TOEFL Test Centers in Malta

EDU February 16, 2019

Malta Overview

Malta, officially maltese Repubblika ta’Malta, English Republic of Malta [r ɪ p ʌ bl ɪ k əv m ɔ ː ltə], island state in the central Mediterranean with (2018) 483 500 residents; The capital is Valletta.

Malta includes the Maltese Islands, these are Malta (245.7 km ²), Gozo (Maltese Ghaudex or Għawdex; 67 km ²), Comino (Maltese Kemmuna; 2.6 km ²) and the two uninhabited islands of Cominotto (Maltese Kemmunett) and Filfla (Maltese Filfola; together 0.3 km ²).

Country facts

• Official name: Republic of Malta
• License plate: M
• ISO-3166: MT, MLT (470)
• Internet domain:.mt
• Currency: 1 euro (€) = 100 cents
• Area: 320 km²
• Population (2018): 483 500
• Capital: Valletta
• Official language (s): Maltese, English
• Form of government: Republic in the Commonwealth
• Administrative division: 3 regions with 6 districts; 68 parishes
• Head of State: President George Vella
• Head of Government: Robert Abela
• Religion (s) (2006): 90% Catholics
• Time zone: Central European Time
• National Day: September 21

Location and infrastructure

• Location (geographical): Southern Europe
• Position (coordinates): between 35 ° 48 ‘and 36 ° north latitude and 14 ° 10’ and 14 ° 35 ‘east longitude
• Climate: Mediterranean climate
• Highest mountain: Ta’Dmejrek (253 m)
• Road network (2001): 1 973 km (paved), 281 km (unpaved)

Population

• Annual population growth (2020): 0.9%
• Birth rate (2020): 9.9 per 1000 residents.
• Death rate (2020): 8.3 per 1000 residents.
• Average age (2020): 42.3 years
• Average life expectancy (2020): 82.8 years (men 80.7; women 85)
• Age structure (2020): 14.4% younger than 15 years, 21.3% older than 65 years
• Literacy rate (15 year olds and older) (2018): 94.5%
• Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2017): 140 per 100 residents
• Internet users (2017): 80 per 100 residents

Economy

• GDP per capita (2018): US $ 31,058
• Total GDP (2018): US $ 15 billion
• GNI per capita (2018): US $ 26,480
• Education expenditure (2015): 5.3% of GDP
• Military expenditure (2018): 0.5% of GDP
• Unemployment rate (15 years and older) (2017): 4.3%

Education

There is general compulsory schooling from the age of 5 to 16. The languages ​​of instruction are Maltese and English. Attending state schools (around 65% of students) and the teaching materials are free. In addition to the state schools, there are church and free schools. Primary education lasts 5 years; The secondary schools (duration 6 years) include junior lyceum and regional secondary schools. The university entrance qualification leads to the two-year course at the junior college. The most important institution in the post-secondary vocational sector is the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, which has existed since 2001. The University of Malta in Msida was founded in 1592 (university status since 1769; restructured in 1980 and 1988).

History

After the Nationalist Party’s electoral victory in 1987, its parliamentary leader, E. Fenech Adami, took over the leadership of the government, which advocated a policy more favored by Western democracies and aimed at rebuilding a market economy. In July 1990 Malta applied for membership in the EC. On April 4, 1994 the parliament elected Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (* 1932) as president. The 1996 parliamentary elections were won by the Maltese Labor Party; Prime Minister was Alfred Sant (* 1948), who withdrew the application for EU membership and sought rapprochement with the North African states, v. a. to Libya, endeavored. After the Nationalist Party’s victory in the parliamentary elections on September 5th, 1998 Fenech Adami Prime Minister again; his government resumed the course for Malta’s accession to the EU (renewal of the application on September 14, 1998, corresponding negotiations from February 2000 to December 2002). A referendum on March 8, 2003 resulted in a narrow approval (53.6%) for Malta’s accession to the EU on May 1, 2004.

With the confirmation of the Fenech Adami government in the parliamentary elections on April 12, 2003 (51.8% of the vote went to the Nationalist Party), the way was paved for the ratification of the EU accession treaty. After his election as chairman of the Nationalist Party, L. Gonzi took over the office of Prime Minister in March 2004. At the end of March 2004, Parliament elected Fenech Adami to succeed President G. de Marco (1999–2004) (took office on April 4, 2004). On January 1, 2008, Malta became a member of the Eurozone.

In the parliamentary elections on March 8, 2008, the ruling Nationalist Party won again – albeit by a narrow margin (49.3% of the vote). Gonzi remained prime minister. In 2009 the PL politician G. Abela succeeded Fenech Adami as head of state. The European elections on 6 June 2009 were won by the Labor Party with 54.7% of the vote. In contrast to the other EU countries, the Maltese banking system was hardly affected by the international financial crisis. On May 28, 2011, a majority of the population voted in a consultative referendum in favor of legalizing divorce. A corresponding law came into force on October 1, 2011. Explained in connection with a corruption affair John Dalli (* 1948), Maltese EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, resigned on October 16, 2012. He was succeeded by the previous Foreign Minister Tonio Borg (* 1957).