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Geography |
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the
Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the
size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters
and hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected
plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural
fresh water resources; increasing reliance on
desalination
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: 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
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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. Over the last 15 years,
the island has become a major freight transshipment point,
financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official
candidate for EU membership.
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People |
Population: 391,670 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 41,046; female 38,273)
15-64 years: 67% (male 132,692; female 131,532)
65 years and over: 13% (male 20,091; female
28,036) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.74% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 12.75 births/1,000 population (2000
est.)
Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000
est.)
Net migration rate: 2.39 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 live births
(2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.94 years
male: 75.49 years
female: 80.62 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2000
est.)
Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient
Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of
Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions: Roman Catholic 91%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 88%
female: 88% (1985)
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Communications |
Telephones - main lines in use: 171,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,650 (1999)
Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal
requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio
relay between islands
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6
(1999)
Radios: 255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1999)
Televisions: 280,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
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Transportation |
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,742 km
paved: 1,677 km
unpaved: 65 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:
total: 1,484 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
28,083,952 GRT/46,772,146 DWT
ships by type: bulk 431, cargo 424, chemical tanker 54,
combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 14, container
64, liquified gas 2, livestock carrier 3,
multi-functional large load carrier 4, passenger 7,
petroleum tanker 331, refrigerated cargo 44,
roll-on/roll-off 48, short-sea passenger 21, specialized
tanker 5, vehicle carrier 16 (1999 est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes
ships from 49 countries among which includes Greece 445,
Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia
26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24
(1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
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