Europe :: Malta

- Introduction :: Malta
- Background:
  With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and the French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic ten years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.
- Geography :: Malta
- Location:
  Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
  Geographic coordinates:
  35 50 N, 14 35 E
  Map references:
  Europe
  Area:
  total: 316 sq km
  land: 316 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Area - comparative:
  slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
  Climate:
  Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
  Terrain:
  mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
  Elevation:
  0 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea
  253 highest point: Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs
  Natural resources:
  limestone, salt, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 32.3% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 28.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 3.9% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
  forest: 0.9% (2011 est.)
  other: 66.8% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  35 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
  Natural hazards:
  occasional droughts
  Environment - current issues:
  limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination; deforestation; wildlife preservation
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing oil exploration on the continental shelf between their countries, although no commercially viable reserves have been found as of 2017
- People and Society :: Malta
- Population:
  449,043 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Nationality:
  noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
  adjective: Maltese
  Ethnic groups:
  Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
  Languages:
  Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14.29% (male 33,156 /female 31,012)
  15-24 years: 11.03% (male 25,713 /female 23,815)
  25-54 years: 40.92% (male 95,162 /female 88,602)
  55-64 years: 13.25% (male 29,787 /female 29,703)
  65 years and over: 20.51% (male 41,900 /female 50,193) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Europe :: Malta Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Malta. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 48.8 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 21.4 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 27.3 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 3.7 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 41.8 years
  male: 40.6 years
  female: 43.1 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Population growth rate:
  0.99% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Birth rate:
  10 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Death rate:
  7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Net migration rate:
  2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Population distribution:
  most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 94.6% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  26.9 years (2010 est.)

  note: data refer to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births

  Maternal mortality rate:
  9 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 82.7 years (2018 est.)
  male: 80.6 years (2018 est.)
  female: 84.8 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Total fertility rate:
  1.48 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Health expenditures:
  9.7% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Physicians density:
  3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
  Hospital bed density:
  4.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved: urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 100% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 100% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.1% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  <500 (2016 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  <100 (2016 est.)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  28.9% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Education expenditures:
  7.2% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 94.4% (2015 est.)
  male: 93.1% (2015 est.)
  female: 95.8% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years (2015)
  male: 15 years (2015)
  female: 15 years (2015)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 11% (2016 est.)
  male: 11.2% (2016 est.)
  female: 10.9% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
- Government :: Malta
- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Malta
  conventional short form: Malta
  local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
  local short form: Malta
  etymology: the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite" meaning "honey-sweet" from the Greek word "meli" meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production
  Government type:
  parliamentary republic
  Capital:
  name: Valletta
  geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
  time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
  Administrative divisions:
  68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
  Independence:
  21 September 1964 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 21 September (1964)Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
  Constitution:
  history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964 (2017)
  amendments: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of "Acts" requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent by the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2016 (2017)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
  subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Marie-Louise Coleiro PRECA (since 4 April 2014)
  head of government: Prime Minister Joseph MUSCAT (since 11 March 2013)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 4 April 2014 (next to be held by April 2019); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
  election results: Marie-Louise Coleiro PRECA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous; Joseph MUSCAT (PL) reappointed prime minister
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral House of Representatives or Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati, a component of the Parliament of Malta (normally 65 seats but can include at-large members; members directly elected in 5 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the parliament elected in 2013 had 69 seats; an additional two seats were added in 2016 by the Constitutional Court to correct for mistakes made in the 2013 vote-counting process
  elections: last held on 3 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022); note - Prime Minister MUSCAT called for early elections amid corruption allegations
  election results: percent of vote by party - PL 55%, PN 43.7%, other 1.3%; seats by party - PL 37 PN 30; note - PN was awarded two additional seats for a total of 30 in accordance with the proportionality provisions specified in the constitution; PD candidates ran under the PN list; composition - men 57, women 10, percent of women 14.9%
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party or PD [Anthony BUTTIGIEG]
  Labor Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]
  Nationalist Party or PN [Adrian DELIA]
  International organization participation:
  Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Keith AZZOPARDI (since 17 September 2018)
  chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
  FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador G. Kathleen HILL (since 25 February 2016)
  embassy: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
  mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Dulles, VA 20189
  telephone: [356] 2561-4000
  FAX: [356] 2561-4183
  Flag description:
  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; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the UK awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field
  National symbol(s):
  Maltese eight-pointed cross; national colors: red, white
  National anthem:
  name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)
  lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT

  note: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer

- Economy :: Malta
- Economy - overview:

  Malta’s free market economy – the smallest economy in the euro-zone – relies heavily on trade in both goods and services, principally with Europe. Malta produces less than a quarter of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing, and tourism. Malta joined the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.

  Malta has weathered the euro-zone crisis better than most EU member states due to a low debt-to-GDP ratio and financially sound banking sector. It maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, and growth has fully recovered since the 2009 recession. In 2014 through 2016, Malta led the euro zone in growth, expanding more than 4.5% per year.

  Malta’s services sector continues to grow, with sustained growth in the financial services and online gaming sectors. Advantageous tax schemes remained attractive to foreign investors, though EU discussions of anti-tax avoidance measures have raised concerns among Malta’s financial services and insurance providers, as the measures could have a significant impact on those sectors. The tourism sector also continued to grow, with 2016 showing record-breaking numbers of both air and cruise passenger arrivals.

  Malta’s GDP growth remains strong and is supported by a strong labor market. The government has implemented new programs, including free childcare, to encourage increased labor participation. The high cost of borrowing and small labor market remain potential constraints to future economic growth. Increasingly, other EU and European migrants are relocating to Malta for employment, though wages have remained low compared to other European countries. Inflation remains low.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $19.26 billion (2017 est.)
  $18.05 billion (2016 est.)
  $17.16 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 152
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $12.58 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  6.7% (2017 est.)
  5.2% (2016 est.)
  9.5% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $41,900 (2017 est.)
  $40,100 (2016 est.)
  $39,000 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 43
  Gross national saving:
  33.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
  31.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
  31.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 45.2% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 136.1% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -117.9% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.)
  industry: 10.2% (2017 est.)
  services: 88.7% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
  Industries:
  tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -3.3% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Labor force:
  206,300 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 1.6%
  industry: 20.7%
  services: 77.7% (2016 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  4.6% (2017 est.)
  5.3% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Population below poverty line:
  16.3% (2015 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA
  highest 10%: NA
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  28.1 (2015)
  27.7 (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Budget:
  revenues: 5.076 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 4.583 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  40.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  3.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Public debt:
  50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
  56.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

  note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central, state, and local governments, and social security funds

  country comparison to the world: 99
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.3% (2017 est.)
  0.9% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Central bank discount rate:
  -0.35% (31 December 2016 est.)
  -0.2% (31 December 2015)

  note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

  country comparison to the world: 162
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  3.7% (31 December 2017 est.)
  5.06% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Stock of narrow money:
  $17.93 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $14.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

  note: see entry for the EU for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

  country comparison to the world: 71
  Stock of broad money:
  $17.93 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $14.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $13.97 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $11.99 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $4.632 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  $4.468 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $3.353 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Current account balance:
  $1.712 billion (2017 est.)
  $788 million (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Exports:
  $3.272 billion (2017 est.)
  $2.493 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Exports - partners:
  Germany 17.3%, France 10.2%, Italy 9.4%, Singapore 5.9%, Hong Kong 5.8%, US 5.7%, Japan 4.9%, Libya 4.5% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  machinery and mechanical appliances; mineral fuels, oils and petroleum products; pharmaceutical products; books and newspapers; aircraft/spacecraft and parts; toys, games, and sports equipment
  Imports:
  $4.996 billion (2017 est.)
  $4.965 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Imports - commodities:
  mineral fuels, oils and products; electrical machinery; aircraft/spacecraft and parts thereof; machinery and mechanical appliances; plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; vehicles and parts
  Imports - partners:
  Italy 23%, Germany 7.9%, UK 7.7%, Spain 5%, Canada 4.5%, US 4.3%, France 4.2% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $833 million (31 December 2017 est.)
  $677.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Debt - external:
  $90.98 billion (September 2016 est.)
  $99.02 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $166.1 million (1 June 2016 est.)
  $155.5 million (1 June 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $65.49 million (June 2015 est.)
  $64.77 million (31 June 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.885 (2017 est.)
  0.903 (2016 est.)
  0.9214 (2015 est.)
  0.885 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Malta
- Electricity access:
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production:
  813 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Electricity - consumption:
  2.122 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Electricity - imports:
  1.525 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  575,100 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  81% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  45,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  10,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  52,290 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Natural gas - consumption:
  283.2 million cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Natural gas - imports:
  311.5 million cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  8.141 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
- Communications :: Malta
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 240,280 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 560,010 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands (2016)
  domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 185 per 100 persons (2016)
  international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
  Broadcast media:
  2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta broadcasting nationally plus an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 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 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2017)
  Internet country code:
  .mt
  Internet users:
  total: 320,902 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 77.3% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 181,318 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
- Transportation :: Malta
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 9 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 28 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,583,046 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.352 million mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  9H (2016)
  Airports:
  1 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 228
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
  Heliports:
  2 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 3,096 km (2008)
  paved: 2,704 km (2008)
  unpaved: 392 km (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Merchant marine:
  total: 2,170 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 660, container ship 285, general cargo 317, oil tanker 330, other 578 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
  container port(s) (TEUs): Marsaxlokk (3,084,309) (2016)
- Military and Security :: Malta
- Military expenditures:
  0.53% of GDP (2016)
  0.5% of GDP (2015)
  0.51% of GDP (2014)
  0.53% of GDP (2013)
  0.54% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Military branches:
  Armed Forces of Malta (AFM, includes land, maritime, and air elements) (2017)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2017)
- Transnational Issues :: Malta
- Disputes - international:
  none
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 11 (2017)
  Illicit drugs:
  minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe