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NAVIGATION
Republic of Malta
Repubblika ta' Malta
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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 become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) |
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Geographic coordinates:
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35 50 N, 14 35 E |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 316 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo) |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate:
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Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli) |
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Natural resources:
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limestone, salt, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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397,499 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 19.7% (male 40,609; female 37,882)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 135,047; female 133,207) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 21,215; female 29,539) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.73% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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12.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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5.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.26 years
female: 80.96 years (2002 est.) male: 75.78 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.91 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.52% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock) |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 98% |
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Languages:
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Maltese (official), English (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 88.76% male: 86.91% female: 89.55% (1995 census) |