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 transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004.
Location
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
316 sq km
land
316 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point
Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources
limestone, salt, arable land
Land use
arable land
31.25%
permanent crops
3.13%
other
65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land
20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements
party to
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
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
Population
401,880 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
16.7% (male 34,559/female 32,707)
15-64 years
69.5% (male 141,265/female 137,951)
65 years and over
13.8% (male 23,802/female 31,596) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
39 years
male
37.6 years
female
40.4 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.413% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
10.28 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
8.19 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.057 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.024 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.753 male(s)/female
total population
0.987 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
3.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male
4.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female
3.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
79.15 years
male
76.95 years
female
81.47 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.51 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality
noun
Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective
Maltese
Ethnic groups
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages
Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy
definition
age 10 and over can read and write
total population
92.8%
male
92%
female
93.6% (2003 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of Malta
conventional short form
Malta
local long form
Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form
Malta
Government type
republic
Capital
name
Valletta
geographic coordinates
35 54 N, 14 31 E
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
Independence
21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution
1964 constitution; amended many times
Legal system
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
head of government
Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); 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
Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority)
elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 47.5%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial branch
Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
Australia Group, C, CE, CPLP (associate), EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Ambassador John LOWELL
chancery
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX
[1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s)
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Mark Miceli FARRUGUIA
embassy
3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, VLT 01
mailing address
P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone
[356] 2561 4000
FAX
[356] 21 243229
Flag description
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
Economy - overview
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 few domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and pharmaceuticals), and tourism. Continued sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$8.411 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.447 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$21,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
3%
industry
23%
services
74% (2003 est.)
Labor force
164,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
3%
industry
22%
services
75% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate
6.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
25.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$2.503 billion
expenditures
$2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
