/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.3 years
male: 77.08 years
female: 81.64 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

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)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 98%

Languages:

Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%,
other 0.8% (2005 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (2004)

Government
Malta

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils
carry out administrative orders

Independence:

21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution:

1964 constitution; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislative
elections, the leader of the m