CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Malta


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!| 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 of 2004.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 316 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation contiguous zone: 24 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli) !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 3.13% other: 68.74% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements !| Geography - note:
 * Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
 * 35 50 N, 14 35 E
 * Europe
 * total: 316 sq km
 * slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
 * 0 km
 * 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
 * mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
 * lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
 * limestone, salt, arable land
 * arable land: 28.13%
 * 20 sq km (1998 est.)
 * NA
 * very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
 * 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
 * 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
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!| Population: !| Age structure: 15-64 years: 68.5% (male 137,259; female 134,611) 65 years and over: 13.4% (male 22,691; female 30,487) (2004 est.) !| Median age: male: 36.6 years female: 39.5 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 4.45 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 76.51 years female: 80.98 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Maltese !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 92.8% male: 92% female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
 * 396,851 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0-14 years: 18.1% (male 36,891; female 34,912)
 * total: 38 years
 * 0.42% (2004 est.)
 * 10.09 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 7.93 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
 * total: 3.94 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 78.68 years
 * 1.49 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * 0.1% (2001 est.)
 * less than 500 (2003 est.)
 * less than 100 (2003 est.)
 * noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
 * Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
 * Roman Catholic 98%
 * Maltese (official), English (official)
 * definition: age 10 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Malta local short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: 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; 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; percent of House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes !| Legislative branch: elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by April 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31 !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s): New York FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01 telephone: [356] 2561 4000 FAX: [356] 21 243229 !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Republic of Malta
 * republic
 * Valletta
 * none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders
 * 21 September 1964 (from UK)
 * Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
 * 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987
 * based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
 * 18 years of age; universal
 * chief of state: President Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
 * 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)
 * Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
 * Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
 * NA
 * Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
 * chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL
 * chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William GRANT
 * 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
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 23% services: 74% (2003 est.) !| Investment (gross fixed): !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $2.367 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003) !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Current account balance: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * 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, tourism, and overall growth.
 * purchasing power parity - $7.082 billion (2003 est.)
 * 0.8% (2003 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2003 est.)
 * agriculture: 3%
 * 23.1% of GDP (2003)
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * 0.4% (2003 est.)
 * 160,000 (2002 est.)
 * agriculture 5%, industry 24%, services 71% (1999 est.)
 * 7% (2003 est.)
 * revenues: $2.086 billion
 * potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
 * tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
 * NA
 * 1.768 billion kWh (2001)
 * 1.644 billion kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * NA (2001)
 * NA (2001)
 * $-250 million (2003)
 * $2.175 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
 * Singapore 17.4%, US 11.6%, UK 9.4%, Germany 8.8%, France 7.5%, China 7% (2003)
 * $2.761 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
 * Italy 19.3%, France 13.7%, UK 8.5%, Germany 6.6%, Singapore 6.1%, Japan 5.7%, South Korea 5.5%, US 4.1% (2003)
 * $2.429 billion (2003)
 * $130 million (1997)
 * NA
 * Maltese lira (MTL)
 * MTL
 * Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3772 (2003), 0.4336 (2002), 0.4501 (2001), 0.4382 (2000), 0.3989 (1999)
 * 1 April - 31 March
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 208,300 (2003)
 * 290,000 (2003)
 * general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
 * AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
 * 255,000 (1997)
 * 6 (2000)
 * 280,000 (1997)
 * .mt
 * 7,156 (2004)
 * 6 (2002)
 * 120,000 (2002)
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!| Highways: paved: 1,972 km unpaved: 282 km (2000) !| Ports and harbors: !| Merchant marine: by type: bulk 468, cargo 251, chemical tanker 46, combination bulk 8, combination ore/oil 8, container 74, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 210, refrigerated cargo 40, roll on/roll off 35, short-sea/passenger 6, vehicle carrier 15 registered in other countries: 18 (2004 est.) foreign-owned: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 13, Bulgaria 19, Canada 8, China 14, Croatia 9, Cyprus 6, Denmark 4, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 52, Greece 603, Hong Kong 3, Iceland 5, India 4, Indonesia 2, Iran 4, Israel 20, Italy 24, Japan 3, South Korea 2, Latvia 25, Lebanon 6, Madagascar 1, Monaco 14, Netherlands 5, Nigeria 1, Norway 32, Pakistan 1, Poland 30, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 69, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 3, Switzerland 30, Syria 4, Taiwan 1, Turkey 108, Ukraine 22, United Kingdom 2, United States 8 !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
 * total: 2,254 km
 * Marsaxlokk, Valletta
 * total: 1,176 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,102,401 GRT/41,176,791 DWT
 * 1 (2003 est.)
 * total: 1
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: !| Military manpower - fit for military service: !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 * Armed Forces: Land Forces (including Air Squadron and Maritime Squadron), Revenue Security Corps
 * 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
 * males age 15-49: 99,324 (2004 est.)
 * males age 15-49: 79,128 (2004 est.)
 * $33.3 million (2003)
 * 0.7% (2003)
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