| Info about Malta |
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Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began to use the euro as currency in 2008.
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| Languages |
| Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census) |
| Drug usage |
| minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe |
| Ethnic division |
| Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock) |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence rate |
| 0.2% (2001 est.) |
| Climate info |
| Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers |
| Natural Resources |
| limestone, salt, arable land |
| Economic data |
| Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position beween the EU and Africa makes it a target for illegal immigration, which can strain Malta's political and economic resources. The financial services industry has grown in recent years, but is not fully modernized. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism all of which have been negatively affected by global economic downturn. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. The Maltese government in 2009 will be challenged to contain public spending, which ballooned in 2008 to about 4.1% of GDP placing it above the euro zone's 3% general deficit maximum. |
| Environmental issues |
| limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
