Part 527

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m

Natural resources: limestone, salt

Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland : NA% other: 59% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

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

Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified : Biodiversity, Desertification

Geography - note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

@Malta:People

Population: 377,177 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years : 21% (male 41,207; female 39,041) 15-64 years: 67% (male 127,553; female 126,355) 65 years and over: 12% (male 18,202; female 24,819) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.68% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 12.47 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.44 years male: 75.16 years female: 79.87 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1997 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 98%

Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)

Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)

@Malta:Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta

Data code: MT

Government type: parliamentary democracy