| Country’s Full Name: | Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta’ Malta) |
| Capital City: | Valletta |
| Largest City: | Birkirkara |
| Population: | 413,609 (as at December 2008) |
| Official Languages: | Maltese and English |
| Demonym: | Maltese |
| Currency: | Euro (€), Malta jointed the eurozone January 1, 2008 |
| Religion: | Roman Catholicism is the religion of 98% of the population. Other denominations have places of worship. |
| Government: | Parliamentary Republic |
| Legislature: | House of Representatives |
| Location: | 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km east of Tunisia |
| International Dialing Code: | +356 |
| Date format: | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Time Zone: | CET (UTD +1), Summer CEST (UTC +2) |
| Internet Domain: | .mt |
| Area: | Malta is composed of three major islands: * Malta Island 246 sq km (94.9 square miles) * Gozo 67 sq km (25.9 square miles) * Comino 3 sq km (1.1 square miles) |
| Terrain: | Mostly low, rocky, with dissected plains and may coastal cliffs |
| Climate: | Mediterranean with hot dry summers and mild winters. Annual rainfall is 23 inches and falls mostly between October and March. |
| Average temperature: | * Dec – Feb 13.2°c * June – Aug 25.8°c |
| Administrative Divisions: | The country is administered directly from the capital Valletta. However, there are 68 local councils. |
Economic Indicators
Registered unemployed (as at July 2012): 6,664 persons
Full-time gainfully occupied persons (as at April 2012): 150,717
Part-time gainfully occupied persons (as at April 2012): 53,791
Labour supply (as at 2nd quarter 2011): 354,645
Persons Employed in Financial Intermediation as at November, 2011: 6,542
Average gross annual salary for employees in Financial Intermediation as at November, 2011: €46,810
GDP at current prices (annual 2011) (€ millions): 6,499.2
GDP at constant prices (annual 2011) (€ millions): 4,873.7
GDP growth rate at constant prices Annual 2011: 1.9%
GDP growth rate at constant prices quarter 2 of 2012: 0.9%
Inflation rate 2011 (12-month moving average): 2.5%
Foreign Direct Investment in Malta (stock position as at end December 2011) (€ billions): 12.5
Merchandise exports (annual 2011) (€ millions): 3,815.2
Goods and Services exports (as at 1st quarter 2012) (€ millions): 1,533.4
Merchandise imports (annual 2011) (€ millions): 5,325.2
Goods and Services imports (as at 1st quarter 2012) (€ millions): 1,431.2
Internet users (2010): 245,480 (persons aged between 16-74)
Banking
Malta’s banking system is well regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority. On 1 May 2004 the Central Bank of Malta joined the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and on 1 January 2008 it became part of the Eurosystem. The main objective of the Eurosystem and the Central Bank of Malta is to maintain price stability. In order to meet this objective, the Central Bank of Malta participates in the preparation and decision-making process of the Eurosystem’s monetary policy.
Business Hours
Offices are usually open 08.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday. Most offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Shops are open 09.00 – 13.30 and 16.00 – 19.00 Monday to Saturday. Shops are generally not open on Sundays and public holidays though certain businesses are open in the main tourist centres.
Public Holidays
New Year’s Day (1 January)
Ship Wreck of St Paul (10 February)
St Joseph’s Day (19 March)
Good Friday (2 April)
Freedom Day (31 March)
Labour Day (1 May)
Commemoration of the 1919 Uprising (7 June)
St Peter and St Paul (29 June)
Assumption (15 August)
Nativity of Our Lady (8 September)
Independence Day (21 September)
Immaculate Conception (8 December)
Republic Day (13 December)
Christmas Day (25 December)