are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and
a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food
needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy
sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing
(especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Continued
sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports,
tourism, and overall growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.122 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.39 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$20,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
160,000 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 22%
services: 75% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.8% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
25.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut
flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Industries:
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food
and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
2.291 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.13 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:
$-966.2 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.425 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners:
France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany 11.2%,
Italy 5.1%, L