total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 5 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 87
Government ::Mali
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bamako
geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:
22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADP coalition 113 (including ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other 10), FDR coalition 15 (including RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI 4, independent 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region); African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE]; Convergence 2007 [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]; Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Mady KONATE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]; Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Amadou Ali NIANGADOU]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Basir GOLOGO]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]; Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: the army; Islamic authorities; rebels in the northern region; state-run cotton company CMDT; tuaregs
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO,ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC
embassy: located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district
mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako
telephone: [223] 270-2300
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy ::Mali
Economy - overview:
Mali is among the 25 poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for gold and cotton, its main exports. The government has continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali has invested in tourism and a tractor assembly factory. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a 5% average in 1996-2008. Worker remittances and external trade routes for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire, however, Mali is building a road network that will connect it to all adjacent countries and it has a railway line to Senegal.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.75 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $14.04 billion (2007 est.)
$13.65 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.774 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 2.8% (2007 est.)
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 $1,100 (2007 est.)
$1,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
3.241 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.5% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.1 (2001) country comparison to the world: 60 50.5 (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.8 billion (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 122 4.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.58 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$697.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.099 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
515 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - consumption:
479 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Oil - imports:
4,402 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Current account balance:
-$446 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Exports:
$294 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 175
Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock
Exports - partners:
China 26.7%, Thailand 10.7%, Denmark 6.4%, Pakistan 5.2%, Morocco 5% (2008)
Imports:
$2.358 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 146
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
Senegal 13.1%, France 11.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.2%, China 5.9% (2008)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002) country comparison to the world: 129
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Mali
Telephones - main lines in use:
82,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 148
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.267 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 103
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving; provides only minimal service
domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to about 25 per 100 persons
international: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 230 (27 regional and government stations, and 203 private stations), shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus repeaters) (2007)
Internet country code:
.ml
Internet hosts:
519 (2009) country comparison to the world: 171
Internet users:
200,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 136
Transportation ::Mali
Airports:
22 (2009) country comparison to the world: 134
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2009)
Railways:
total: 593 km country comparison to the world: 112 narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 18,709 km country comparison to the world: 114 paved: 3,368 km
unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,800 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 46
Ports and terminals:
Koulikoro
Military ::Mali
Military branches:
Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (ForceAerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,603,700
females age 16-49: 2,441,776 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,649,772
females age 16-49: 1,579,601 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 147,846
female: 140,543 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 87
Transnational Issues ::Mali
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Malta (Europe)
Introduction ::Malta
Background:
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 using the euro as currency in 2008.
Geography ::Malta
Location:
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily(Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 316 sq km country comparison to the world: 207 land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
196.8 km (excludes 56.01 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 extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources:
limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.07 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, 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) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People ::Malta
Population:
405,165 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 33,526/female 31,780)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 142,491/female 138,769)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 25,406/female 33,193) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.5 years
male: 38.1 years
female: 40.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Birth rate:
10.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Death rate:
8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Net migration rate:
2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.75 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 213 male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.44 years country comparison to the world: 29 male: 77.21 years
female: 81.8 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.51 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
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)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 65
Government ::Malta
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
Government type:
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:
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:
1964; amended many times
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
election results: George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms; note - the current Parliament is composed of 69 seats; when the political party winning the plurality of votes does not win a majority of seats, the constitution provides that a sufficient number of seats will be added to Parliament to ensure that the party that won the elections has a majority in Parliament)
elections: last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, MLP 48.9%, other 1.8%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 34
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders:
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Arnold CASSOLA]; Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Joseph MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, the rights existent in other EU member states); Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (for traditional values, anti-immigration); Alternattiva Demokratika (pro-environment); Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate in democratic government); Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar (pro-environment); Ghazdatal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)
other: environmentalists
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jason DAVIS
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
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
Economy ::Malta
Economy - overview:
Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position between the EU and Africa makes it a recipient of illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. The financial services industry has grown in recent years, but is not fully modernized. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism all of which have been negatively affected by the global economic downturn. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. The Maltese government in 2009 will be challenged to contain the budget deficit, which ballooned in 2008 to about 4.1% of GDP, placing it above the euro zone's 3% maximum.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.933 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $9.707 billion (2007 est.)
$9.317 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.37 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 4.2% (2007 est.)
3.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$24,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $24,200 (2007 est.)
$23,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 18%
services: 80.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
173,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 170
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 29.6%
services: 68% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2007) country comparison to the world: 127
Investment (gross fixed):
16.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Budget:
revenues: $3.378 billion
expenditures: $3.77 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 1.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.89% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 130 6.24% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$4.639 billion (31 January 2008) country comparison to the world: 56 $4.603 billion (31 December 2007)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Maltese liri in circulation prior to Malta joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
$8.771 billion (31 January 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $7.645 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$16.17 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $10.99 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 84 $5.633 billion (31 December 2007)
$4.504 billion (31 December 2006)
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
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - consumption:
1.832 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - imports:
17,910 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Current account balance:
-$445 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 -$468 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$3.06 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $3.305 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:
Germany 13.5%, Singapore 13%, France 12.2%, US 9.6%, UK 8.2%, HongKong 6.7%, Japan 6.4%, Italy 4.7% (2008)
Imports:
$4.792 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $4.655 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - partners:
Italy 28.1%, UK 13.5%, France 8.2%, Germany 7.4%, Singapore 6.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$373.4 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $3.798 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$188.8 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 181
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)
Communications ::Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:
241,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 120
Telephones - mobile cellular:
385,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 161
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic system is adequate; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (2006)
Internet country code:
.mt
Internet hosts:
25,139 (2009) country comparison to the world: 94
Internet users:
198,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 137
Transportation ::Malta
Airports:
1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 219
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,227 km country comparison to the world: 171 paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,438 country comparison to the world: 4 by type: bulk carrier 459, cargo 411, carrier 2, chemical tanker 171, container 80, liquefied gas 25, passenger 29, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 159, refrigerated cargo 32, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned: 1,343 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 15, Bulgaria 5, Canada 1, China 12, Croatia 9, Cyprus 31, Denmark 30, Egypt 1, Estonia 11, France 5, Germany 91, Greece 452, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 5, India 2, Iran 79, Israel 18, Italy 50, Japan 8, South Korea 2, Latvia 19, Lebanon 11, Libya 3, Lithuania 1, Norway 93, Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 58, Slovenia 4, Spain 3, Sweden 2, Switzerland 20, Syria 6, Turkey 176, Ukraine 30, UAE 5, UK 19, US 23)
registered in other countries: 3 (Panama 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
Military ::Malta
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 96,309
females age 16-49: 92,242 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 80,186
females age 16-49: 76,426 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,695
female: 2,533 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.7% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Transnational Issues ::Malta
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Marshall Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Marshall Islands
Background:
After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.
Geography ::Marshall Islands
Location:
Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 181 sq km country comparison to the world: 216 land: 181 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative:
about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
370.4 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain:
low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources:
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: 11.11%
permanent crops: 44.44%
other: 44.45% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific
People ::Marshall Islands
Population:
64,522 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 12,683/female 12,217)