President: George Abela Prime minister: Lawrence Gonzi
Population
4,140,289
409,836
Life Expectancy
75.230 years
79.850 years
Capital City
Valletta
Largest city
Beirut (population: 1,916,100)
Birkirkara (population: 21,676)
Human Development Index
0.796
0.894
GDP per capita
$25,800 US
Literacy Rate
87.4%
92.8%
Corruption Perception Index
3
5.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
4.7%
8.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Najib Mikati ($2.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
6.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
republic
republic
Independence date
21 September 1964 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
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
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Area
10,400 km sq
316 km sq
Coastline
225 km
197 km
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
