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Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 320 sq km land area: 320 sq km comparative area: 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, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

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

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (administered directly from Valletta)

Capital [time series]

Valletta

Constitution [time series]

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Representatives head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Minister (since 14 May 1987) and Foreign Minister (since 1990) Dr. Guido DE MARCO cabinet: Cabinet was 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

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 (NP 36, MLP 33 after adjustment)

Independence [time series]

21 September 1964 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [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 of government) [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,

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22% (male 42,067; female 39,958) 15-64 years: 67% (male 126,179; female 125,321) 65 years and over: 11% (male 17,766; female 24,285) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.79 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.83 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.11 years male: 75.77 years female: 80.6 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate [time series]

2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

375,576 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.01% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 98%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)