The Republic of Malta, the island nation is located in Southern Europe in the Mediterranean Sea. The archipelago of Malta comprises seven islands- Malta Island, Gozo, Comino, Filfla, Cominotto and the Islands of St. Paul. The major islands- Malta Island, Gozo, Comino are inhabited while the remaining three islands are uninhabited. The archipelago is situated at the south of Sicily and east of Tunisia and north of Libya in Africa. Valletta is the de facto capital city of Malta. Malta is a member of Commonwealth of Nations, and European Union. Malta has ranked 28th highest in the quality-of-life index, and the 34th highest in Human Development Index in the world.
HISTORY:- Malta was first inhabited by the stone age farmers around 5200 BC. For the strategic location of the country several powers occupied Malta in different times, the first being the Phoenicians, followed by the Carthaginians in 400 BC, the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire. The Arabs conquered the land in 870 and ruled until 1090 when the Norman noble Roger I, the ruler of Sicily defeated the Arabs. Around 1530, The Knights of Malta re-conquered the three Maltese islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino from Charles V. The Knights of Malta overpowered the Turks in 1565. In 1798, Napoléon vanquished Malta but in the next year they were overthrown by the British. With the Treaty of Paris of 1814, Malta officially came under British Empire. During the World War II, Malta was severely attacked by the German and Italian aircrafts. Malta Labour Party’s attempts to unite with the British were failed. In 1964, Malta gained independence with the Elizabeth II as the Queen of Malta. In 1974, Malta became a republic within the commonwealth. In 1979, all alliance with British Empire was ended.
GEOGRAPHY:- Malta is located at 35 50 N, 14 35 E in Southern Europe. The island nation has occupied total 316 sq km area with no internal water sources. Malta is formed of the three bigger islands- Malta Island, Gozo, and Comino and other smaller islands. The coastline is 196.8 km long along with the Mediterranean Sea. The island of Gozo has 56.01 km long coastline. The lowest point is Mediterranean Sea (0 m) and the highest point is located near Dingli- Ta'Dmejrek (253 m). Malta is mainly composed of low, rocky, flat to dissected plains with many coastal cliffs.
CLIMATE:- The climate of Malta is predominantly Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
GOVERNMENT:- Malta has a Parliamentary Republic. The constitution was adopted in 1964 but it had been gone through several amendments. The legal system is modeled on the English common law and the Roman civil law. The three branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), the deputy prime minister, and the cabinet. The president is elected by the House of Representatives on a 5-year term. The leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is normally appointed the prime minister by the president on a 5-year term. The deputy prime minister and the Cabinet are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister.
Legislative branch comprises the unicameral House of Representatives (65 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the Constitutional Court and the Court of Appeal. All the judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister.
Nationalist Party, Malta Labor Party, Alternative Demokratika (Green Party), Azzjoni Nazzjonali (National Action) are the principal political parties of Malta. Voting rights are given universally at the age of 18.
Nationalist Party, Malta Labor Party, Alternative Demokratika (Green Party), Azzjoni Nazzjonali (National Action) are the principal political parties of Malta. Voting rights are given universally at the age of 18.
President Eddie Fenech Adami
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg
Ambassador to the United States Mark Miceli Farrugia
Ambassador to the United Nations Saviour Borg
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg
Ambassador to the United States Mark Miceli Farrugia
Ambassador to the United Nations Saviour Borg
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Malta is administratively divided into 68 local councils.
CULTURE:- Multicultural influences can be seen in the culture of Malta. Apart from the western music influences, traditional Maltese music, known as g©¤ana is also very popular. Maltese cuisine is a fusion of Mediterranean and foreign cuisines, ranging from Sicilian-Southern Italian or Middle Eastern.
ECONOMY:- The Maltese economy is mainly based on the foreign trade, electronics and pharmaceuticals manufacturing, and tourism. Malta is a developed country, having the 35th highest GDP per capita in the world.
GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $7.568 billion; per capita $19,000.
Real growth rate: 1.5%.
Inflation: 2.8%.
Unemployment: 7.8%.
Arable land: 31%.
Agriculture: Potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs.
Budget:
Revenues: $3.479 billion
Expenditures: $3.549 billion (2007 est.)
Revenues: $3.479 billion
Expenditures: $3.549 billion (2007 est.)
Debt - external: $188.8 million (2005)
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: $2.744 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactures.
Imports: $3.859 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco.
Major trading partners: U.S., France, Singapore, UK, Germany, Italy (2004).
Monetary unit: Maltese lira.
LANGUAGE:- Maltese and English are the official languages of Malta.
Maltese (86%)
English (12%)
Italian (2%).
Maltese (86%)
English (12%)
Italian (2%).
CITIES:- Valletta is the capital of Malta while Birkirkara is the largest city of the country. Another large city is Sliema.
POPULATION:- The estimated population of Malta is 401,880 with a growth rate of 0.4%.
Density per sq mi: 3,243
Literacy rate: 93% (2003 census)
Density per sq mi: 3,243
Literacy rate: 93% (2003 census)
RACE:- Predominantly Maltese, the descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean descendants reside in Malta.
RELIGION:- The state religion of Malta is Roman Catholic (98%).
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 10.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 8.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 1,733
Birth rate: 10.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 8.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 1,733
UNICEF:- UNICEF is not active in Malta.
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).
Railways: 0 km.
Highways: total: 2,254 km; paved: 1,972 km; unpaved: 282 km (2000).
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta.
Airports: 1 (2002).
- Other drink articles
1
Explore the Worldviewer.com Network Sites
Sociology of religion - sociologyiworld.com | - foodcontainersiworld.com | Long distance - phonecardsiworld.com | Mobile communicati - telecomiworld.com | Recipes - chocolatesiworld.com | Wireless - wirelessiworld.com | Unlimited weekends - beepersiworld.com | Ufo alien ufos aliens ufos roswell ufology area 51 mj12 ufo extraterr - ufoiworld.com | Yoga - foodsupplementsiworld.com | Security - technicaliworld.com | Electronics - xrayiworld.com | Phone psychic - psychiciworld.com | Phone - cordlesstelephonesiworld.com | Astrology software - astrologyiworld.com | Specifications - digitalcameraiworld.com | Star trek - starsiworld.com | Sci fi book - scifiiworld.com | Ringtones - cellphonesiworld.com | Biotech stock - biotechiworld.com | Course science social - scienceiworld.com
