Europe :: Malta
  • Introduction :: Malta
  • Background:
    With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and the French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic ten years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.
  • Geography :: Malta
  • 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
    country comparison to the world: 209
    Area - comparative:
    slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
    Area comparison map: Area comparison map
    Land boundaries:
    0 km
    Coastline:
    196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
    Maritime claims:
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    contiguous zone: 24 nm
    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
    exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
    Climate:
    Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
    Terrain:
    mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
    Elevation:
    lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
    highest point: Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m
    Natural resources:
    limestone, salt, arable land
    Land use:
    agricultural land: 32.3% (2011 est.)
    arable land: 28.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 3.9% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
    forest: 0.9% (2011 est.)
    other: 66.8% (2011 est.)
    Irrigated land:
    35 sq km (2012)
    Population distribution:
    most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
    Natural hazards:
    occasional droughts
    Environment - current issues:
    limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination; deforestation; wildlife preservation
    Environment - international agreements:
    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
    Geography - note:
    the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing oil exploration on the continental shelf between their countries, although no commercially viable reserves have been found as of 2017
  • People and Society :: Malta
  • Population:
    449,043 (July 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    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)
    Languages:
    Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
    Religions:
    Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
    Age structure:
    0-14 years: 14.29% (male 33,156 /female 31,012)
    15-24 years: 11.03% (male 25,713 /female 23,815)
    25-54 years: 40.92% (male 95,162 /female 88,602)
    55-64 years: 13.25% (male 29,787 /female 29,703)
    65 years and over: 20.51% (male 41,900 /female 50,193) (2018 est.)
    population pyramid: population pyramid
    Dependency ratios:
    total dependency ratio: 48.8 (2015 est.)
    youth dependency ratio: 21.4 (2015 est.)
    elderly dependency ratio: 27.3 (2015 est.)
    potential support ratio: 3.7 (2015 est.)
    Median age:
    total: 41.8 years (2018 est.)
    male: 40.6 years
    female: 43.1 years
    country comparison to the world: 37
    Population growth rate:
    0.99% (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    Birth rate:
    10 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 192
    Death rate:
    7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 93
    Net migration rate:
    7.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 12
    Population distribution:
    most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
    Urbanization:
    urban population: 94.7% of total population (2019)
    rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    Major urban areas - population:
    213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)
    Sex ratio:
    at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
    total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
    Mother's mean age at first birth:
    26.9 years (2010 est.)

    note: data refer to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births

    Maternal mortality rate:
    6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 161
    Infant mortality rate:
    total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
    male: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
    country comparison to the world: 178
    Life expectancy at birth:
    total population: 82.7 years (2018 est.)
    male: 80.6 years
    female: 84.8 years
    country comparison to the world: 11
    Total fertility rate:
    1.48 children born/woman (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    Drinking water source:
    improved: urban: 100% of population
    rural: 100% of population
    total: 100% of population
    unimproved: urban: 0% of population
    rural: 0% of population
    total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
    Current Health Expenditure:
    9.3% (2016)
    Physicians density:
    3.83 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
    Hospital bed density:
    4.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)
    Sanitation facility access:
    improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)
    rural: 100% of population (2015 est.)
    total: 100% of population (2015 est.)
    unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
    rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)
    total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
    0.1% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
    <500 (2016 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deaths:
    <100 (2016 est.)
    Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
    28.9% (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    Education expenditures:
    5.3% of GDP (2015)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    Literacy:
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 94.4%
    male: 93.1%
    female: 95.8% (2015)
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
    total: 16 years
    male: 15 years
    female: 16 years (2016)
    Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
    total: 11.3%
    male: 12.2%
    female: 10.2% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 115
  • Government :: Malta
  • Country name:
    conventional long form: Republic of Malta
    conventional short form: Malta
    local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
    local short form: Malta
    etymology: the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite" meaning "honey-sweet" from the Greek word "meli" meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production
    Government type:
    parliamentary republic
    Capital:
    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
    etymology: named in honor of Jean de Valette, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who successfully led a defense of the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565
    Administrative divisions:
    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
    Independence:
    21 September 1964 (from the UK)
    National holiday:
    Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
    Constitution:
    history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
    amendments: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2016 (2017)
    International law organization participation:
    accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
    Citizenship:
    citizenship by birth: no
    citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta
    dual citizenship recognized: no
    residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
    Suffrage:
    18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
    Executive branch:
    chief of state: President George VELLA (since 4 April 2019)
    head of government: Prime Minister Joseph MUSCAT (since 11 March 2013)
    cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
    elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 2 April 2019 (next to be held by April 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
    election results: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous; Joseph MUSCAT (PL) reappointed prime minister
    Legislative branch:
    description: unicameral House of Representatives or Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati, a component of the Parliament of Malta (normally 65 seats but can include at-large members; members directly elected in 5 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the parliament elected in 2013 had 69 seats; an additional two seats were added in 2016 by the Constitutional Court to correct for mistakes made in the 2013 vote-counting process
    elections: last held on 3 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022); note - Prime Minister MUSCAT called for early elections amid corruption allegations
    election results: percent of vote by party - PL 55%, PN 43.7%, other 1.3%; seats by party - PL 37 PN 30; note - PN was awarded two additional seats for a total of 30 in accordance with the proportionality provisions specified in the constitution; PD candidates ran under the PN list; composition - men 57, women 10, percent of women 14.9%
    Judicial branch:
    highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)
    judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
    subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
    Political parties and leaders:
    Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD [Godfrey FARRUGIA]
    Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]
    Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN [Adrian DELIA]
    International organization participation:
    Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
    Diplomatic representation in the US:
    Ambassador Keith AZZOPARDI (since 17 September 2018)
    chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
    telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
    FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
    Diplomatic representation from the US:
    chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mark A. SCHAPIRO (since 29 September 2018)
    telephone: [356] 2561-4000
    embassy: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
    mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Dulles, VA 20189
    FAX: [356] 2561-4183
    Flag description:
    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 UK 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
    National symbol(s):
    Maltese eight-pointed cross; national colors: red, white
    National anthem:
    name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)
    lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT

