Malta
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.
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E Map references: Europe Area:
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 140 km Maritime claims:
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land Land use:
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination Environment - international 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
Population: 391,670 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 0.74% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 12.75 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
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) Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: MT 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:
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)
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:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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 - 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 - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,800 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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.) Unemployment rate: 5.5% (September 1999) Budget:
Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 1.62 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 1.507 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) 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 Exports - partners: France 20.7%, US 18.1%, Germany 12.6%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.8% (1998) 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) 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
Telephones - main lines in use: 171,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,650 (1999) Telephone system:
automatic system satisfies normal requirements
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999) Radios: 255,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 6 (1999) Televisions: 280,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta Merchant marine:
Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Military branches: Armed Forces (including land forces, an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force Military manpower - availability:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $201 million (FY98/99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.5% (FY98/99)
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 |
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