Note:
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands
(Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good
harbors

@Malta, People

Population:
366,767 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.79% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
13.56 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.77 years
male:
74.53 years
female:
79.18 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Maltese
Ethnic divisions:
Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
total population:
84%
male:
86%
female:
82%
Labor force:
127,200
by occupation:
government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%, manufacturing 22%,
training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture 2% (1990)

@Malta, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Malta
conventional short form:
Malta
Digraph:
MT
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Valletta
Administrative divisions:
none (administration directly from Valletta)
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:
1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government:
Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987);
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
House of Representatives:
elections last held on 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February
1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP
36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given to the party with the
largest popular vote to ensure a legislative maj