FLAG: The national flag consists of two equal vertical stripes, white at the hoist and red at the fly, with a representation of the Maltese Cross, edged with red, in the canton of the white stripe.

ANTHEM: L’Innu Malti (The Maltese Hymn).

MONETARY UNIT: The Maltese lira (LM) consists of 100 cents, with each cent divided into 10 mils. There are coins of 2, 3, and 5 mils and of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, and notes of 2, 5, 10, and 20 lira. Gold and silver coins of 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100 lira also are in circulation. ml1 = $2.70270 (or $1 = ml0.37) as of 2005.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard, but some local measures are still in use.

HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; National Day, 31 March; May Day, 1 May; Assumption, 15 August; Republic Day, 13 December; Christmas, 25 December. Movable holidays include Good Friday.

TIME: 1pm = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

Malta is a European island nation that lies in the central Mediterranean Sea. There are three main islands—Malta, Gozo, and Comino—as well as two small uninhabited islands, Cominotto and Filfla. Malta’s total area is 316 square kilometers (122 square miles), slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C. The total coastline is 252.81 kilometers (157 miles).

Malta’s capital city, Valletta, is located on the east coast of the island of Malta.

2 Topography

The islands of Malta are a rocky formation (chiefly limestone) rising from east to northeast, with clefts that form deep harbors, bays, creeks, and rocky coves. The highest point, Ta’Dmejrek (one of the Dingli Cliffs), rises to an elevation of 253 meters (830 feet). The lowest point is at sea level (Mediterranean Sea).

3 Climate

The climate is typically Mediterranean. The average low winter temperature is 10°c (50°f); the average high summer temperature is 29°c (84°f). Rainfall averages about 64 centimeters (25.2 inches) per year.

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Geographic Features

Area: 316 sq km (122 sq mi)

Size ranking: 186 of 194

Highest elevation: 253 meters (830 feet) at Ta’Dmejrek

Lowest elevation: Sea level at the Mediterranean Sea

Land Use*

Arable land: 31%

Permanent crops: 3%

Other: 66%

Weather**

Average annual precipitation: 64 centimeters (25.2 inches)

Average temperature in January: (Valletta): 10–14°c (50–57°f)

Average temperature in July: (Valletta): 22–29°c (72–84°f)

* Arable Land: Land used for temporary crops, like meadows for mowing or pasture, gardens, and greenhouses.

Permanent crops: Land cultivated with crops that occupy its use for long periods, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

Other: Any land not specified, including built-on areas, roads, and barren land.

** The measurements for precipitation and average temperatures were taken at weather stations closest to the country’s largest city.

Precipitation and average temperature can vary significantly within a country, due to factors such as latitude, altitude, coastal proximity, and wind patterns.

4 Plants and Animals

The islands are almost treeless. Vegetation is sparse and stunted. Carob and fig are endemic, while grapes, bay leaf, and olives have been cultivated for centuries. There are some rock plants.

The weasel, hedgehog, and bat are native to Malta. White rabbits and mice have been introduced. Many types of turtles, tortoises, and butterflies and several varieties of lizard also are found. Common varieties of Mediterranean fish, as well as the seal and porpoise, inhabit the surrounding waters.

5 Environment

Malta’s most significant environmental problems include inadequate water supply, deforestation, and danger to its wildlife. The nation’s agriculture suffers from lack of adequate water for crops due to limited rainfall. Currently, 31% of Malta’s land area is arable land and 3% is planted with permanent crops. In cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund, the Ghadira wetland area was made a permanent nature reserve in 1980. According to a 2006 report, threatened species included one type of mammal, ten species of birds, and eleven species of fish. Endangered species included the slender-billed curlew, Mediterranean monk seal, and the hawksbill and Atlantic ridley turtles.

6 Population

The population was estimated in 2005 at 405,000, and was projected to reach 396,000 in 2025. Malta is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with 1,254 people per square kilometer (3,247 per square mile). Valletta, the capital and chief port, had a population of 83,000 people in 2005.

7 Migration

High population and unemployment have led to emigration. Most foreigners living in Malta are British nationals and their dependents. Malta has no national refugee law. Thus, all recognized refugees are resettled in third countries. In 2004, there were 1,558 refugees in Malta, with 141 asylum seekers in that year. In 2005, the estimated net migration rate was 2.06 migrants per 1,000 population. In 2000, the total number of migrants was 9,000.

8 Ethnic Groups

Most Maltese are believed to be descended from the ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, but there are strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock.

