Malta

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 of 2004.

Malta Information

• Population: 396,851 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese
• Location:: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
• Religions:: Roman Catholic 98%
• Ethnic Groups:: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 316 sq km
• Coast Line: 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
• Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
• Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation contiguous zone: 24 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 28.13% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 68.74% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
• Natural Resources: limestone, salt, arable land
• Highways: total: 2,254 km paved: 1,972 km unpaved: 282 km (2000)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
• Airports: 1 (2003 est.)