compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,529,147 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,450,795 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$51.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues Mali

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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@Malta

Introduction Malta

Background:
Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The
island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and
remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the
island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a
financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU
member in May of 2004.

Geography Malta

Location:
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily
(Italy)

Geographic coordinates:
35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain:
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources:
limestone, salt, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 28.13%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 68.74% (2001)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on
desalination

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ma