Geography - note:
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest
islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being
inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Malta
Population:
398,534 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 36,056/female 34,097)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,537/female 135,666)
65 years and over: 13.6% (male 23,184/female 30,994) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.36 years
male: 36.91 years
female: 39.84 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.42% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
10.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)