Malta

Quick Facts

🇲🇹
Capital:
Valletta
Official Language(s):
English, Maltese
Currency:
Euro (€)
Population:
525,285

Overview

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago 80 km (50 mi) south of Italy, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia, and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya. The two official languages are Maltese and English. The country's capital is Valletta, which is the smallest capital city in the EU by both area and population. It was also the first World Heritage City in Europe to become a European Capital of Culture in 2018.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $19,718,565,605.433B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 13.5%(2021). Upper-middle income economy with good development.

GDP Growth
13.5%(2021)
GDP PPP
$29,399,590,301.04

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 79.2%(2021) in services, 12.0%(2021) in industry, and 0.8%(2021) in agriculture. Service-oriented advanced economy.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 3.4%(2021) unemployment and 1.5%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 118.6%(2021) exports and 102.1%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
3.4%(2021)
Inflation
1.5%(2021)
Exports/GDP
118.6%(2021)
Imports/GDP
102.1%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

30.7

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

16.2

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

87.5

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

123.4

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

6.3

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 220.65%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of 16.55%(2021).

FDI Inflows
433.86%(2021)
FDI Outflows
348.97%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

N/A

Foreign Reserves

$1.15B(2021)(0.3 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
9.23%(2021)
High-Tech Exports
30.74%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
6.33%(2021)
Services
79.15%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    83.9/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    72.3/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    37.2/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 518,536(2021) with 0.6%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 1.13 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    82.507 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    8.5 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (68.0%(2021)) with youth at 13.2%(2021) and elderly at 18.8%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 47.1%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    19.4%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    27.6%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 48.1%(2021) female and 51.9%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.068 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: 4,638(2021).

    Male Mortality
    42.594/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    22.098/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 0.7%(2021) annually, with 5.2%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: 94.9%(2021).

    Urbanization
    94.8%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    5 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 24.4%(2021) of territory, with 27.3%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: N/A.

    Food Production Index
    75.6(2021)
    Cereal Production
    N/A

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 100.0%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 560 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 1.438 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    0.5%(2021)

    Environmental Vulnerability

    97.4%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at 0.5%(2021) providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    1.438 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: N/A ( N/A of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    9,335 USD(2021)
    Arms Imports
    N/A

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    No major military alliances

    Nuclear Status

    Non-Nuclear State

    Security Environment

    Refugee population: 11,783(2021)Internally displaced: 12,231(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features