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Malta Country Guide
Explore Malta in Europe
The topography includes mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains with many coastal cliffs. The average density of population is approximately 1,275 per km². The notable climate conditions in Malta can be described as Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Possible natural disasters include NA.
To reach someone in Malta dial +356 prior to a number. There are 252,700 installed telephones. And there are 422,100 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900/1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".mt". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 240V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Malta
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.
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.
National administrative regions of Malta
- Birkirkara
- Birzebbuga
- Bormla
- Ghajnsielem
- H'Attard
- Had-Dingli
- Hal Balzan
- Hal Gharghur
- Hal Ghaxaq
- Hal Kirkop
- Hal Lija
- Hal Luqa
- Hal Qormi
- Hal Safi
- Hal Tarxien
- Haz-Zabbar
- Haz-Zebbug
- Il-Belt Valletta
- Il-Birgu
- Il-Fgura
- Il-Fontana
- Il-Furjana
- Il-Gudja
- Il-Gzira
- Il-Hamrun
- Il-Kalkara
- Il-Marsa
- Il-Mellieha
- Il-Mosta
- Il-Munxar
- Il-Qala
- Il-Qrendi
- In-Nadur
- In-Naxxar
- Ir-Rabat
- Is-Siggiewi
- Is-Swieqi
- Ix-Xaghra
- Ix-Xewkija
- Ix-Xghajra
- Iz-Zebbug
- Iz-Zejtun
- Iz-Zurrieq
- L-Gharb
- L-Ghasri
- L-Iklin
- L-Imdina
- L-Imgarr
- L-Imqabba
- L-Imsida
- L-Imtarfa
- L-Isla
- Malta (general)
- Marsaskala
- Marsaxlokk
- Paola
- Pembroke
- Saint John
- Saint Julian
- Saint Lawrence
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Paul's Bay
- Saint Venera
- Ta' Kercem
- Ta' Sannat
- Ta' Xbiex
- Tal-Pieta
- Tas-Sliema
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Europe Neighbours: Capital: Valletta |
| Size | 316 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 122 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC |
| Population | 403,000 |
| Currency | Name Lira, Currency Code:MTL |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .mt |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +356 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 422,100 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 252,700 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 316 (sq km) | 208 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 411,277 | 175 |
| Population growth rate | 0.34 (%) | 161 |
| Birth rate | 10.27 (births/1,000 population) | 188 |
| Death rate | 8.84 (deaths/1,000 population) | 72 |
| Net migration rate | 1.99 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 41 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 8.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 159 |
| Infant mortality rate | 3.62 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 208 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.98 (years) | 34 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.53 (children born/woman) | 186 |
| Health expenditures | 8.70 (% of GDP) | 50 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.10 (%) | 147 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 500 | 154 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 100 | 143 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 28.80 (%) | 32 |
| Education expenditures | 5.40 (% of GDP) | 59 |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | 13.90 (%) | 93 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 11,450,000,000 | 150 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 0.80 (%) | 168 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 27,500 | 58 |
| Labor force | 180,200 | 175 |
| Unemployment rate | 6.10 (%) | 59 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 27.40 | 124 |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 15.80 (% of GDP) | 134 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 40.60 (% of GDP) | 43 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -2.90 (% of GDP) | 107 |
| Public debt | 77.00 (% of GDP) | 29 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.50 (%) | 57 |
| Central bank discount rate | 1.75 (%) | 127 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 4.76 (%) | 161 |
| Stock of narrow money | 5,146,000,000 | 99 |
| Stock of broad money | 12,660,000,000 | 97 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 13,010,000,000 | 92 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 2,399,000,000 | 96 |
| Current account balance | -221,200,000 | 79 |
| Exports | 3,670,000,000 | 126 |
| Imports | 4,648,000,000 | 133 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 498,400,000 | 148 |
| Debt - external | 45,770,000,000 | 63 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 17,250,000,000 | 72 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 1,213,000,000 | 75 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 2,168,000,000 (kWh) | 134 |
| Electricity - consumption | 1,991,000,000 (kWh) | 141 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 573,000 (kW) | 132 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 99.70 (% of total installed capacity) | 51 |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0.30 (% of total installed capacity) | 83 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 19,520 (bbl/day) | 130 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 47,050 (bbl/day) | 70 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 3,114,000 (Mt) | 140 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 232,300 | 126 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 521,700 | 166 |
| Internet hosts | 14,754 | 125 |
| Internet users | 240,600 | 137 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 1 | 226 |
| Roadways | 3,096 (km) | 164 |
| Merchant marine | 1,650 | 4 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| City of Valletta The capital of Malta is inextricably linked to the history of the military and charitable Order of St John of Jerusalem. It was ruled successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and the Order of the Knights of St ... | 1980 |
| Megalithic Temples of Malta Seven megalithic temples are found on the islands of Malta and Gozo, each the result of an individual development. The two temples of Ggantija on the island of Gozo are notable for their gigantic Bronze Age structures. On the island of Malta, the tem ... | 1980 |
| Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum The Hypogeum is an enormous subterranean structure excavated c. 2500 B.C., using cyclopean rigging to lift huge blocks of coralline limestone. Perhaps originally a sanctuary, it became a necropolis in prehistoric times. ... | 1980 |