Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

189,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

automatic system satisfies normal requirements domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international : 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

191,876 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (1996 est.)

Televisions [time series]

300,000 (1996 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues : $1.66 billion expenditures: $1.69 billion, including capital expenditures of $633 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$134 million (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - 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. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, industry (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1995, over 1.1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $12,600 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

405,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

1.41 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3677 (January 1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter partners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5% industry: 34% services : 61% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $12,600 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-5% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

3% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total : 148,085 (September 1996) by occupation: public services 37%, other services 28%, manufacturing and construction 25%, agriculture 2% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.7% (September 1996)

Area [time series]

total : 320 sq km land: 320 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland : NA% other: 59% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

NA

Natural resources [time series]

limestone, salt

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (administered directly from Valletta)

Constitution [time series]

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

MT

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles N. PATTERSON, Jr. embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta telephone : [356] 235960

Diplomatic representation in the 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 Dr. Alfred SANT (since 28 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. George VELLA (since 29 October 1996) 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; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); following House of Representatives 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 election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - NA

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] 223322

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

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, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC (observer), NAM, OSCE, PCA, 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 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: 69 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections : last held 26 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - MLP 50.7%, NP 46.5%; seats by party - NP 34, MLP 31 (MLP 35, NP 34 after adjustment)

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Valletta

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

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

Nationalist Party or NP [Edward FENECH ADAMI]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$65.5 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.7% (FY96/97)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : 99,032 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 78,710 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years : 21% (male 41,207; female 39,041) 15-64 years: 67% (male 127,553; female 126,355) 65 years and over: 12% (male 18,202; female 24,819) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.47 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.44 years male: 75.16 years female: 79.87 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate [time series]

1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

377,177 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.68% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 98%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.84 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe MAN, ISLE OF (British crown dependency)

Airports [time series]

1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m : 1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 1,582 km paved: 1,471 km unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total : 1,128 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,806,358 GRT/31,554,713 DWT ships by type: bulk 314, cargo 353, chemical tanker 32, combination bulk 27, combination ore/oil 13, container 43, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 224, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 31, roll-on/roll-off cargo 37, short-sea passenger 22, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 12 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 46 countries among which are Greece 478, Croatia 52, Switzerland 48, Russia 46, Italy 44, Norway 37, Turkey 28, Germany 23, UK 22, and Ukraine 20 (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Railways [time series]

0 km