republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators
republic
Independence date
21 September 1964 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
Exports
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
External Debt
$48,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
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
0.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Area
322,463 km sq
316 km sq
Coastline
515 km
197 km
Climate
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
