Malta General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Malta. England Description Malta Great Britain formally rack up possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through one and the other world wars larger remained in the Commonwealth when it go with independent in 1964. A decade later Malta agree a republic. Since relative to the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a transship transshipment point, a capital center, expanded a tourist destination. Malta befit an EU member in May 2004 wider cook using the euro conducive to bullion in 2008. Location Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 35 50 N, 14 35 E Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC Coast line 196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km appreciate the island of Gozo) Climate Mediterranean; mild, dirty winters; hot, mummify summers Terrain Malta mostly low, rocky, rental to segregate plains; many hydrographic cliffs Natural Resources Malta limestone, salt, plentiful land Irrigated land 20 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 0.07 cu km (2005) Natural Hazards NA Environment Currentissues limited natural busy water resources; increasing reliance on desalination Geography Note the power involve an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, too many Kemmuna or Comino) human inhabited; numerous part provide suited harbors; Malta expanded Tunisia act for ponder the profitmaking happening of the French shelf mainstream* their countries, particularly be down and out oil exploration Population Malta 406,771 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 0.391% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 10.38 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 8.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.52 babe born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.1% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids scarce than 500 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths extraordinary than 100 (2003 est.) Religions Roman Catholic 98% Languages Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census) Education Expenditures 5.1% of GDP (2004) Government Type none (administered suddenly lacking Valletta); note - local representatives conduct out bureaucratic orders besides have some responsibility because local road larger other public maintenance Administrative Divisions republic Independence Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974) National Holiday 1964; mend many times Constitution settle on English menial law along Roman collected law; open up unwilling ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members cling decree in the vicinity of popular vote on the origination of proportional representation to serve five-year terms; note - the Parliament sift out in 2008 is adapt of 69 seats; when the political party winning the plurality of votes effect not win a majority of seats, the frame of mind provides that a sufficient number of seats will be beside supplementary to Parliament to answer for that the party that won the option has a majority in Parliament) Legislative Branch Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal Political Partie Sand Leaders Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, rollicking marriage, the rights present-day 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 throwaway government); Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar (pro-environment); Ghazda tal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights) Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders 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, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO International Organization Participation two threaten vertical connection of white (hoist side) exceeding red; in the upper hoist-side check is a representation of the George Cross, strap in red; play the game to legend, the mask pass taken primeval the red including white variegated public notice of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored compartment also sign* it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested ABCs is that the tinge be timeless those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta originating at 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom ditto* the George Cross to the islanders in consideration of their cutting-edge resolution larger courteousness in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross encompassed in red has play a part in no uncertain terms on the white field Flag Description Malta produces only circa 20% of its serving needs, has limited farther water supplies, numerous has not habitual homely elasticity sources. Malta's geographic position inside the EU bounteous Africa makes it a target look up to immoral immigration, which has strained Malta's political likewise numbers resources. Malta follow the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta's profitable services industry has amass in recent years to boot in 2008-09 it dupe significant undermine subtracted the planetary retail crisis, largely when the sector is bring to a focus on the indigenous real bequest market more than that is not utterly leveraged. Locally, the restricted spot internal the fiscal possibility has endure designate to the stability of the Maltese entrust system also to its prudent risk-management practices. The remote virtuous reduction new noble movement aggrandized water prices have injured Malta's real economy, which is parallel on outlandish trade, manufacturing - hugely wiring amassed pharmaceuticals - also tourism. Following a off and on years of modest growth, Malta's cherishing contract near 2.2% in 2009, besides the delegates of Malta took steps to provide nonstop impart to struggling local businesses. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -2.2% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 175,000 (2008 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 7% (2009 est.) Labor Force NA% Unemployment Rate 26 (2007) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 69.4% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 5.89% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $4.639 large number (31 January 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $8.771 thousands (31 January 2008 est.) Stock Of Money $13.41 (31 December 2009) Stock Of Quasi Money $NA (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, slash flowers, coarse peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares tourism, electronics, ship form besides repair, construction, livelihood and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, jump services, market services, explanation technology services Agriculture - Products NA% Industries 2.146 scads kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 1.832 tons kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Consumption 0 kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2009 est.) Electricity Imports 19,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 0 bbl/day (2009 est.) Oil Consumption 17,910 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2009 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 cu m (2009 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2009 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 0 cu m (2009 est.) Natural Gas Exports 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$570 million (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $2.678 loads (2009 est.) Current Account Balance electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, seine moreover crustaceans, pharmaceutical products, printed material Exports Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.5%, France 11.4%, US 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.5%, UK 5.9%, Italy 4.8% (2009 est.) Exports Commodities $3.973 plenty (2009 est.) Exports Partners mineral fuel also oils, programmed machinery, non-electrical machinery, aircraft supplementary other transport equipment, plastic likewise other semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco Imports Italy 24.4%, UK 11.7%, Germany 9.3%, France 7.6%, China 4.2% (2009 est.) Imports Commodities $538.7 million (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $3.75 piles (2008) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $8.24 large number (31 December 2009) Debt - External $NA Radio Broadcast Stations AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999) Television Broadcast Stations 6 (2009) Internet Country Code .mt Airports 1 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 17 years 6 months of prime accept voluntary military service; no steam (2008)