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NAVIGATION
Republic of Malta
Repubblika ta' Malta
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta local short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Valletta |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders |
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Independence:
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21 September 1964 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 September (1964) |
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Constitution:
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1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by April 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 54% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30 |
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Judicial branch:
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Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador George SALIBA; note - newly-appointed Ambassador John LOWELL is expected to present his credentials in early 2003
consulate(s): New York FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR 01 telephone: [356] 2561-4000 FAX: [356] 2124-3229 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for membership in the European Union. The island remains divided politically, however, over the question of joining the EU. Continued sluggishness in the global economy is holding back exports and tourism. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $7 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.2% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $17,000 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 26% services: 72% (1999) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.4% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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160,000 (2002 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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7% (2002 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000) |
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Industries:
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tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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1.75 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.628 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs |
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Exports:
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$2 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactures |
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Exports - partners:
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US 20.2%, Germany 14.1%, France 10.2%, UK 8.8%, Italy 3.4% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco |
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Imports - partners:
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Italy 19.9%, France 15.0%, US 11.6%, UK 10.0%, Germany 8.7% (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$130 million (1997) (1997) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA |
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Currency:
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Maltese lira (MTL) |
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Currency code:
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MTL |
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Exchange rates:
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Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.4542 (January 2002), 0.4499 (2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |