Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/149.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 10KB | 298 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Malta.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Malta"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Malta, click {z,"7.978865,31.076996,20.769947,40.792063",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 320 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 320 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} less than twice the size of Washington, DC

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 140 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
contiguous zone: 24 nm
{3}continental shelf:{4} 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

{2}Climate:{4} Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

{2}Terrain:{4} mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
{3}lowest point:{4} Mediterranean Sea 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Dingli Cliffs 245 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} limestone, salt

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 38%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 3%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 0%
{3}other:{4} 59%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 10 sq km (1989)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

{2}natural hazards:{4} NA

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed,
but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification

{2}Geographic note:{4} the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta,
Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 375,576 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 22% (male 42,067; female 39,958)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 67% (male 126,179; female 125,321)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 11% (male 17,766; female 24,285) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.01% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 14.79 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 6.83 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.06 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.01 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.73 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 78.11 years
{3}male:{4} 75.77 years
{3}female:{4} 80.6 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 2.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Maltese (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} Maltese

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English

{2}Religions:{4} Roman Catholic 98%

{2}Languages:{4} Maltese (official), English (official)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 84%
{3}male:{4} 86%
{3}female:{4} 82%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Malta
{3}conventional short form:{4} Malta

{2}Type of government:{4} parliamentary democracy

{2}Capital:{4} Valletta

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} none (administered directly from Valletta)

{2}Independence:{4} 21 September 1964 (from UK)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

{2}Constitution:{4} 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

{2}Legal system:{4} based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) was elected for a five-year
term by the House of Representatives
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987)
was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Minister (since 14 May 1987) and Foreign Minister
(since 1990) Dr. Guido DE MARCO
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
House of Representatives: elections last held 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February
1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional
seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current
{3}total:{4} 69 (NP 36, MLP 33 after adjustment)

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party
(MLP), Alfred SANT

{2}International organization participation:{4} C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET
{3}chancery:{4} 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone], 3612
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
consulate(s): New York

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Joseph R. PAOLINO, Jr.
{3}embassy:{4} 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box 535, Valletta
{3}telephone:{4} [356] 235960
{3}FAX:{4} [356] 243229

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a
productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater
supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent
on foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the
economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 24% of GDP, with the electronics and textile
industries major contributors and with the state-owned Malta drydocks employing about 4,300
people. In 1994, over 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $12,000 places Malta
in the range of the less affluent EU countries.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 5% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $12,000 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 5% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 139,600 (1994)
{3}by occupation:{4} government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%, manufacturing 22%,
training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture 2% (1990)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 3.4% (third quarter 1995)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $1.4 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $215 million (FY94/95 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction, food manufacturing, textiles,
footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 5.4% (1992)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 250,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 1.1 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 2,749 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green
peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

{2}Exports:{4} $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter
{3}partners:{4} Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%

{2}Imports:{4} $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
{3}partners:{4} Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%

{2}External debt:{4} $603 million (1992)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3570 (January 1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776
(1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 April - 31 March


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,582 km
{3}paved:{4} 1,471 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 111 km (1993 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} Marsaxlokk, Valletta

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,045 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,082,925 GRT/28,829,144 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 285, cargo 331, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil
16, container 39, liquefied gas tanker 4, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil
tanker 208, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 29, short-sea passenger 23, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 12
{3}note:{4} a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 47 countries among which are Greece
425, Croatia 62, Russia 43, Switzerland 39, Italy 32, Norway 25, Monaco 23, Georgia 23, UK 22,
and Germany 19 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 191,876 (1992 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} automatic system satisfies normal requirements
{3}domestic:{4} submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
{3}international:{4} 1 submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 189,000 (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 2 (1987 est.)

{2}Televisions:{4} 267,000 (1992 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 99,018
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 78,656 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $21.0 million, 1.0% of GDP (FY92/93)