| Economy - overview | Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and pharmaceuticals), and tourism. Continued sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth. |
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| GDP | 0.7% (2006 est.) |
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| GDP - real growth rate | 2.4% (2006 est.) |
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| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2003 est.) |
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| Population below poverty line | NA% |
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Household income or consumption
by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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| Labor force | 164,000 (2006 est.) |
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| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 3%
industry: 22%
services: 75% (2005 est.) |
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| Unemployment rate | 6.8% (2005 est.) |
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| Budget | revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.) |
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| Industries | tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco |
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| Industrial production growth rate | NA% |
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Electricity -
production | 2.291 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
production by source | fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption | 2.13 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
exports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
imports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - consumption | 19,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - exports | NA bbl/day |
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| Oil - imports | NA bbl/day |
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| Agriculture - products | potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs |
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| Exports | $2.425 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Exports - commodities | machinery and transport equipment, manufactures |
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| Exports - partners | France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany 11.2%, Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005) |
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| Imports | $4.077 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Imports - commodities | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco |
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| Imports - partners | Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US 5.5%, Singapore 4.1% (2005) |
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| Debt - external | $188.8 million (2005) |
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| Economic aid - recipient | $NA |
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| Currency code | MTL |
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| Exchange rates | Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003), 0.43362 (2002) |
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| Fiscal year | calendar year |
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