Economic overview: The main resources are limestone, favorable geographic location and skilled labor. Malta produces only about 20% of the necessary food, fresh water is limited, and there are no local sources of energy. The economy depends on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles) and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-owned companies and liberalizing trade to prepare for EU accession. However, there is no political agreement on this issue in the islands. The main problem remains a significant budget deficit. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $5.6 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 3.4% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $14,300 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 2.8%; industry: 25.5%; services: 71.7% (1999). Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available. Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data. Inflation rate at consumer prices: 2.5% (2000 est.). Labor force: 145,901 people (1999). Employment structure: industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.). Unemployment rate: 4.5% (Q3 2000). Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion; expenses: $1.73 billion, including capital investments – $265.4 million (1999). Spheres of economy: tourism; electronic industry, construction and repair of ships, construction; production of food and beverages, textiles, shoes, clothing, tobacco. Growth in industrial production: no data available. Electricity generation: 1.65 billion kWh (1999). Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 1.534 billion kWh (1999) Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999). Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999). Agricultural products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus fruits, flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, egg. Export: $2 billion (free on board, 1999) Export articles: machinery and transport equipment, industrial products. Export partners: USA 21.4%, France 15.2%, Germany 12.6%, UK 9.3%, Italy 4.9% (1999). Imports: $2.6 billion (free on board, 1999) Imports: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; food, drinks and tobacco. Import partners: France 19.1%, Italy 16.7%, UK 10.9%, Germany 10.0%, US 8.5% (1999). External debt: $130 million (1997). Recipient of economic assistance: no data. Economic aid donor: Currency: Maltese lira. Currency code: MTL. Exchange rate: MTL/USD – 0.4370 (January 2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996). Fiscal year: April 1-March 31.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 187,000 (1997). Mobile Cell Phones: 17,691 (1997). Telephone system: automatic system meets the usual requirements; internal: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between the islands; international: 2 submarine cables; ground satellite station – 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean). Broadcast stations: AM – 1, FM -18, shortwave – 6 (1999). Radio receivers: 255,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 6 (2000). TVs: 280,000 (1997). Internet country code: mt Internet service providers: 2 (2000). Number of users: 40,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: 0 km. Motorways: total: 1,742 km; coated: 1,677 km; unpaved: 65 km (1997 est.). Ports and harbours: Valletta, Marsaxlok. Merchant navy: in total: 1,414 vessels (of 1,000 tons displacement or more) with a total displacement of 28,191,090 gross register tons / 46,773,603 long tons of gross tonnage; different types of ships: bulk carriers – 443, cargo ships – 394, chemical tankers – 48, combined bulk carriers – 12, combination carriers carrying ore and oil – 14, container ships – 69, liquefied gas tankers – 2, ships for transportation livestock – 3, multifunctional heavy cargo ships – 2, passenger ships – 7, cargo-passenger ships – 1, oil tankers – 296, refrigerated ships – 37, ferries – 50, coastal passenger ships – 15, specialized tankers – 3, cargo ships for transportation transport – 18; note: including foreign vessels registered here for flag of convenience reasons: Argentina 1, Bermuda 1, Airports: 1 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 1; over 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways:
Armed forces
Branches of the armed forces: armed forces (including land, air squadron, maritime squadron, customs security units), police forces of Malta. See militarynous.com to know more about Malta Military. Total military manpower: men 15 to 49: 98,953 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 78,783 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: Military spending in dollar terms: $201 million (FY98-99). Military spending as part of GDP: 5.5% (FY98-99)
International Issues
International issues International disputes: no. Illicit Drugs: A small transit point for hashish shipped from North Africa to Western Europe.
