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Mission
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Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
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| page last updated on October 16, 2012 |
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(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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Click flag or map to enlarge 
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Click map to enlarge
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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. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.
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Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
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35 50 N, 14 35 E
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total: 316 sq km
country comparison to the world: 208
land:
316 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
25 nm
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Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
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mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
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limestone, salt, arable land
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arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops:
3.13%
other:
65.62% (2005)
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32 sq km (2003)
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0.07 cu km (2005)
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total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
per capita:
50 cu m/yr (2000)
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NA
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limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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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; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
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noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Maltese
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Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
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Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
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Roman Catholic (official) 98%
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409,836 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
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0-14 years: 15.4% (male 32,402/ female 30,866)
15-64 years:
68.1% (male 141,719/ female 137,222)
65 years and over:
16.5% (male 29,830/ female 37,797) (2012 est.)
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total: 40.3 years
male:
39.1 years
female:
41.7 years (2012 est.)
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0.359% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
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10.31 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
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8.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
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urban population: 95% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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VALLETTA (capital) 199,000 (2009)
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.79 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 159
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total: 3.65 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 207
male:
4.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 79.85 years
country comparison to the world: 34
male:
77.57 years
female:
82.26 years (2012 est.)
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1.53 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
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16.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 1
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3.073 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
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4.88 beds/1,000 population (2009)
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0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
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fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
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fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
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20.7% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 21
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6.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 22
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definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population:
92.8%
male:
91.7%
female:
93.9% (2005 Census)
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total: 14 years
male:
14 years
female:
15 years (2008)
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total: 13.3%
country comparison to the world: 86
male:
17.7%
female:
15.4% (2009)
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conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form:
Malta
local long form:
Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form:
Malta
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republic
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name: Valletta
geographic coordinates:
35 53 N, 14 30 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
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21 September 1964 (from the UK)
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Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
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1964; amended many times
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mixed legal system of English common law and civil law (based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes)
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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009)
head of government:
Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections:
president elected by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held on 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
election results:
George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives
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unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation by the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) to serve five-year terms; note - the parliament elected in 2008 is composed of 69 seats; when the political party winning an absolute majority of first-count votes (or a plurality of first-count votes in an election where only two parties are represented in parliament) does not win an absolute majority of seats, the constitution provides for the winning party to be awarded additional number of seats in parliament to guarantee it an absolute majority; in the event that more than two parties are represented in parliament, with none acquiring the absolute majority of votes, the party winning the majority of seats prevails
elections:
last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results:
percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, PL 48.8%, other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, PL 34
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Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal
note:
magistrates and judges for the courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
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Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Michael BRIGUGLIO]; Labor Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]; The Malta Communist Party [Victor DEGIOVANNI]
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Alleanza Liberali-Demokratika Maltra or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, the rights existent in other EU member states); Alternattiva Demokratika (pro-environment); Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar (pro-environment); Ghazda tal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)
other:
environmentalists
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Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph COLE
chancery:
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
FAX:
[1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s):
New York
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chief of mission: Ambassador Gina ABERCROMBIE-WINSTANLEY
embassy:
New Embassy
mailing address:
Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
telephone:
[356] 2561 4000
FAX:
[356] 2124 3229
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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; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field
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Maltese cross
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name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)
lyrics/music:
Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
note:
adopted 1945; the anthem is written in the form of a prayer
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Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position between Europe and North Africa makes it a target for illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. Malta's fertility rate is below the EU average, and population growth in recent years has largely been from immigration, putting increasing pressure on the pension system. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing, and tourism, and was hurt by the global economic downturn. Malta has low unemployment relative to other European countries, and growth has recovered since the 2009 recession. Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and in 2008-09 it escaped significant damage from the international financial crisis, largely because the sector is centered on the indigenous real estate market and is not highly leveraged and the banking system is closely regulated. Fiscal stimulus measures contributed to a deterioration in Malta's public finances in 2011, leading the EU to warn Malta that it would risk sanctions if it failed to bring its deficit and debt levels within EU guidelines. Moody's downgraded Malta's sovereign credit rating in September 2011.
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$10.89 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$10.67 billion (2010 est.)
$10.44 billion (2009 est.)
note:
data are in 2011 US dollars
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$8.896 billion (2011 est.)
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2.1% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
2.3% (2010 est.)
-2.7% (2009 est.)
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$25,800 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$25,400 (2010 est.)
$25,100 (2009 est.)
note:
data are in 2011 US dollars
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agriculture: 1.9%
industry:
17.2%
services:
80.9% (2010 est.)
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170,500 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
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agriculture: 1.5%
industry:
24.7%
services:
73.9% (2011)
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6.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
6.9% (2010 est.)
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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26 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 130
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16.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
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revenues: $4.559 billion
expenditures:
$3.425 billion (2011 est.)
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51.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
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12.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
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70.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
69% of GDP (2010 est.)
note:
Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; it includes the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central government, state government, local government and social security funds
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2.7% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
1.5% (2010 est.)
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1.75% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 119
1.75% (31 December 2010)
note:
this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
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4.75% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
4.617% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$6.952 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$7.046 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
note:
see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
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$14.22 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$12.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$22.38 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 80
$20.13 billion (31 December 2010)
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$3.424 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 95
$2.399 billion (31 December 2010)
$1.982 billion (31 December 2009)
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potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
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tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
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NA%
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-$352 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
-$342 million (2010 est.)
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$5.204 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$3.091 billion (2010 est.)
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machinery and mechanical appliances; mineral fuels, oils and products; pharmaceutical products; printed books and newspapers; aircraft/spacecraft and parts thereof; toys, games, and sports requisites
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Germany 14.8%, France 9.3%, Italy 6.9%, UK 6.9% (2009 est.)
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$7.336 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$6.022 billion (2010 est.)
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mineral fuels, oils and products; electrical machinery; aircraft/spacecraft and parts thereof; machinery and mechanical appliances; plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; vehicles and parts thereof
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Italy 31.8%, France 8.6%, UK 8%, Germany 6.9% (2009 est.)
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$515.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$540.2 million (31 December 2010 est.)
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$48.79 billion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 58
$5.978 billion (31 December 2010)
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$17.25 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 71
$9.019 billion (31 December 2009)
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$1.213 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7194 (2011 est.)
0.755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)
0.7345 (2007 est.)
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calendar year
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2.168 billion kWh (2011)
country comparison to the world: 135
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1.991 billion kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 140
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
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571,500 kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
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99.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
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0.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
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0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
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0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
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19,520 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
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36,580 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
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0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
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3.114 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
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229,300 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 126
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521,700 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 164
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general assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
domestic:
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 180 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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2 publicly-owned TV stations, Television Malta (TVM) broadcasting nationally plus an educational channel; several privately-owned national television stations, two of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 1 station; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2011)
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.mt
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14,687 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 127
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240,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
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1 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 226
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total: 1
over 3,047 m:
1 (2012)
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2 (2012)
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total: 3,096 km
country comparison to the world: 164
paved:
2,710 km
unpaved:
386 km (2005)
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total: 1,650
country comparison to the world: 4
by type:
bulk carrier 544, cargo 351, carrier 1, chemical tanker 324, container 117, liquefied gas 36, passenger 50, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 160, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 22, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 18
foreign-owned:
1,437 (Angola 7, Azerbaijan 1, Belgium 7, Bermuda 15, Bulgaria 8, Canada 5, China 6, Croatia 6, Cyprus 32, Denmark 34, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 135, Greece 469, Hong Kong 4, India 3, Iran 48, Ireland 4, Israel 3, Italy 45, Japan 5, Kuwait 3, Latvia 8, Lebanon 6, Libya 5, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands 3, Norway 96, Oman 5, Poland 21, Portugal 3, Romania 7, Russia 45, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 4, Slovenia 4, South Korea 2, Spain 8, Sweden 1, Switzerland 20, Syria 4, Turkey 233, UAE 1, UK 21, Ukraine 29, US 34)
registered in other countries:
2 (Panama 2) (2010)
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Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
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Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2010)
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17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2011)
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males age 16-49: 95,499
females age 16-49:
90,919 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 79,645
females age 16-49:
75,684 (2010 est.)
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male: 2,554
female:
2,385 (2010 est.)
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0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
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| Transnational Issues ::Malta |
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none
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minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
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