Malta | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff
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Facts & Figures

  • President: Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (2014)

    Prime Minister: Joseph Muscat (2013)

    Total area: 124 sq mi (321 sq km)

    Population (2014 est.): 412,655 (growth rate: 0.33%); birth rate: 10.24/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.59/1000; life expectancy: 80.11

    Capital (2011 est.): Valletta, 198,000

    Monetary unit: Euro

    National name: Repubblika ta' Malta

    Current government officials

    Languages: Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)

    Ethnicity/race: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

    Religion: Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2011 est.)

    National Holiday: Independence Day, September 21

    Literacy rate: 92.4% (2005 census)

    Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $11.22 billion; per capita $29,200. Real growth rate: 2.4%. Inflation: 1%. Unemployment: 6.4%. Arable land: 28.12%. Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs. Labor force: 190,000; agriculture 1.4%, industry 22.27%, services 76.4%. Industries: tourism, electronics, shipbuilding and repair, construction, food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco. Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land. Exports: $5.105 billion (2013 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactures. Imports: $7.436 billion (2013 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semimanufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco. Major trading partners: U.S., France, Singapore, UK, Germany, Italy, Libya, Russia (2013).

    Member of Commonwealth of Nations

    Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 229,700 (2012); mobile cellular: 539,500 (2012). Broadcast media: 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). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14,754 (2012). Internet users: 240,600 (2009).

    Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Roadways: total: 3,096 km; paved: 2,704 km; unpaved: 392 km (2008). Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta. Airports: 1 (2013).

    International disputes: none.

    Major sources and definitions

See also: