Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
President: George Abela Prime minister: Lawrence Gonzi
Population
22,015,576
409,836
Life Expectancy
81.900 years
79.850 years
Capital City
Canberra
Valletta
Largest city
Sydney (population: 4,394,580)
Birkirkara (population: 21,676)
Human Development Index
0.965
0.894
GDP per capita
$40,800 US
$25,800 US
Literacy Rate
99%
92.8%
Corruption Perception Index
8.7
5.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
29.6%
8.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.100%
6.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
federal parliamentary democracy
republic
Independence date
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
21 September 1964 (from UK)
Religions
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
Exports
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
External Debt
$1,376,000,000,000 $
$48,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2008 est.), 0.6795 (January 2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.000%
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
46
0
Location
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Area
7,741,220 km sq
316 km sq
Coastline
25,760 km
197 km
Climate
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
