.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 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 91%

Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)

Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total
population: 88.76% male: 86.91% female: 89.55% (1995 census)

Government Malta

Country name: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Government
type: republic

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; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Guido DE MARCO (since
4 April 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI
(since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4
April 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice
of the prime minister elections: election last held NA April 1999
(next to be held by April 2004); following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term;
the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister election results: Guido DE MARCO elected president;
percent of House of Representatives vote - 54%

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65
seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest
popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected
by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms) elections: results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.8%,
MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both
courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for
Social Justice or AD [