|
National name: Repubblika ta' Malta
President: Eddie Fenech Adami (2004)
Prime Minister: Lawrence Gonzi (2004)
Total area: 122 sq mi (316 sq km)
Population (2006 est.): 400,214 (growth rate: 0.4%); birth rate: 10.2/1000;
infant mortality rate: 3.9/1000; life expectancy: 79.0; density per sq mi: 3,229
Capital (2003 est.): Valletta, 194,200 (metro. area) 6,900 (city proper)
Largest city: Birkirkara, 21,600
Monetary unit: Maltese lira
Languages: Maltese and English (both official)
Ethnicity/race: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians,
with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religion: Roman Catholic 98%
Literacy rate: 93% (2003 census)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $7.568 billion; per capita $19,000. Real
growth rate: 1.5%. Inflation: 2.8%. Unemployment: 7.8%. Arable land: 31%.
Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut
flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs. Labor force: 160,000;
agriculture 3%, industry 22%, services 75%. Industries: tourism, electronics,
shipbuilding and repair, construction, food and beverages, textiles, footwear,
clothing, tobacco. Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land. Exports:
$2.744 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures. Imports: $3.859 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and
transport equipment, manufactured and semimanufactured goods; food, drink,
tobacco. Major trading partners: U.S., France, Singapore, UK, Germany, Italy
(2004).
Member of Commonwealth of Nations
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 187,000 (1997); mobile cellular:
17,691 (1997). Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999).
Radios: 255,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 6 (2000). Televisions:
280,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2002). Internet users:
59,000 (2002).
Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 2,254 km; paved: 1,972 km;
unpaved: 282 km (2000). Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta. Airports: 1
(2002).
International disputes: none.
Go to Country details page
|