President: George Abela Prime minister: Lawrence Gonzi
Population
685,991
409,836
Life Expectancy
62.750 years
79.850 years
Capital City
Malabo
Valletta
Largest city
Bata (population: 173,046)
Birkirkara (population: 21,676)
Human Development Index
0.717
0.894
GDP per capita
$19,600 US
$25,800 US
Literacy Rate
87%
92.8%
Corruption Perception Index
1.7
5.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
6%
8.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
22.300%
6.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
republic
republic
Independence date
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
21 September 1964 (from UK)
Religions
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)
Exports
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
External Debt
$1,051,000,000 $
$48,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (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
0.100%
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
