Malta

The Republic of Malta is a small and densely-populated island nation in southern Europe. It consists of an archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea directly south of Italy and north of Africa. These strategically-located islands have been ruled and fought over by various powers over the centuries.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Malta

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According to the last demographic survey (2003) the estimated population of the Malta at the end of that year (including non-Maltese residents) was 399,867 of whom 198,099 were males and 201,768 were females. This makes Malta the European country with the highest population density with 1,265 persons per square kilometre.

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In the same year there was a net natural increase of 872 persons and a net inflow of 1,699 persons in the total population. Fertility rate has stabilised but with a crude birth rate of 10.06 Malta remains one of the "youngest" European populations (the 0-14 age group represents 18.2% of the total population).

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Education

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Education is compulsary between the ages of 5 and 16 years. Whilst the state provides education free of charge, the church and the private sector run a number of schools in Malta and Gozo.

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Education in Malta is as follows:

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• Kindergarten - up to 5 years (not compulsary)
• Primary education is between 6-11
• Secondary education up to 16 years
• Post-Secondary Education (sixth form, vocational college) up to 18 years
• Tertiary education is provided by the University of Malta and also by MCAST.

Island nation: An island nation is a country that is wholly confined to an island or islands. Forty-seven of the world's countries are island nations, including most of the smallest ones....

Southern Europe: Southern Europe is a region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, after the bordering sea, the Mediterranean Sea....

Archipelago: An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. Archipelagoes usually occur in the open sea; less commonly a large land mass may neighbour them. Archipelagos are often volcanic, forming along ocean ridges or hotspots, but there are many other processes involved in thei...

Malta related Images and Photos (experimental)

Mdina Malta Europe	Malta Heave For a Dive from P and O Pencillings	Malta Besieged by the Infidel from Della Architettura Militare Published 1551	St. Paul Arriving at Malta
Ladies of the Knights of Malta with Their Maid Servant	Chevalier Grand-Croix of the Order of Malta St. John of Jerusalem	"Stuka" Dive- Bombers Attack the Island of Malta a Vital Allied Base	View of Valetta and the Grand Port of Malta with Ships of the Knights of St. John
At the Entrance of Valetta Harbour Malta	Egyptian Campaign to Assure His Supply Lines Napoleon Takes Malta from the Governing Order	On His Way to Egypt Napoleon Stops at the Island of Malta and Takes It	H.M.S. Vesuvius Leaving Grand Harbour Valletta Malta