9 Languages

Maltese, a Semitic language with Romance-language elements, is the national language and the language of the courts. Maltese and English are both official languages.

10 Religions

Roman Catholicism is the official state religion, but there is freedom of worship for all faiths. An estimated 95% of the population was Roman Catholic, with about 63% actively practicing. Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Bible Baptist Church also have active groups on the island. There is one Muslim mosque and one Jewish congregation. Zen Buddhism and the Baha’i faith are also represented.

11 Transportation

Malta has no railways. In 2003, there were 2,254 kilometers (1,402 miles) of roadways, of which 1,973 kilometers (1,227 miles) were paved. Passenger cars in 2003 totaled 200,509, while there were 44,586 commercial vehicles.

The harbors of Valletta, among the finest in the Mediterranean, are a port of call for many lines connecting northwestern Europe and the Middle and Far East. Roughly 3,000 ships dock at Valletta each year. The principal airport is at Luqa. The national air carrier is Malta Airlines. In 2001 (the latest year for which data was available), a total of 1,405,200 passengers were carried

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Name: Lawrence Gonzi

Position: Prime minister of a parliamentary democracy

Took Office: 23 March 2004

Birthplace: Valletta, Malta

Birthdate: 1 July 1953

Education: Doctor of Laws, the University of Malta

Spouse: Catherine Callus

Children: Three children—David, Mikela and Paul

on scheduled domestic and international airline flights.

12 History

The strategic importance of the island of Malta was recognized in ancient times, when it was occupied by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans. The apostle Paul was shipwrecked at Malta in ad 58, and the islanders were converted to Christianity within two years. With the official split of the Roman Empire in ad 395, Malta was assigned to Byzantium, and in ad 870 it fell under the domination of the Saracens.

Over the following centuries, Malta had several more occupiers, including the French and, finally, the British, who ousted Napoleon’s forces in 1800. British possession of Malta was confirmed in 1814 by the Treaty of Paris.

During almost the entire 19th century, a British military governor ruled the colony. The Maltese remained loyal to Britain in World War I (1914–18) and World War II (1939–45). For gallantry under heavy fire during the German-Italian siege (1940–43), the entire population was awarded the George Cross.

Although the Maltese enjoyed a great degree of self-government, they wanted complete independence, except in matters of defense and foreign affairs. Malta became a sovereign and independent nation within the British Commonwealth of Nations on 21 September 1964. At the same time, mutual defense and financial agreements were signed with the United Kingdom.

On 13 December 1974, Malta formally adopted a republican form of government, and the former governor-general, Sir Anthony Mamo, became the first president. Dom Mintoff, leader of the Malta Labor Party and prime minister from 1971 through 1984, adopted socialist measures domestically and initiated a non-aligned policy in foreign affairs. The Nationalists have been in power since 1987.

Maltese politics has revolved around foreign policy issues, in particular, Malta’s relationship with Europe. The Nationalist Party (NP) government was a strong advocate of European Union (EU) membership. In March 1999, Guido de Marco of the Nationalist Party was elected president by the House of Representatives. Having regained the post of prime minister, NP leader Fenech Adami moved to reactivate Malta’s EU membership application. Malta was one of ten new candidate countries formally invited to join the EU in December 2002. Malta held its referendum on EU membership on 8 March 2003, with 53.6% voting in favor of joining the body. On 1 May 2004, Malta officially became a member of the EU.

On 12 April 2003, elections were held that gave the NP 35 seats in the House of Representatives, with 30 seats going to the Labor Party. The House then elected Eddie Fenech Adami president on 29 March 2004, with former deputy prime minister Lawrence Gonzi taking over the position of prime minister. The next legislative elections were scheduled for April 2008, followed by presidential elections in 2009.

13 Government

The single-chamber parliament, the House of Representatives, consists of 65 members elected for a 5-year term by universal adult suffrage (vote). The House elects the head of state, called the President of the Republic, who in turn appoints the prime minister, who is the leader of the majority party, and is responsible for the general direction and control of the government.

Local government was established in 1993 with the approval of the Local Councils Act, setting up 68 local councils in Malta. There are 54 local councils on the main island of Malta, and 14 in Gozo.

