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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,291 km paved: asphalt 1,179 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km

Merchant marine [time series]

897 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,959,195 GRT/24,038,587 DWT, barge carrier 3, bulk 259, cargo 296, chemical tanker 25, combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 18, container 26, liquefied gas 2, multifunction large load carrier 3, oil tanker 157, passenger 6, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 20, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 9 note: a flag of convenience registry; China owns 11 ships, Russia owns 42 ships, Cuba owns 10, Vietnam owns 6, Croatia owns 63, Romania owns 4

Ports [time series]

Valletta, Marsaxlokk

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

automatic system satisfies normal requirements; 153,000 telephones; excellent service by broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, and 2 TV; submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands; international service by 1 submarine cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Affiliation [time series]

(British crown dependency)

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $21.9 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 98,241; fit for military service 78,071

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 3% of GDP and 2% of the work force (1992); overall, 20% self-sufficient; main products - potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs; generally adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder, fruits, other basic foodstuffs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $182 million (FY94 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $336 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $48 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 328,000 kW production: 1.11 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,000 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3951 (January 1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172 (1990), 0.3483 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter partners: Italy 30%, Germany 22%, UK 11%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$118 million (1990)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Imports [time series]

$1.93 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods partners: Italy 30%, UK 16%, Germany 13%, US 4%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 5.4% (1992); accounts for 27% of GDP

Industries [time series]

tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction, food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.64% (1992)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$6,600 (1992)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

4.5% (1992)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Significant 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. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 27% of GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major contributors and the state-owned Malta drydocks which employs about 4,300 people. In 1992, about 1,000,000 tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP at $6,600 places Malta in the middle-income range of the world's nations.

Unemployment rate [time series]

4% (1992)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 320 sq km land area: 320 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline [time series]

140 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: fresh water very scarce; increasing reliance on desalination natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 59%

Location [time series]

Southern Europe, in the central Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of Sicily (Italy), 290 km north of Libya

Map references [time series]

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

limestone, salt

Note [time series]

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (administration directly from Valletta)

Capital [time series]

Valletta

Constitution [time series]

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Albert BORG OLIVIER DE PUGET chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3611 or 3612

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

(202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[356] 243229

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Representatives) [time series]

elections last held on 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February 1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total 69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)

Independence [time series]

21 September 1964 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William A. MOFFITT (new ambassador nominated, but not confirmed) embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta telephone: [356] 235960

People

Birth rate [time series]

13.56 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

127,200 by occupation: government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%, manufacturing 22%, training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture 2% (1990)

Languages [time series]

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.77 years male: 74.53 years female: 79.18 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1985) total population: 84% male: 86% female: 82%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate [time series]

1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

366,767 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.79% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 98%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)