General Overview
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 to use the euro as currency in 2008.
Demographics
Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 3,000 inhabitants per square mile (1,160 per square kilometer). This compares with about 55 per square mile (21 per square kilometer) for the United States.
Inhabited since prehistoric times, Malta was first colonized by the Phoenicians. Subsequently, Romans, Arabs, Normans, the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, and the British have influenced Maltese life and culture to varying degrees.
• Country name: Republic of Malta
• Capital Name: Valletta
• Population: 403,532 (July 2008 est.)
• Nationality: Maltese
• Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
• Ethnic Groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Economy
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 few domestic energy sources.
The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and pharmaceuticals), and tourism. Economic recovery of the European economy has lifted exports, tourism, and overall growth. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.396 billion (2007 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (2007 est.)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $22,900 (2007 est.)
• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (2007 est.)
• Exports: $3.278 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
• Imports: $4.113 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Government
Malta is a constitutional democracy, governed by the unicameral (one chamber) House of Representatives, whose 65 members are popularly elected to 5-year terms of office. The chief of state is the president, who also serves a 5-year term but is elected by the House of Representatives.
The leader of the majority party in the legislature is appointed prime minister by the president. Because of the small size of the islands, there are no local or regional government bodies, and all police, education, and postal services are administered from the capital city of Valleta. The exception to this is the Isle of Gozo, which has a separate ministry.
• Administrative divisions: None (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders.
• Legal system: Based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
• Constitution: 1964 constitution; amended many times
• Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
References
Government of Malta - Official Website
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
Nation Master - World Data Center
Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia
Lonely Planet - Travel Guidebook
