(2009)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002)
country comparison to the world: 133
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
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:
81,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 148
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.742 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;
increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to
remote areas
domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to
nearly 30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 223; satellite communications center
and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately-owned companies provide
subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national
public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of
privately-owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of
multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.ml
Internet hosts:
524 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 179
Internet users:
249,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135
Transportation ::Mali
Airports:
20 (2010)
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 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Railways:
total: 593 km
country comparison to the world: 111
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 (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River
Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy
season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
Ports and terminals:
Koulikoro
Military ::Mali
Military branches:
Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (Force
Aerienne 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 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,759,648
females age 16-49: 2,894,776 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,760,901
females age 16-49: 1,900,025 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 153,198
female: 154,762 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 78
Transnational Issues ::Mali
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@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:
35 50 N, 14 35 E
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:
NA
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on
desalination
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) 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:
406,771 (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 38.5 years
female: 41.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.391% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Birth rate:
10.38 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Death rate:
8.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Net migration rate:
2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.058 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.72 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 209
male: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.59 years
country comparison to the world: 32
male: 77.34 years
female: 81.97 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.52 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
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: 91.7%
female: 93.9% (2005 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.8% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 81
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 and have some responsibility for
local road and other public maintenance
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December
(1974)
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by a resolution of 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 usually appointed prime
minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime
minister 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 Parliament elected in 2008 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%, PL 48.8%,
other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, PL 34
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal
note: magistrates and judges for the 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 [Michael
BRIGUGLIO]; Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT]; Malta Labor
Party or PL [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); Ghazda
tal-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, Union Latina
(observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas W. KMIEC
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
FRN 9010
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, VLT1000
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 2124 3229
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 United Kingdom 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 anthem:
name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta)
lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
note: adopted 1945; the anthem is written in the form of a prayer
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 target for
illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and
economic resources. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.
Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and in
2008-09 it escaped significant damage from the international
financial crisis, largely because the sector is centered on the
indigenous real estate market and is not highly leveraged. Locally,
the restricted damage from the financial crisis has been attributed
to the stability of the Maltese banking system and to its prudent
risk-management practices. The global economic downturn and high
electricity and water prices hurt Malta's real economy, which is
dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics
and pharmaceuticals - and tourism, but growth bounced back as the
global economy recovered in 2010. Following a 1.2% contraction in
2009, GDP grew 2% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.21 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$10.01 billion (2009 est.)
$10.13 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.801 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
-1.2% (2009 est.)
1.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$24,700 (2009 est.)
$25,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 17.4%
services: 80.9% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
174,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 22.8%
services: 75.6% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
6% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
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: 128
Investment (gross fixed):
14.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Public debt:
72.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
69% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
2.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
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:
4.47% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
5.89% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.195 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 86
$4.956 billion (31 December 2009 est)
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 circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$14.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$13.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$13.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$12.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.982 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
$3.572 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.633 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
NA%
Electricity - production:
2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - consumption:
1.832 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - imports:
17,910 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Current account balance:
-$403 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
-$491 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.954 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$2.383 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans,
pharmaceutical products, printed material
Exports - partners:
Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.5%, France 11.4%, US 9.4%, Hong Kong
6.5%, UK 5.9%, Italy 4.8% (2009)
Imports:
$4.074 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$3.595 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral fuels and oils, electrical machinery, non-electrical
machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other
semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - partners:
Italy 24.4%, UK 11.7%, Germany 9.3%, France 7.6%, China 4.2%,
Singapore 4.11%, Switzerland 4.05% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$522 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$538.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$41.02 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 57
$3.75 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$8.24 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7732 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006)
Communications ::Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:
252,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 122
Telephones - mobile cellular:
422,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 164
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and
microwave radio relay between islands
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership
exceeds 165 per 100 persons
international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to
Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
1 publicly-owned television station, Television Malta (TVM); several
national television stations, two of which are owned by political
parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available;
multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are obtainable;
publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 stations; roughly 50
commercial radio stations functioning (2008)
Internet country code:
.mt
Internet hosts:
24,941 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 102
Internet users:
240,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
Transportation ::Malta
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 217
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,227 km
country comparison to the world: 171
paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,571
country comparison to the world: 4
by type: bulk carrier 522, cargo 377, carrier 1, chemical tanker
280, container 91, liquefied gas 31, passenger 45, passenger/cargo
22, petroleum tanker 141, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off
30, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 1,401 (Angola 7, Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 1,
Bangladesh 1, Belgium 14, Bermuda 8, Bulgaria 7, Canada 1, China 11,
Croatia 7, Cyprus 29, Denmark 41, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 2,
France 13, Germany 127, Greece 458, Hong Kong 2, India 4, Iran 56,
Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 52, Japan 5, Kuwait 2, Latvia 11, Lebanon
7, Libya 4, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1,
Norway 84, Poland 22, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 47, Singapore 3,
Slovenia 4, South Korea 3, Spain 10, Sweden 3, Switzerland 14, Syria
5, Turkey 211, UAE 1, UK 16, Ukraine 30, US 35)
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
Military ::Malta
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 95,899
females age 16-49: 91,412 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 79,961
females age 16-49: 76,067 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,570
female: 2,410 (2010 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 January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Marshall Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Marshall Islands
Background: