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Communications

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]

2 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

300,000 (1996 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.32 billion expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$130 million (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$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, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

1.425 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

1.425 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3797 (January 1999), 0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures (1996)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

France 18%, US 15%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Italy 6% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April--31 March

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

purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1997 est.)

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

purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1998 est.)

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

4% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Italy 20%, France 16%, UK 15%, Germany 10%, US 8% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.8% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

148,085 (September 1996)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

5% (1997)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Environment - current issues (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: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

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]

Natural resources [time series]

limestone, salt

Terrain [time series]

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

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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony DARMANIN chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s): New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8 September 1998) 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; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote--NA

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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, 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 popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party--PN 35, MLP 30

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

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

Nationalist Party or PN [Edward

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

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

Armed Forces (including an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure (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 (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 99,067 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 78,855 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810) 15-64 years: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390) 65 years and over: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.02 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1999 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]

7.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.76 years male: 75.43 years female: 80.23 years (1999 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]

1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

381,603 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.49% (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956 GRT/40,706,665 DWT ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 18 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Railways [time series]

0 km