, combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 14, container 64, liquified gas 2, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large load carrier 4, passenger 7, petroleum tanker 331, refrigerated cargo 44, roll-on/roll-off 48, short-sea passenger 21, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 16 (1999 est.) note: 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.)

Ports and harbors

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Railways

0 km