Malta is an island country in southern Europe. Located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, it comprises five islands: Malta, the largest, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto and Filfla. It covers a total area of 316 km2. La Valetta is the capital, with 6900 residents (2004), with Birkirkara (21,600 residents), Qormi (18,100 residents), Hamrun (10,700 residents) and Sliema (11,600 residents) standing out. ).
The climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild winters with some precipitation.
Economy
In arable soil, which corresponds to two fifths of the territory, agriculture is practiced, whose main productions are vegetables and fruits. The extraction of rocks has some importance. In the manufacturing sector, food products, textiles and clothing deserve special mention. As a result of the islands’ attractions, tourism plays a fundamental role in the country’s economy. Malta’s main trading partners are France, Italy, Germany and the United States of America.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide emissions, per capita (metric tons, 1999), is 8.8.
Population
Malta’s population is estimated at 400 214 people (2006), who are mostly urban dwellers. The birth and death rates are respectively 10.22% and 8.1%. Average life expectancy is 79.01 years. The value of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.856 and the value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) is 0.844 (2001). It is estimated that, in 2025, the population will be 447,000 residents. Ethnically, the natives of Malta are 96% and the rest are English (2%) or from other origins. The official languages are English and Maltese.
History
Malta was occupied before Christ by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans. According to legend, São Paulo was shipwrecked in Malta in the year 60 d. When it was to convert the populations. From that date, the Maltese adhered to Christianity and remain faithful to it today. With the division of the Roman Empire in 395 d. C., the east zone of the island was ceded to the domain of Constantinople. In 1090 Count Roger of Sicily conquered Malta and submitted it to his laws until the 16th century. In 1530, Malta was assigned to the Hospital Order of St. John of Jerusalem, a religious and military order belonging to the Catholic Church. In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Malta, but four years later he withdrew and the island came under the protection of the British, who annexed it in 1814. For Malta democracy and rights, please check intershippingrates.
It became an English naval base and an important strategic area during World War II, when it was the target of numerous attacks. The archipelago started to be autonomously governed in 1947. In 1955 Dom Mintoff, leader of the Labor Party of Malta (PTM), became the prime minister. In 1956 the PTM proposed a new integration in the United Kingdom, a proposal that was to be accepted in a referendum, but with the opposition of the Conservative Party, led by Giorgio Borg Olivier. In 1959 they revoked their autonomy but restored it in 1962. Malta did not become fully independent until 1964, when it joined the Commonwealth and entered into an alliance with the United Kingdom for economic and military aid. From 1964 to 1971 Malta was governed by the Nationalist Party.
In 1974 it became a republic. Two years later, the Labor Party returned to power, but with a reduced majority. He developed a friendship policy with China and Libya. In 1984 Mintoff retired and was replaced by Mifsud Bonnici, the new leader of his party. In 1987 the Nationalist Party came back to power, this one more turned to the West and with a policy of approach to the European Union. Edward Fenech Adami was elected prime minister.
In December 1989, this territory was the chosen place for a meeting between the President of the United States, George Bush, and the President of the former Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. In October 1990, Malta formally applied for membership of the European Union. It is included in the group of 10 countries that on May 1, 2004 formally joined the European Union.
Countryaah.com: Offers a full list of airports in the country of Malta, sorted by city location and acronyms.
Abbreviationfinder.org: Provides most commonly used abbreviations and initials containing the country name of Malta. Listed by popularity.
1UpTravel.com – Maps of Malta
Browse a collection of country, political and shaded relief maps of this Mediterranean island nation.
