Malta

Malta

Introduction

Background

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 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

Geography

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
country comparison to the world: 207 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 (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:25 nm

Climate

Mediterranean

mild, rainy winters

hot, dry summers

Terrain

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

32 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

0.07 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.02cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
per capita:50cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

limited natural freshwater 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

People and Society

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)

Languages

Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)

Religions

Roman Catholic (official) 98%

Population

408,333 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.7% (male 32,829/female 31,198)
15-64 years:68.5% (male 142,006/female 137,803)
65 years and over:15.8% (male 28,305/female 36,192) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 40 years
male:38.8 years
female:41.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.375% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Birth rate

10.35 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Death rate

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Net migration rate

2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Urbanization

urban population: 95% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

VALLETTA (capital) 199,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.058 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.77 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 155

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 206 male:4.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.72 years
country comparison to the world: 34 male:77.45 years
female:82.12 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.52 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

Health expenditures

16.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 1

Physicians density

3.073 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 37

Hospital bed density

4.88 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

20.7% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 21

Education expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 22

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population:92.8%
male:91.7%
female:93.9% (2005 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years
male:14 years
female:15 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.3%
country comparison to the world: 86 male:17.7%
female:15.4% (2009)

Government

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 53 N, 14 30 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 and have some responsibility for local road and other public maintenance

Independence

21 September 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Republic Day, 13 December (1974)

Constitution

1964

amended many times

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and civil law (based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009)
head of government:Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term

election last held on 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014)

following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term

the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
election results:George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats

members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation by the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) to serve five-year terms

note – the parliament elected in 2008 is composed of 69 seats

when the political party winning an absolute majority of first-count votes (or a plurality of first-count votes in an election where only two parties are represented in parliament) does not win an absolute majority of seats, the constitution provides for the winning party to be awarded additional number of seats in parliament to guarantee it an absolute majority

in the event that more than two parties are repressented in parliament, with none acquiring the absolute majority of votes, the party winning the majority of seats prevails
elections:last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results:percent of vote by party – PN 49.3%, PL 48.8%, other 1.9%

seats by party – PN 35, PL 34

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court

Court of First Instance

Court of Appeal
note:magistrates and judges for the 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 [Michael BRIGUGLIO]

Labor Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]

Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

The Malta Communist Party [Victor DEGIOVANNI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, the rights existent in other EU member states)

Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (for traditional values, anti-immigration)

Alternattiva Demokratika (pro-environment)

Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar (pro-environment)

Ghazda tal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)
other:environmentalists

International organization participation

Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

Charge d’Affaires Dennis GRECH
chancery:2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
FAX:[1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s):New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas W. KMIEC
embassy:3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, FRN 9010
mailing address:P. O. Box 535, Valletta, VLT1000
telephone:[356] 2561 4000
FAX:[356] 2124 3229

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

according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091

an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798

in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II

since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field

National symbol(s)

Maltese cross

National anthem

name: “L-Innu Malti” (The Maltese Anthem)
lyrics/music:Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
note:adopted 1945

the anthem is written in the form of a prayer

Economy

Economy – overview

Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta’s geographic position between the EU and Africa makes it a target for illegal immigration, which has strained Malta’s political and economic resources. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta’s financial services industry has grown in recent years and in 2008-09 it escaped significant damage from the international financial crisis, largely because the sector is centered on the indigenous real estate market and is not highly leveraged. Locally, the restricted damage from the financial crisis has been attributed to the stability of the Maltese banking system and to its prudent risk-management practices. The global economic downturn and high electricity and water prices hurt Malta’s real economy, which is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing – especially electronics and pharmaceuticals – and tourism, but growth bounced back as the global economy recovered in 2010. Following a 1.2% contraction in 2009, GDP grew 2% in 2010. In early 2011, the EU ended excessive deficit procedures against Malta, after Malta had taken measures to correct an excessive deficit in 2010 and appeared likely to reach its deficit target of 2.8% of GDP in 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.41 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151 $10.04 billion (2009 est.)
$10.39 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.288 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104 -3.4% (2009 est.)
5.3% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$25,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53 $24,800 (2009 est.)
$25,800 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 1.9%
industry:17.2%
services:80.9% (2010 est.)

Labor force

265,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 1.3%
industry:24.8%
services:73.9% (2010)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68 7% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income – Gini index

26 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 135

Investment (gross fixed)

16.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Budget

revenues: $3.207 billion
expenditures:$3.507 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Public debt

67.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26 67% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45 2.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 1.75% (31 December 2009)
note:this is the European Central Bank’s rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.617% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169 4.492% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.109 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 90 $5.283 billion (31 December 2009)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$12.5 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 95 $12.94 billion (31 December 2009)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.66 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 83 $20.4 billion (31 December 2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.399 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 96 $1.982 billion (31 December 2009)
$3.572 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers

pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Industries

tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

2.113 billion kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity – consumption

1.991 billion kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Oil – consumption

19,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Oil – imports

18,420 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Current account balance

-$361.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99 -$601 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$3.088 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 122 $2.427 billion (2009)

Exports – commodities

electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans, pharmaceutical products, printed material

Exports – partners

Germany 18.4%, France 15.7%, UK 9.1%, Italy 6.6%, Libya 6%, US 5.7% (2010)

Imports

$4.317 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123 $3.798 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

mineral fuels and oils, electrical machinery, non-electrical machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other semi-manufactured goods

food, drink, tobacco

Imports – partners

Italy 24.1%, UK 8.6%, Germany 8.5%, France 8.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$540.2 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 $538.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$48.79 billion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 59 $5.978 billion (31 December 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$16.63 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 72 $8.24 billion (31 December 2009)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$1.213 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.72 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
note:on 1 January 2008 Malta adopted the euro as legal tender

Transportation

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:225

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
over 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 3,096 km
country comparison to the world: 164 paved:2,710 km
unpaved:386 km (2008)

Merchant marine

total: 1,571
country comparison to the world: 4 by type:bulk carrier 522, cargo 377, carrier 1, chemical tanker 280, container 91, liquefied gas 31, passenger 45, passenger/cargo 22, petroleum tanker 141, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 30, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned:1,401 (Angola 7, Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 14, Bermuda 8, Bulgaria 7, Canada 1, China 11, Croatia 7, Cyprus 29, Denmark 41, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 2, France 13, Germany 127, Greece 458, Hong Kong 2, India 4, Iran 56, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 52, Japan 5, Kuwait 2, Latvia 11, Lebanon 7, Libya 4, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 84, Poland 22, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 47, Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, South Korea 3, Spain 10, Sweden 3, Switzerland 14, Syria 5, Turkey 211, UAE 1, UK 16, Ukraine 30, US 35)
note:this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag

these ships operate under the laws of the flag state
registered in other countries:2 (Panama 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Military

Military branches

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM

includes air and maritime elements) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service

no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 95,499
females age 16-49:90,919 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 79,645
females age 16-49:75,684 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,554
female:2,385 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Malta is a source and destination country for European women and children subjected to sex trafficking

Malta is likely a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor, including in restaurants, private households, and in unskilled or semi-skilled labor

Malta may be a transit country for African women subjected to sex trafficking in continental Europe
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the government demonstrated greater commitment to combat trafficking through national coordination by appointing the country’s first anti-trafficking coordinator and anti-trafficking monitoring board

these measures, however, have not yet resulted in concrete improvements to victim identification procedures, victim care systems, effective investigations and prosecutions of trafficking offenders, or targeted prevention activities

victims of trafficking were punished for acts committed during the course of trafficking or deported without proper victim identification (2011)

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe