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Malta
Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Southern Europe, islands in the
Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
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Geographic coordinates:
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35 50 N, 14 35 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 316
sq km
07
land:
316 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice
the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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196.8 km (excludes 56.01
km for the island of Gozo)
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12
nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
25 nm
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Climate:
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Current Weather
Mediterranean; mild,
rainy winters; hot, dry summers
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Terrain:
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mostly low, rocky, flat
to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean
Sea 0 m
highest point:
Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
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Natural resources:
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limestone, salt, arable
land
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Land use:
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arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops:
3.13%
other:
65.62% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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0.07 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.02
cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
per capita:
50 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural fresh
water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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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:
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406,771 (July 2010 est.)
3
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 15.9%
(male 33,203/female 31,507)
15-64 years:
69% (male 142,240/female 138,298)
65 years and over:
15.1% (male 26,852/female 34,671) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 39.7
years
male:
38.5 years
female:
41.1 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.391% (2010 est.)
61
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Birth rate:
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10.38 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
86
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Death rate:
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8.49 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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2.02 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 94%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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 (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 3.72
deaths/1,000 live births
12
male:
4.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.59
years
9
male:
77.34 years
female:
81.97 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.52 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
85
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% (2007 est.)
16
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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fewer than 500 (2007
est.)
51
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 100 (2003
est.)
37
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Nationality:
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noun: Maltese
(singular and plural)
adjective:
Maltese
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Ethnic groups:
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Maltese (descendants of
ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian
and other Mediterranean stock)
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 98%
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Languages:
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Maltese (official) 90.2%,
English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age
10 and over can read and write
total population:
92.8%
male:
92%
female:
93.6% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 15
years
male:
15 years
female:
15 years (2005)
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Education expenditures:
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5.1% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 64
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form:
Malta
local long form:
Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form:
Malta
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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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
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Administrative divisions:
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none (administered
directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative
orders and have some responsibility for local road and other public
maintenance
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Independence:
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21 September 1964 (from
the UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21
September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
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Constitution:
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1964; amended many times
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Legal system:
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based on English common
law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal
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Executive branch:
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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
elections:
president elected by a resolution of the House of
Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second 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
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral House of
Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote
on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms;
note - the Parliament elected in 2008 is composed of 69 seats; when the
political party winning the plurality of votes does not win a majority
of seats, the constitution provides that a sufficient number of seats
will be added to Parliament to ensure that the party that won the
elections has a majority in Parliament)
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
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Judicial branch:
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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
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alternativa
Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Michael BRIGUGLIO];
Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT]; Malta Labor Party or PL [Joseph
MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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); Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN
(freedom to participate in democratic government); Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent
Ahjar (pro-environment); Ghazda tal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)
other:
environmentalists
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International organization participation:
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Australia Group, C, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, 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, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA
chancery:
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
FAX:
[1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s):
New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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 have hurt Malta's real economy, which is
dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and
pharmaceuticals - and tourism. Following a few years of modest growth,
Malta's economy contracted by 2.2% in 2009, and the government of Malta
took steps to provide direct grants to struggling local businesses.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$9.831 billion (2009
est.)
49
$10.05
billion (2008 est.)
$9.823
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$7.805 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-2.2% (2009 est.)
50
2.1%
(2008 est.)
4%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$23,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$24,900
(2008 est.)
$24,400
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.7%
industry:
17.4%
services:
80.9% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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175,000 (2008 est.)
6
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 1.6%
industry:
22.8%
services:
75.6% (2009 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
6.3%
(2008)
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Population
below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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26 (2007)
28
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Investment (gross fixed):
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13.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
42
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.31
billion
expenditures:
$3.74 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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69.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
0
63.6%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.8% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
4.8%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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1% (31 December 2009)
5%
(31 December 2008)
note:
this is the European Central Bank's rate on the
marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the
euro area
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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5.89% (31 December 2008)
36
6.24%
(31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$4.639 billion (31
January 2008)
country comparison to the world: 70
$4.603
billion (31 December 2007)
note:
this figure represents the US dollar value of
Maltese liri in circulation prior to Malta joining the Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply
in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do
not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within
their own borders
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Stock of quasi money:
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$8.771 billion (31
January 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$7.645
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$13.41 billion (31
December 2009)
$12.31
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA (31 December 2009)
$3.572
billion (31 December 2008)
$5.633
billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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potatoes, cauliflower,
grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers;
pork, milk, poultry, eggs
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Industries:
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tourism, electronics,
ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages,
pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services,
financial services, information technology services
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA%
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Electricity -
production:
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2.146 billion kWh (2007
est.)
31
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Electricity -
consumption:
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1.832 billion kWh (2007
est.)
36
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2009 est.)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
47
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Oil - consumption:
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19,000 bbl/day (2008
est.)
28
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Oil - exports:
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
94
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Oil - imports:
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17,910 bbl/day (2007
est.)
16
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2009
est.)
37
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2009 est.)
46
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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0 cu m (2009 est.)
67
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2009 est.)
54
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
13
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Current account balance:
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-$570 million (2009 est.)
17
-$52.5
million (2008)
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Exports:
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$2.678 billion (2009
est.)
24
$3.102
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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electrical machinery,
mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans, pharmaceutical products,
printed material
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 13.3%, Singapore
12.5%, France 11.4%, US 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.5%, UK 5.9%, Italy 4.8% (2009
est.)
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Imports:
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$3.973 billion (2009
est.)
24
$4.827
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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mineral fuels and oils,
electrical machinery, non-electrical machinery, aircraft and other
transport equipment, plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; food,
drink, tobacco
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Imports - partners:
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Italy 24.4%, UK 11.7%,
Germany 9.3%, France 7.6%, China 4.2% (2009 est.)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$538.7 million (31
December 2009 est.)
41
$373.4
million (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$3.75 billion (2008)
11
$188.8
million (2005)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$8.24 billion (31
December 2009)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$NA
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Exchange rates:
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euros (EUR) per US dollar
- 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106
(2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.37723 (2003)
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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241,100 (2008)
20
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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385,600 (2008)
61
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: automatic
system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between
islands
domestic:
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular
subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 356; submarine cable connects to
Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6
(1999)
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Television
broadcast stations:
|
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6 (2009)
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Internet country code:
|
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.mt
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Internet hosts:
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25,139 (2009)
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Internet users:
|
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198,800 (2008)
37
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Airports:
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1 (2009)
21
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
over 3,047 m:
1 (2009)
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Roadways:
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total: 2,227
km
1
paved:
2,014 km
unpaved:
213 km (2005)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 1,438
country comparison to the world: 4
by type:
bulk carrier 459, cargo 411, carrier 2, chemical
tanker 171, container 80, liquefied gas 25, passenger 29,
passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 159, refrigerated cargo 32, roll
on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned:
1,343 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 2,
Belgium 15, Bulgaria 5, Canada 1, China 12, Croatia 9, Cyprus 31,
Denmark 30, Egypt 1, Estonia 11, France 5, Germany 91, Greece 452, Hong
Kong 1, Iceland 5, India 2, Iran 79, Israel 18, Italy 50, Japan 8, South
Korea 2, Latvia 19, Lebanon 11, Libya 3, Lithuania 1, Norway 93,
Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 58, Slovenia 4,
Spain 3, Sweden 2, Switzerland 20, Syria 6, Turkey 176, Ukraine 30, UAE
5, UK 19, US 23)
registered in other countries:
3 (Panama 3) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Marsaxlokk (Malta
Freeport), Valletta
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Military branches:
|
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Armed Forces of Malta (AFM;
includes air and maritime elements) (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
|
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17 years 6 months of age
for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
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Manpower available for military service:
|
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males age 16-49: 95,899
females age 16-49:
91,412 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
|
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males age 16-49: 79,961
females age 16-49:
76,067 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 2,570
female:
2,410 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
53
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| Transnational Issues
::Malta |
Disputes - international:
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none
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Illicit drugs:
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minor transshipment point
for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
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