Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

153,000 telephones; automatic system satisfies normal requirements local: NA intercity: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international: 1 submarine cable and 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 2 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $21.4 million, about 0.9% of GDP (FY92/93) MAN, ISLE OF (British crown dependency)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 98,525; males fit for military service 78,305 (1995 est.)

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: $1.4 billion expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $215 million (FY94/95 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: 250,000 kW production: 1.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,749 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3656 (January 1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter partners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$603 million (1992)

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]

$2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%

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

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

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (1994 est.)

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

GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.9 billion (1994 est.)

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

$10,760 (1994 est.)

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

4.4% (1994 est.)

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 24% of GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major contributors and with the state-owned Malta drydocks employing about 4,300 people. In 1994, over 1,000,000 tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $10,760 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries.

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.5% (March 1994)

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: very limited natural fresh water resources; 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, Desertification

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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 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

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]

MT

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: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister and Foreign 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]

[1] (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 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, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OSCE, 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: Ambassador Joseph R. PAOLINO, Jr. embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta telephone: [356] 235960

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22% (female 39,199; male 41,581) 15-64 years: 67% (female 123,665; male 124,167) 65 years and over: 11% (female 23,597; male 17,400) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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: 77.02 years male: 74.75 years female: 79.48 years (1995 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]

1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

369,609 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.75% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 98%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 1 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1

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]

total: 964 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,518,359 GRT/26,604,739 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 272, cargo 300, chemical tanker 30, combination bulk 26, combination ore/oil 16, container 33, liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 191, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26, short-sea passenger 20, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 11 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 49 countries; the 10 major fleet flags are: Greece 351 ships, Russia 66, Croatia 63, Switzerland 31, Montenegro 29, Italy 27, Germany 23, Monaco 20, UK 20, and Georgia 10

Ports [time series]

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km