World Facts Index
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.
Geography of Malta
|
Location:
|
Southern Europe, islands in
the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) |
|
Coordinates:
|
35 50 N, 14 35 E |
|
Area:
|
total: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly less than twice
the size of Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
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196.8 km (does not include
56.01 km for the island of Gozo) |
|
Maritime claims:
|
contiguous zone: 24
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
|
Climate:
|
Mediterranean with mild,
rainy winters and hot, dry summers |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly low, rocky, flat to
dissected plains; many coastal cliffs |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli) |
|
Natural resources:
|
limestone, salt, arable
land |
|
Environment current issues:
|
very limited natural fresh
water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
|
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
|
Population of Malta
|
Population:
|
403,532 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371) |
|
Median age:
|
38.7 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
0.42% |
|
Infant mortality:
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3.86 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 79.01 years
male: 76.83 years
female: 81.31 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
1.5 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Maltese (descendants of ancient
Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean
stock) |
|
Religions:
|
Roman Catholic 98% |
|
Languages:
|
Maltese (official), English (official) |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 10 and over can read
and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta |
|
Government type:
|
republic |
|
Capital:
|
Valletta |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
none (administered directly from Valletta);
note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders |
|
Independence:
|
21 September 1964 (from UK) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 21 September (1964) |
|
Constitution:
|
1964 constitution substantially amended on
13 December 1974 and again in 1987 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on English common law and Roman civil
law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
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;
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. |
|
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; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional
representation to serve five-year terms) |
|
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
[Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN
[Lawrence GONZI] |
Economy
Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a
productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has
limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. The economy
is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and
pharmaceuticals), and tourism. Economic recovery of the European economy has
lifted exports, tourism, and overall growth. Malta adopted the euro on 1
January 2008.
|
GDP:
|
$9.4 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
1% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$19,900 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
3% |
|
Labor force:
|
160,000 |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture: 3%
industry: 22%
services: 75% |
|
Unemployment:
|
7.8% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
tourism; electronics, ship building and
repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco |
|
Agriculture:
|
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat,
barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs |
|
Exports:
|
machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures |
|
Export partners:
|
France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany
11.2%, Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% |
|
Imports:
|
machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco |
|
Import partners:
|
Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US 5.5%,
Singapore 4.1% |
|
Currency:
|
Maltese lira (MTL) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |