Fact File
Public Holidays
Economic & General Data
Malta Rankings
Fact File
Location: 95 kms south of Sicily and 290 kms from the North African coast
Structure: Archipelago comprising Malta (main island), as well as Gozo and Comino
Malta - Length: 27.359 kms*
Width: 14.480 kms
Gozo - Length : 14.484 kms*
Width: 7.242 kms
Malta - Shoreline: 196.80 kms*
Gozo - Shoreline: 56.01 kms*
Total land area: 316 sq kms*
Population: 412,000* (as at end 2010)
Climate: Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters winters and hot, dry summers. Sunny climate with a daily average of 6 hours sunshine in mid-winter to more than 12 hours in summer.
Time zone : GMT +1
Daylight saving time: +1 hr beginning last Sunday in March and ends last Sunday
in October
Capital City: Valletta
Language: Maltese
English is also recognised as an official language
Italian is widely spoken
EU Member: Since May 2004
Local currency: Euro (2008)
GDP per capita (€): 13,800 (2009)
Economic Sectors: Tourism, Electronics, high value added manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, ICT, Financial Services, Education and Training, Creative Arts
Main Trading Partners: Italy, UK, France, Germany, Singapore and US
Labour Force: 165,000
Unemployement: 6%
Departing Tourists: 1,240,000 (Dec 210)
Principal Religion: Roman Catholic; Other religious denominations are also represented with places of worship
Head of State: President – George Abela
Head of Government: Prime Minister - Dr Lawrence Gonzi
Ruling Party: Nationalist Party
International dialing code: +356
Internet: Domain suffix for Malta is .mt
Weights & Measures: Metric
Electricity Supply: Conforms to UK standards (230 volts AC, 50 Hz). UK style three-pin plugs and sockets are used.
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Public Holidays
January 1st (New Year’s Day)
February 10th (St Paul’s Shipwreck)
March 19th (St Joseph)
March 31st (Freedom Day)
April 10th (Good Friday)
May 1st (Worker’s Day)
June 7th (Sette Giugno)
June 29th (St Peter & St Paul)
August 15th (Assumption)
September 8th (Victory Day)
September 21st (Independence Day)
December 8th (Immaculate Conception)
December 13th (Republic Day)
December 25th (Christmas Day)
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Malta Rankings
Indicator: Malta’s banks are the 12th soundest in the world out of the 142 countries surveyed
Source: World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012
Indicator: Malta ranked 24th out of the 70 countries surveyed with respect to the ability to absorb information and communications technology (ICT) and use it for economic and social benefit.
Source: Economist Intelligence Unit, Digital Economy Rankings 2010, Beyond e-readiness
Indicator: In a recent Eurobarometer survey – Employers’ Perception of Graduate Employability, which results were published in November 2010, the respondents (who were business owners and who had recruited higher education graduates in the past 5 years) were asked if they agreed with the statement that the graduates employed had the skills required to work in their company. Respondents in Malta were the most likely to strongly agree with this statement (69%).
Source: Flash Eurobarometer, Employers’ Perception of Graduate Employment, November 2010
Indicator: 27th out of the 139 countries surveyed with the most Networked Economy in the World
Source: World Economic Forum, The Global Information Technology Report 2010-2011
Indicator: For Government readiness with respect to ICT Malta ranks 1st
Source: World Economic Forum, The Global Information Technology Report 2010-2011
Indicator: The Malta Free Port with 2,260,000 TEUs handled during 2009 ranked as the 44th Worldwide Port and the 10th European Port in terms of TEUs handled.
Source: AAPA World Port Ranking 2009
Indicator: Malta’s Shipping Register is now the second largest flag fleet in Europe after the Greek flag. (Country Profiler, Malta Country Profile 2011, Flying the Flag, Pg. 175)
Source: Country Profiler 2011
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Updated: November 2011
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