    note: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer

  • Economy :: Malta
  • Economy - overview:

    Malta’s free market economy – the smallest economy in the euro-zone – relies heavily on trade in both goods and services, principally with Europe. Malta produces less than a quarter of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing, and tourism. Malta joined the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.

    Malta has weathered the euro-zone crisis better than most EU member states due to a low debt-to-GDP ratio and financially sound banking sector. It maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, and growth has fully recovered since the 2009 recession. In 2014 through 2016, Malta led the euro zone in growth, expanding more than 4.5% per year.

    Malta’s services sector continues to grow, with sustained growth in the financial services and online gaming sectors. Advantageous tax schemes remained attractive to foreign investors, though EU discussions of anti-tax avoidance measures have raised concerns among Malta’s financial services and insurance providers, as the measures could have a significant impact on those sectors. The tourism sector also continued to grow, with 2016 showing record-breaking numbers of both air and cruise passenger arrivals.

    Malta’s GDP growth remains strong and is supported by a strong labor market. The government has implemented new programs, including free childcare, to encourage increased labor participation. The high cost of borrowing and small labor market remain potential constraints to future economic growth. Increasingly, other EU and European migrants are relocating to Malta for employment, though wages have remained low compared to other European countries. Inflation remains low.

    GDP (purchasing power parity):
    $19.26 billion (2017 est.)
    $18.05 billion (2016 est.)
    $17.16 billion (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 152
    GDP (official exchange rate):
    $12.58 billion (2017 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate:
    6.7% (2017 est.)
    5.2% (2016 est.)
    9.5% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    GDP - per capita (PPP):
    $41,900 (2017 est.)
    $40,100 (2016 est.)
    $39,000 (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 43
    Gross national saving:
    33.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
    31.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
    31.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 22
    GDP - composition, by end use:
    household consumption: 45.2% (2017 est.)
    government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.)
    investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2017 est.)
    investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)
    exports of goods and services: 136.1% (2017 est.)
    imports of goods and services: -117.9% (2017 est.)
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
    agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.)
    industry: 10.2% (2017 est.)
    services: 88.7% (2017 est.)
    Agriculture - products:
    potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
    Industries:
    tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
    Industrial production growth rate:
    -3.3% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 189
    Labor force:
    206,300 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    Labor force - by occupation:
    agriculture: 1.6%
    industry: 20.7%
    services: 77.7% (2016 est.)
    Unemployment rate:
    4.6% (2017 est.)
    5.3% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 67
    Population below poverty line:
    16.3% (2015 est.)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
    lowest 10%: NA
    highest 10%: NA
    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
    28.1 (2015)
    27.7 (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 141
    Budget:
    revenues: 5.076 billion (2017 est.)
    expenditures: 4.583 billion (2017 est.)
    Taxes and other revenues:
    40.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 38
    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
    3.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 9
    Public debt:
    50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
    56.3% of GDP (2016 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; the data include 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, state, and local governments, and social security funds

    country comparison to the world: 99
    Fiscal year:
    calendar year
    Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    1.3% (2017 est.)
    0.9% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 69
    Central bank discount rate:
    -0.35% (31 December 2016 est.)
    -0.2% (31 December 2015)

    note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

    country comparison to the world: 162
    Commercial bank prime lending rate:
    3.7% (31 December 2017 est.)
    5.06% (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 167
    Stock of narrow money:
    $17.93 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $14.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

    note: see entry for the EU for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

