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: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 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: 31% permanent crops: 3% other: 66% (1998 est.)

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,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the
three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)
being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia
are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

People Malta

Population: 397,499 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.7% (male 40,609; female 37,882) 15-64
years: 67.5% (male 135,047; female 133,207) 65 years and over: 12.8%
(male 21,215; female 29,539) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.73% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 12.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 80.96 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.52% (1999 est