14 Political Parties

There are two major political parties, the Nationalist Party (NP) and the Malta Labor Party (MLP), which have alternated in political power. The MLP regained a majority in 1996 after nine years of NP control, only to lose it again in the elections of 1998. The MLP desires closer ties with Libya, whereas the NP wants to strengthen its ties to Europe. In April 2004, legislative elections gave the NP control of the House of Representatives, which won 35 seats, while the MLP held 30 seats. Parties not represented in the legislature were the Malta Communist Party (PKM), the Democratic Alternative (AD), and the Malta Democratic Party (PDM).

15 Judicial System

The superior courts consist of the Constitutional Court, two courts of appeal, the civil court, court of magistrates, criminal court, and special courts.

Yearly Growth Rate

This economic indicator tells by what percent the economy has increased or decreased when compared with the previous year.

16 Armed Forces

The armed forces of Malta numbered 2,237 active personnel in 2005. The defense budget for that same year totaled $48.5 million.

17 Economy

Until 1964, the dominant factor in the economy was the presence of British military forces. Malta’s economy now relies on light industry, tourism, and other service industries. In 2005, it was estimated that agriculture contributed 3% to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), with industry accounting for 23%, and services 74%. In recent years, the Maltese economy’s performance has been lackluster. GDP was estimated to have grown only 1% in 2005, with unemployment estimated at 7.8%.

18 Income

In 2005, Malta’s gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $7.5 billion, or about $18,800 per person. The annual growth rate of GDP that same year was estimated at 1%. The average inflation rate was estimated at 3% in 2005.

19 Industry

Malta’s principal industries are shipbuilding (including maintenance and repairs), food processing, electronics, footwear, and textiles and clothing. Other products include beverages, tobacco products, lace, metals, rubber products, and plastic goods. Industry (including ship building and repair) accounted for 23% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2005.

20 Labor

The workforce in 2005 was estimated at 160,000. In that same year, services accounted for 75% of employment, while 22% were engaged in industry and the remaining 3% in agriculture. The unemployment rate in 2005 was estimated at 7.8%. About 63% of Malta’s workers were unionized in 2002.

The legal minimum working age is 16, and this is effectively enforced by the government. In 2002, the weekly minimum wage was $112 for adults.

21 Agriculture

Agriculture is carried out in small fields, consisting usually of strips of soil between rocks. In 2003, the total area under cultivation was about 11,000 hectares (27,200 acres). Most farms are

small. Wheat, barley, and grapes are the principal crops for domestic consumption. Potatoes, onions, wine, cut flowers, seeds, and fruit are the chief export crops. The total value of agricultural crops exported in 2004 was estimated at $76 million, while agricultural imports amounted to nearly $400.3 million that year.

22 Domesticated Animals

Malta’s livestock population in 2005 included 17,900 head of cattle, 73,000 pigs, 14,900 sheep, 5,400 goats, and 1 million poultry. Total meat production in 2005 was 18,838 tons, half of it pork.

Components of the Economy

This pie chart shows how much of the country’s economy is devoted to agriculture (including forestry, hunting, and fishing), industry, or services.

23 Fishing

Fishing is for local consumption. In 2003, the total catch was 2,019 tons. Principal species included gilthead seabream, European seabass, dolphinfish, and bluefin tuna.

24 Forestry

There are no forests on the islands. In 2004, a total of $85 million in forest products were imported.

25 Mining

In 2004, Malta produced 6,000 cubic meters of salt (obtained by the desalination of sea water), and 1.2 million cubic meters of limestone. Small amounts of cement, fertilizer, lime, and plaster were also produced.

26 Foreign Trade

Since it relies on external sources for much of its food, fuel, raw materials, and manufactured items, Malta imports more than it exports. Most of Malta’s commodity exports are electronic

Yearly Balance of Trade

The balance of trade is the difference between what a country sells to other countries (its exports) and what it buys (its imports). If a country imports more than it exports, it has a negative balance of trade (a trade deficit). If exports exceed imports there is a positive balance of trade (a trade surplus).

microcircuits (62%). Other export commodities include clothes (5.9%), refined petroleum products (4.4%), and toys (4.3%). Principal trade partners were the United States, Singapore, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

In 2004, Malta’s exports were valued at $2.6 billion, while imports were valued at $3.4 billion that same year.

27 Energy and Power

Malta has no proven reserves of crude oil, natural gas, nor any refining capacity. As a result, the country is entirely dependent upon imported fuel to meet its energy needs. Production of electrical energy in 2002 was 1.929 billion kilowatt hours, all of it generated through the burning of fossil fuels.

28 Social Development

The National Insurance Act of 1956 provides benefits for sickness, unemployment, old age, widows, orphaned children, disability, and industrial injuries.

