Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 1,160 inhabitants per square kilometer (3,000 per sq. mi.). This compares with about 21 per square kilometer (55 per sq. mi.) for the United States. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Malta was first colonized by the Phoenicians. Subsequently, Maltese life and culture have been influenced to varying degrees by Arabs, Italians, and the British. Most of the foreign community in Malta, predominantly active or retired British nationals and their dependents, centers around Sliema and surrounding modern suburbs.
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1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2016 | |
Population, total (millions) | 8.97 | 12.15 | 14.31 | 16.01 |
Population growth (annual %) | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) | 181 | 181 | 181 | 181 |
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) | 50.8 | 68.8 | 81.1 | 90.7 |
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) | .. | 50.2 | 22.1 | .. |
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 54 | 58 | 67 | 69 |
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) | 5.6 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) | 75 | 50 | 48 | 50 |
Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) | .. | 24 | 51 | 56 |
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) | .. | 32 | 71 | 89 |
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) | 116 | 107 | 44 | 29 |
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) | .. | 39.5 | 29 | 23.9 |
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) | 34 | 65 | 90 | 84 |
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) | .. | 51 | 85 | 92 |
School enrollment, primary (% gross) | 112.3 | 106.9 | 123.9 | 110.2 |
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) | 28 | 17 | 45 | .. |
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) | .. | 1 | 1 | .. |
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) | 0.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
Environment | ||||
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) | 129.4 | 115.5 | 100.9 | 94.6 |
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) | .. | .. | .. | 20.6 |
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) | .. | .. | 1.8 | .. |
Urban population growth (annual %) | 5.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) | .. | 281 | 370 | 417 |
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.35 | 0.44 |
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) | .. | 33 | 144 | 271 |