Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

6 (2002)

Internet country code [time series]

.mt

Internet users [time series]

59,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios [time series]

255,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

187,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

17,691 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

6 (2000)

Televisions [time series]

280,000 (1997)

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: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Maltese lira (MTL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

MTL

Debt - external [time series]

$130 million (1997) (1997)

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

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for membership in the European Union. The island remains divided politically, however, over the question of joining the EU. Continued sluggishness in the global economy is holding back exports and tourism.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.628 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.75 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.4542 (January 2002), 0.4499 (2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997)

Exports [time series]

$2 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners [time series]

US 20.2%, Germany 14.1%, France 10.2%, UK 8.8%, Italy 3.4% (2001)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $7 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 72% (1999)

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

purchasing power parity - $17,000 (2002 est.)

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

2.2% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 19.9%, France 15.0%, US 11.6%, UK 10.0%, Germany 8.7% (2001)

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]

2.4% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

160,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

7% (2002 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 316 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]

196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (1998 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 territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards [time series]

NA

Natural resources [time series]

limestone, salt, arable land

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders

Capital [time series]

Valletta

Constitution [time series]

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR 01 telephone: [356] 2561-4000 FAX: [356] 2124-3229

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador George SALIBA; note - newly-appointed Ambassador John LOWELL is expected to present his credentials in early 2003 consulate(s): New York FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April 1999) 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 1999 (next to be held by April 2004); following legislative 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: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 54%

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]

republic

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, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts 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; accepts 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; 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]

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.

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

Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron and maritime squadron] and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$60 million (2000 est.)

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

1.7% (2000)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 99,107 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 78,909 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19.7% (male 40,609; female 37,882) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 135,047; female 133,207) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 21,215; female 29,539) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.52% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

Maltese (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.26 years female: 80.96 years (2002 est.) male: 75.78 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88.76% male: 86.91% female: 89.55% (1995 census)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Net migration rate [time series]

2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

397,499 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.73% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 98%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.91 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Airports [time series]

1 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,742 km paved: 1,677 km unpaved: 65 km (1997)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,323 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,208,819 GRT/44,617,877 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 3, Bulgaria 19, Canada 2, China 16, Croatia 14, Cuba 1, Cyprus 7, Denmark 3, Estonia 5, Finland 1, Germany 54, Greece 627, Hong Kong 12, Iceland 3, India 10, Iran 2, Israel 26, Italy 36, Japan 2, Latvia 24, Lebanon 6, Monaco 29, Netherlands 10, Nigeria 2, Norway 43, Poland 29, Portugal 2, Romania 15, Russia 85, Saudi Arabia 1, Slovenia 2, South Korea 5, Spain 1, Switzerland 54, Syria 4, Turkey 84, Ukraine 25, United Arab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 4, United States 10 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 440, cargo 334, chemical tanker 54, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 12, container 75, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 270, refrigerated cargo 39, roll on/roll off 45, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 17

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none