Malta

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National name: Repubblika ta' Malta

Current government officials

Languages: Maltese and English (both official)

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

Religion: Roman Catholic 98%

National Holiday: Independence Day, September 21

Literacy rate: 93% (2003 census)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2009 est.): $9.831 billion; per capita $23,800. Real growth rate: –2.2%. Inflation: 1.8%. Unemployment: 6.9%. Arable land: 31%. Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs. Labor force: 160,000; agriculture 3%, industry 22%, services 75%. Industries: tourism, electronics, shipbuilding and repair, construction, food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco. Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land. Exports: $2.26 billion (2009 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactures. Imports: $3.84 billion (2009 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semimanufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco. Major trading partners: U.S., France, Singapore, UK, Germany, Italy (2004).

Member of Commonwealth of Nations

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 187,000 (1997); mobile cellular: 17,691 (1997). Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999). Radios: 255,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 6 (2000). Televisions: 280,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2002). Internet users: 59,000 (2002).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 2,254 km; paved: 1,972 km; unpaved: 282 km (2000). Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta. Airports: 1 (2002).

International disputes: none.

Major sources and definitions