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 having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and the 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 about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency 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 comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing oil exploration on the continental shelf between their countries, although no commercially viable reserves have been found as of 2017"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "467,138 (2023 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": "14.53% (male 34,870/female 32,989)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "62.83% (male 151,927/female 141,561)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "22.65% (2023 est.) (male 48,830/female 56,961)"
      }
    },
    "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": "42.3 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "41.2 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "43.5 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.59% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "9.59 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "4.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 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 (2023 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": "4.45 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "4.36 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "4.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "83.39 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "81.31 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "85.56 years (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.51 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.74 (2023 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)"
    },
    "Physicians 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)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.8%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5.8% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "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": "13.97 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 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)"
    },
    "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"
      }
    },
    "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"
    },
    "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 George VELLA (since 4 April 2019)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Robert ABELA (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 2 April 2019 (next to be held by April 2024); 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>2019:</em> George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous; <em>2020:</em> Robert ABELA (PL) appointed prime minister<br><br><em>2014:</em> Maria Louise Coleiro PRECO elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral House of Representatives or Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati, a component of the Parliament of Malta (65 seats statutory, 79 for 2022-2027 term; members directly elected in 5 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 26 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - PL 55.1%, PN 41.7%, other 3.2%; seats by party - PL 38, PN 29; composition - men 57, women 22, percent of women 27.8%; note - due to underrepresentation by women in the combined general on 26 March and two casual elections on 7 and 12 April (10 seats or 14.9%), an additional 12 seats were awarded because their percentage did not meet the 40% threshold required by the Malta Constitution or the General Elections Amendment Act 2021"
      }
    },
    "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 and leaders": {
      "text": "AD+PD or ADPD [Carmel CACOPARDO] (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD)<br>Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL [Robert ABELA]<br>Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN [Bernard GRECH]"
    },
    "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; note - The Embassy of Malta has relocated until further notice to the following address due to ongoing refurbishment:<br><br>C/O WeWork Flr 2<br>1333 New Hampshire Ave NW<br>Washington DC, 20036"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 462-3611; note - The Embassy of Malta has relocated until further notice due to ongoing refurbishment and can be reached at the following number:&nbsp; [1] (202) 286-4610"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 387-5470; note - The Embassy of Malta has relocated until further notice due to ongoing refurbishment and can be reached by FAX at the following number: &nbsp;[1] (202) 530-9753​"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt<br><br>https://foreignandeu.gov.mt/en/Embassies/ME_United_States/Pages/ME_United_States.aspx"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Gwendolyn \"Wendy\" GREEN (since August 2020)"
      },
      "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) 2021": {
        "text": "$23.157 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$20.995 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$22.902 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "10.3% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-8.32% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "5.92% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$44,700 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$40,700 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$45,400 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$14.986 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "1.5% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": {
        "text": "0.64% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "1.64% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "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": "1.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "10.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "88.7% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "45.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "15.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "21.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "136.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-117.9% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cauliflowers, broccoli, eggplants, pork, cabbages, poultry"
    },
    "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": "-3.3% (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "280,300 (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.6%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "20.7%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "77.7% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "3.5% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "4.26% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "3.62% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.8%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5.8% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "17.1% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019": {
        "text": "31 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$5.661 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$5.586 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "3.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "56.3% of GDP (2016 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": "23.73% (of GDP) (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$804.056 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "-$415.142 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "$777.443 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$22.11 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$19.526 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$20.773 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Germany 12%, France 9%, Italy 9% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "integrated circuits, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, postage stamps, children's toys and stuffed animals, ships (2021)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$21.362 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$18.328 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$18.578 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Russia 22%, Italy 12%, United Kingdom 11%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%, France 5%, China 5%, South Korea 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, recreational boats, ships, aircraft, coal tar oil (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": {
        "text": "$1.149 billion (31 December 2021 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": {
        "text": "$930.464 million (31 December 2020 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": {
        "text": "$937.616 million (31 December 2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2019": {
        "text": "$98.179 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 2018": {
        "text": "$104.467 billion (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "0.845 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "0.876 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "0.893 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "0.847 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "0.885 (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "784,000 kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "2,497,143,000 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "4 million kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "420 million kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "158 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "88.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "11.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "54,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "10,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "52,290 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "415.606 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "415.606 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "9.576 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "8.831 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "745,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "267.739 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "259,439 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "49 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "644,955 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "122 (2021 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": {
      "total": {
        "text": "461,100 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "87% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "213,419 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "48 (2020 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 (2021)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "text": "1",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "2 (2021)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3,096 km (2008)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "2,704 km (2008)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "392 km (2008)"
      },
      "urban": {
        "text": "1,422 km (2001)"
      },
      "non-urban": {
        "text": "832 km (2001)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,047"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 545, container ship 312, general cargo 182, oil tanker 395, other 613 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta"
      },
      "container port(s) (TEUs)": {
        "text": "Marsaxlokk (2,967,765) (2021)"
      },
      "LNG terminal(s) (import)": {
        "text": "Delimara"
      }
    }
  },
  "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 (2023)",
      "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 2022": {
        "text": "0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "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 Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "0.5% of GDP (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 2,000 active-duty personnel (2022)"
    },
    "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 (2023)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2022)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality, but contributes to EU and UN military missions and joined NATO&rsquo;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 (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>none identified</p>"
    },
    "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)"
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe"
    }
  }
}