factbook.json/europe/mt.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "35 50 N, 14 35 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "316 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "316 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation"
      },
      "exclusive fishing zone": {
        "text": "25 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Mediterranean Sea 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "limestone, salt, arable land"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "32.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 28.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "0.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "66.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "35 sq km (2020)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "occasional droughts"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "the country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "469,730"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "237,023"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "232,707 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Maltese (singular and plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Maltese"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "47.1"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "19.3"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "27.7"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "3.6 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "43.5 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "42.4 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "44.7 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.51% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "9.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "94.9% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.86 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "29.3 years (2020 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data refers to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "4.3 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "4.5 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "83.6 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "81.5 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "85.8 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.74 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "10.8% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "2.86 physicians/1,000 population (2015)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "4.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "28.9% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "26.4% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "21.6% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "63.2% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "5.9% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "94.9%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "93.4%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "96.4% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "17 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "17 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "18 years (2020)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination; deforestation; wildlife preservation"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "32.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 28.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "0.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "66.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "94.9% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "12.93 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "1.34 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "0.2 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "269,000 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "17,996 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "6.7% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "1 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Malta"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Malta"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Repubblika ta' Malta"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Malta"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the ancient Greeks called the island \"Melite\" meaning \"honey-sweet\" from the Greek word \"meli\" meaning \"honey\" and referring to the island's honey production"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Valletta"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "35 53 N, 14 30 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named in honor of Jean de VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who successfully led a defense of the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "21 September 1964 (from the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2020"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "5 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 27 March 2024 (next to be held by March 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em><br>2024:  </em>Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous<br><em><br>2019:</em> George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "65 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "3/26/2022"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "29.1%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "March 2027"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD)<br>Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL <br>Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN "
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (771) 213-4050"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 530-9753​"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt<br><br>The Embassy (gov.mt)"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador&nbsp;(vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Ken TOKO (since 20 January 2025)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5800"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[356] 2561-4000"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>ACSMalta@state.gov<br><br>https://mt.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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 UK 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 symbol(s)": {
      "text": "Maltese eight-pointed cross; national colors: red, white"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"L-Innu Malti\" (The Maltese Anthem)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "3 (all cultural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "high-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$33.787 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$31.43 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$30.178 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "7.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "4.15% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "12.51% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$61,100 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$59,100 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$58,200 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$22.329 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "5.09% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "6.15% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "1.5% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "A+ (2017)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "A2 (2019)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "A- (2016)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "0.7% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "11.7% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "80.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "45.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "16.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "18.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "122.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-104.7% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cauliflower/broccoli, pork, chicken, cabbages, pumpkins/squash, grapes (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "5.29% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "313,000 (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "3.13% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "2.93% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "3.4% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "4.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "16.7% (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020": {
        "text": "31.4 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "3.1% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "25.1% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "0.07% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "0.06% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "0.07% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$6.106 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$6.922 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central, state, and local governments, and social security funds"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "22.34% (of GDP) (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "$1.425 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$167.611 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$1.844 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$26.647 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$23.566 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$22.605 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Germany 12%, Italy 6%, France 6%, Japan 5%, Singapore 5% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "integrated circuits, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, fish, postage stamps/documents (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$22.637 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$21.406 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$18.795 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Italy 14%, China 11%, South Korea 11%, Germany 10%, Canada 5% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, integrated circuits, packaged medicine (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$1.223 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$1.199 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$1.149 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "0.925 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "0.95 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "0.845 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "0.876 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "0.893 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "805,000 kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "2.786 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "7 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "646 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "95.168 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "86.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "12.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "8.4 metric tons (2021 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "3.9 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "46,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "399.719 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "399.719 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "8.352 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "7.586 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "766,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "226.072 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "259,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "49 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "749,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "132 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "Malta&rsquo;s small telecom sector is among the most advanced in Europe; this has been helped by the topography, which has made it relatively easy for operators to expand the reach of their fiber infrastructure; with high mobile and broadband penetration rates, the government and regulator have effective strategies in place to capitalize on these infrastructure developments to ensure that the population has among the fastest data rates in Europe, and is well positioned to take advantage of emerging e-commerce opportunities; the sector has also been stimulated by regulatory measures designed to reduce consumer prices; the incumbent telco is investing in a sub sea cable to connect the islands to France and Egypt; expected to be ready for service in 2022, the cable will further enhance Malta&rsquo;s internet bandwidth and lead to reduced prices for end-users; there has also been some encouragement to increase market competition (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line approximately 49 per 100&nbsp; persons and mobile-cellular subscribership 122 per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 356; landing points for the Malta-Gozo Cable, VMSCS, GO-1 Mediterranean Cable System, Malta Italy Interconnector, Melita-1, and the Italy-Malta submarine cable connections to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta broadcasting nationally plus an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".mt"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "92% (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "236,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "44 (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "13 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "180"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "2,576,898 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "5.14 million (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "9H"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "1 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "2 (2024)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,855 km (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,957 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "2 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) is a joint force with land, maritime, and air elements, plus a Volunteer Reserve Force (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Malta Police Force maintains internal security; both the Police and the AFM report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Security, and Law Enforcement"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2022)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "0.5% of GDP (2021)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "0.6% of GDP (2020)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "0.5% of GDP (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 2,000 active-duty personnel (2023)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the military has a small inventory that consists of equipment from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy, and the US (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities; the AFM’s primary roles include maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, monitoring and policing its territorial waters, participating in overseas peacekeeping and stability operations, and providing search and rescue and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities; secondary missions include assisting civil authorities during emergencies, supporting the police and other security services, and providing ceremonial and other public support duties<br><br>Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality but contributes to EU and UN military missions and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "11 (2022)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 8,556 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (January 2015-November 2022)"
    },
    "Trafficking in persons": {
      "tier rating": {
        "text": "Tier 2 Watch list — Malta did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/malta/"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe"
    }
  }
}