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.

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Europe

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

0 km

196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

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

limestone, salt, arable land

20 sq km (2003)

0.07 cu km (2005)

NA

limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

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

405,165 (July 2009 est.)

0.4% (2009 est.)

10.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)

8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)

1.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)

0.1% (2007 est.)

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

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

Roman Catholic 98%

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

5.1% of GDP (2004)

republic

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders

21 September 1964 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

1964; amended many times

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

18 years of age; universal

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 current Parliament 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)

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 [Arnold CASSOLA]; Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Joseph MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

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); Ghazdatal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)

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, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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 recipient of illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. The financial services industry has grown in recent years, but is not fully modernized. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism all of which have been negatively affected by the global economic downturn. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. The Maltese government in 2009 will be challenged to contain the budget deficit, which ballooned in 2008 to about 4.1% of GDP, placing it above the euro zone's 3% maximum.

$9.801 billion (2008 est.)

$9.695 billion (2007)

$9.329 billion (2006)

$8.584 billion (2008 est.)

2.5% (2008 est.)

3.9% (2007 est.)

3.2% (2006 est.)

$24,200 (2008 est.)

$24,100 (2007 est.)

$23,300 (2006 est.)

173,000 (2008)

6.4% (2007)

NA%

26 (2007)

20% of GDP (2008 est.)

4.4% (2008 est.)

1.3% (2007 est.)

NA% (31 December 2008)

6.24% (31 December 2007)

$4.639 billion (31 January 2008)

$4.603 billion (31 December 2007)

$8.771 billion (31 January 2008 est.)

$7.645 billion (31 December 2007)

$10 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$10.99 billion (31 December 2007)

$5.633 billion (31 December 2007)

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, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco

NA%

2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.)

1.85 billion kWh (2006 est.)

0 kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

18,680 bbl/day (2006 est.)

0 bbl/day (2005)

18,910 bbl/day (2005)

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

0 cu m (2007 est.)

0 cu m (2007 est.)

0 cu m (2007 est.)

0 cu m (2007 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

$-538 million (2008 est.)

$3.491 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Singapore 14.4%, Germany 13.7%, France 12.6%, US 11.3%, UK 10%, Hong Kong 6.1%, Japan 4.9%, Italy 4% (2007)

$4.963 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

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

Italy 26%, UK 15%, France 9.5%, Germany 8.8%, Singapore 5.2% (2007)

$4.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$188.8 million (2005)

$NA

$NA

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)

198,100 (2007)

371,500 (2007)

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

5 (2006)

.mt

26,494 (2008)

158,000 (2007)

1 (2008)

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2007)

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

none

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe