archipelago, with only
the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited;
numerous bays provide good harbors

People
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Population: 375,576 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 42,067; female 39,958)
15-64 years: 67% (male 126,179; female 125,321)
65 years and over: 11% (male 17,766; female 24,285) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.01% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 14.79 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.83 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.77 years
female: 80.6 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (1996 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 est.)
total population: 84%
male: 86%
female: 82%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta

Data code: MT

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Valletta

Administrative divisions: none (administered 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)
was elected for a five-year term by the House of Representatives
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI
(since 12 May 1987) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime
Minister (since 14 May 1987) and Foreign Minister (since 1990) Dr.
Guido DE MARCO
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on adv