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Malta

Population: 412 655

GDP: 9 541 000 000.00 $

Companies & Organizations: 1

Description

 

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 it declared itself 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.

Population

 

Population: 412,655 (2014).

 

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).

 

Languages: Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9%.

 

Religions: Roman Catholic (official) more than 90%.

GDP

 

GDP: $ 9 541 000 000.00 (2013).

Military Organization

 

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes land, maritime, and air elements).

Conflicts and Disputes

 

Minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe.

 

Refugees (country of origin): 5,543 (Somalia) (2013).

Geographical Information and Map

 

Capital: Valletta

 

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy).  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.

 

Geographic coordinates:

35 50 N, 14 35 E

 

 

Area:

total: 316 sq km

land: 316 sq km

water: 0 sq km

 

Land boundaries: 0 km.

 

Coastline: 196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo).

 

Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land.