Women make up a growing portion of the labor force. However, they are often channeled into traditionally female occupations, or work in family-owned businesses, and remain under-represented at the management level. Working women generally earn less than men. Women have equality in matters of family law, although divorce is not legal.

The law requires government protection of all groups against economic, social, and political discrimination.

29 Health

Free health services are administered by the government-run polyclinics. British, Belgian, and other foreign nationals work in Malta’s hospitals. Average life expectancy at birth is 78.86 years. As of 2004, there were an estimated 320 physicians, 377 nurses, 40 dentists, and 192 pharmacists per 100,000 people.

30 Housing

Malta’s housing stock is marked by over abundance. In 2003, an estimated 52,000 homes were listed as vacant. Despite this, the government continues to issue more housing construction permits than is necessary. In addition, many homes are second homes, whose owners are not willing to offer affordable rents. About 94% of homes on Malta have cooking facilities, 98% have a refrigerator, 80% have a washing machine,

Selected Social Indicators

The statistics below are the most recent estimates available as of 2006. For comparison purposes, data for the United States and averages for low-income countries and high-income countries are also given. About 15% of the world’s 6.5 billion people live in high-income countries, while 37% live in low-income countries.

Indicator	Malta	Low-income countries	High-income countries	United States
sources: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2006; Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2006; World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
Per capita gross national income (GNI)*	$18,590	$2,258	$31,009	$39,820
Population growth rate	0.4%	2%	0.8%	1.2%
People per square kilometer of land	1,254	80	30	32
Life expectancy in years: male	77	58	76	75
female	81	60	82	80
Number of physicians per 1,000 people	3.2	0.4	3.7	2.3
Number of pupils per teacher (primary school)	n.a.	43	16	15
Literacy rate (15 years and older)	97.9%	65%	>95%	99%
Television sets per 1,000 people	556	84	735	938
Internet users per 1,000 people	752	28	538	630
Energy consumed per capita (kg of oil equivalent)	1,888	501	5,410	7,843
CO² emissions per capita (metric tons)	6.39	0.85	12.97	19.92
* The GNI is the total of all goods and services produced by the residents of a country in a year. The per capita GNI is calculated by dividing a country’s GNI by its population and adjusting for relative purchasing power.
n.a.: data not available >: greater than <: less than

and 65% have a telephone. About 70% of all homes are owner-occupied.

31 Education

Primary education is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16, and is free in the public schools. Maltese law requires that the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church be included in the public school curriculum. In 2003, about 96% of all age-eligible students were enrolled in primary school, with 87% of all age-eligible students enrolled in secondary school. The pupil-teacher ratio for secondary school was about 10 to 1.

Institutes of higher education include the University of Malta, the International Maritime Law Institute, and the School of Art. As of 2003, about 30% of all age-eligible students were enrolled in some form of higher education. The adult literacy rate in 2004 was estimated at about 97.9%.

32 Media

In 2003, there were 208,300 mainline phones in use throughout the country, along with 290,000 mobile phones. As of 2001 there were 1 AM and 18 FM radio stations, and 6 television stations, plus 1 commercial cable television network. In 1997 (the latest year for which data was available), there were 255,000 radios and 280,000 televisions throughout the country. In 2002, there were 120,000 Internet users. In 2004, approximately 752 people per 1,000 population had access to the Internet.

Leading newspapers (with estimated 2002 circulations) are It-Torca (Maltese, 30,000 daily), L’Orizzont (Maltese, 25,000 weekly), the Times (English, 23,000 daily), and Il-Mument (Maltese, 25,000 weekly).

33 Tourism and Recreation

Tourism is a major industry, with 1,127,000 visitors in 2003, of whom 405 came from the United Kingdom. That same year, there were 41,365 beds available in hotels and other accommodations, with a 53% occupancy rate. There are many scenic and historic sites, especially in Valletta, plus excellent beaches. Soccer is the national sport, and billiards and snooker are popular pastimes.

34 Famous Maltese

The city of Valletta derives its nomenclature from Jehan Parisot de la Vallette (1494–1568), Grand Master of the Knights of Saint John, who successfully withstood a great Turkish siege in 1565. Dominic (Dom) Mintoff (1916–), a founder of Malta’s Labor Party, was prime minister during 1955–58 and 1971–84. Agatha Barbara (1923– 2002), a former cabinet minister, was elected the first woman president of Malta on 16 February 1982. Philip Attard (1962–) is a popular pianist and composer.