    country comparison to the world: 71
    Stock of broad money:
    $17.93 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $14.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 72
    Stock of domestic credit:
    $13.97 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $11.99 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 101
    Market value of publicly traded shares:
    $4.632 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    $4.468 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $3.353 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 84
    Current account balance:
    $1.712 billion (2017 est.)
    $788 million (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 44
    Exports:
    $3.272 billion (2017 est.)
    $2.493 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    Exports - partners:
    Germany 17.3%, France 10.2%, Italy 9.4%, Singapore 5.9%, Hong Kong 5.8%, US 5.7%, Japan 4.9%, Libya 4.5% (2017)
    Exports - commodities:
    machinery and mechanical appliances; mineral fuels, oils and petroleum products; pharmaceutical products; books and newspapers; aircraft/spacecraft and parts; toys, games, and sports equipment
    Imports:
    $4.996 billion (2017 est.)
    $4.965 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    Imports - commodities:
    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
    Imports - partners:
    Italy 23%, Germany 7.9%, UK 7.7%, Spain 5%, Canada 4.5%, US 4.3%, France 4.2% (2017)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
    $833 million (31 December 2017 est.)
    $677.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    Debt - external:
    $90.98 billion (September 2016 est.)
    $99.02 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 53
    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
    $166.1 million (1 June 2016 est.)
    $155.5 million (1 June 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
    $65.49 million (June 2015 est.)
    $64.77 million (31 June 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 112
    Exchange rates:
    euros (EUR) per US dollar -
    0.885 (2017 est.)
    0.903 (2016 est.)
    0.9214 (2015 est.)
    0.885 (2014 est.)
    0.7634 (2013 est.)
  • Energy :: Malta
  • Electricity access:
    electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
    Electricity - production:
    813 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 156
    Electricity - consumption:
    2.122 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 142
    Electricity - exports:
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 167
    Electricity - imports:
    1.525 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 61
    Electricity - installed generating capacity:
    575,100 kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 142
    Electricity - from fossil fuels:
    81% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 80
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 186
    Electricity - from other renewable sources:
    19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 43
    Crude oil - production:
    0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 171
    Crude oil - exports:
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    Crude oil - imports:
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    Crude oil - proved reserves:
    0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 166
    Refined petroleum products - production:
    0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    Refined petroleum products - consumption:
    45,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    Refined petroleum products - exports:
    10,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 81
    Refined petroleum products - imports:
    52,290 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 79
    Natural gas - production:
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 167
    Natural gas - consumption:
    283.2 million cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    Natural gas - exports:
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 148
    Natural gas - imports:
    311.5 million cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 69
    Natural gas - proved reserves:
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
    8.141 million Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116
  • Communications :: Malta
  • Telephones - fixed lines:
    total subscriptions: 240,280
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 123
    Telephones - mobile cellular:
    total subscriptions: 560,010
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    Telephone system:
    general assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands; one of the most advanced telecoms in Europe, high penetration of mobile and broadband, and a way forward to expand e-commerce opportunities; '5G ready' and LTE network; regulatory system that encourages investors (2018)
    domestic: fixed-line  58 per 100  persons and mobile-cellular subscribership  135 per 100 persons (2018)
    international: country code - 356; landing points for the Malta-Gozo Cable, VMSCS, GO-1 Mediterranean Cable System, Malta Italy Interconnector, Melita-1, and the Italy-Malta submarine cable connections to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
    Broadcast media:
    2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta broadcasting nationally plus an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 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 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2019)
    Internet country code:
    .mt
    Internet users:
    total: 320,902
    percent of population: 77.3% (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
    total: 181,318
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
  • Military and Security :: Malta
  • Military expenditures:
    0.49% of GDP (2018)
    0.51% of GDP (2017)
    0.54% of GDP (2016)
    0.5% of GDP (2015)
    0.5% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 148
    Military and security forces:
    Armed Forces of Malta (AFM, includes land, maritime, and air elements, plus a Volunteer Reserve Force) (2019)
    Military service age and obligation:
    18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)
  • Transportation :: Malta
  • National air transport system:
    number of registered air carriers: 9 (2015)
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 28 (2015)
    annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,583,046 (2015)
    annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.352 million mt-km (2015)
    Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
    9H (2016)
    Airports:
    1 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 228
    Airports - with paved runways:
    total: 1 (2017)
    over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
    Heliports:
    2 (2013)
    Roadways:
    total: 2,254 km (2001)
    paved: 1,973 km (2001)
    unpaved: 281 km (2001)
    urban: 1,422 km (2001)
    non-urban: 832 km (2001)
    country comparison to the world: 165
    Merchant marine:
    total: 2,205
    by type: bulk carrier 645, container ship 283, general cargo 288, oil tanker 391, other 598 (2018)
    country comparison to the world: 11
    Ports and terminals:
    major seaport(s): Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
    container port(s) (TEUs): Marsaxlokk (3,150,000) (2017)
  • Transnational Issues :: Malta
  • Disputes - international:

    none

    Refugees and internally displaced persons:
    stateless persons: 11 (2018)

    note: 5,000 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (January 2015-December 2019)

    Illicit drugs:
    minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe