An Introduction to Malta
Lying just south of Sicily in the very middle of the Mediterranean, Malta is one of the most densely populated countries on earth, with many towns which have spread into each other. Three large islands are inhabited, though there are also many smaller isles and rocks. Of great strategic importance, the islands were ruled by ten different powers over three millennia, most recently the British between 1814 and 1964, after which it was given independence. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Europe (Other)
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GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary republic
AREA: 316 sq km
POPULATION: 452,515 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: Maltese, English
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Lying just south of Sicily in the very middle of the Mediterranean, Malta is one of the most densely populated countries on earth, with many towns which have spread into each other. Three large islands are inhabited, though there are also many smaller isles and rocks. Of great strategic importance, the islands were ruled by ten different powers over three millennia, most recently the British between 1814 and 1964, after which it was given independence.
Malta is a hot spot for tourists, popular both for beaches and historical monuments - it boasts an incredible nineUNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the famous Megalithic Temples, which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world. Valletta has the warmest winters of any European capital city.
GDP: $10.757 bn (2011 est.); $25,428 per capita
Religions 98% of the population is Roman Catholic
Currency: Euro
Telephone Code: + 356
Malta joined the EU in 2004. An advanced economy, once dependent on shipping and trade and boosted by the opening of the Suez Canal, slumped by the 1940s but has flourished again of late with tourist trade and financial services income boosted by niches like film production - several big-budget foreign films are made there in a typical year.
The country joined the EU in 2004, accompanied by privatisation reforms. Its multilingual workforce gives it a strong advantage in competing in the cross-border fund administration business, against countries like Ireland and Luxembourg. It is also negotiating with Tunisia and Libya over plans for the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between them, with oil top of the agenda.
Maltas exports totalled $5.2 bn in 2011, with commodities like machinery, fuels, pharmaceuticals, printed books and newspapers, aircraft/spacecraft and parts and toys and games prominent. Germany (18.4%), France (15.7%) and the UK (9.1%) were the key markets in 2009. Imports of $7.34bn (also 2011) included many of the same items and components for them; plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; and vehicles and parts. Italy (24.1%), the UK (8.6%), Germany (8.5%) and France (8.2%) were the three biggest suppliers to Malta in 2009.
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