Economy - overview:
Malta’s free market economy – the smallest economy in the euro-zone – relies heavily on trade in both goods and services, principally with Europe. Malta produces less than a quarter of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing, and tourism. Malta joined the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.Malta has weathered the euro-zone crisis better than most EU member states due to a low debt-to-GDP ratio and financially sound banking sector. It maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, and growth has fully recovered since the 2009 recession. In 2014 through 2016, Malta led the euro zone in growth, expanding more than 4.5% per year.Malta’s services sector continues to grow, with sustained growth in the financial services and online gaming sectors. Advantageous tax schemes remained attractive to foreign investors, though EU discussions of anti-tax avoidance measures have raised concerns among Malta’s financial services and insurance providers, as the measures could have a significant impact on those sectors. The tourism sector also continued to grow, with 2016 showing record-breaking numbers of both air and cruise passenger arrivals.Malta’s GDP growth remains strong and is supported by a strong labor market. The government has implemented new programs, including free childcare, to encourage increased labor participation. The high cost of borrowing and small labor market remain potential constraints to future economic growth. Increasingly, other EU and European migrants are relocating to Malta for employment, though wages have remained low compared to other European countries. Inflation remains low.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (official exchange rate): GDP - real growth rate: GDP - per capita (PPP): Gross national saving: GDP - composition, by end use: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: Agriculture - products: Industries: Industrial production growth rate: Labor force: Labor force - by occupation: Unemployment rate: Population below poverty line: Household income or consumption by percentage share: Distribution of family income - Gini index: Budget: Taxes and other revenues: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): Public debt: Fiscal year: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Central bank discount rate: Commercial bank prime lending rate: Stock of narrow money: Stock of broad money: Stock of domestic credit: Market value of publicly traded shares: Current account balance: Exports: Exports - commodities: Exports - partners: Imports: Imports - commodities: Imports - partners: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Debt - external: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: Exchange rates:
$18.53 billion (2017 est.)
$17.62 billion (2016 est.)
$16.7 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 152
$12.01 billion (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]
5.1% (2017 est.)
5.5% (2016 est.)
7.1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]
$42,500 (2017 est.)
$40,600 (2016 est.)
$38,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 42
31.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
31.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
29.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]
household consumption: 49.1%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 16.8%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 23.1%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: -0.8%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 145.4%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -133.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]
agriculture: 1.3%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 10.6%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 88.1% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
-3.3% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]
206,300 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]
agriculture: 1.6%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 20.7%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 77.7% (2016 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]
4.4% (2017 est.)
4.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]
16.3% (2015 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]
lowest 10%: NA%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA%
28.1 (2015)
27.7 (2014)
country comparison to the world: 134
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]
revenues: $4.295 billion
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: $4.354 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]
35.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]
-0.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]
52.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
56% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central government, state government, local government and social security funds
country comparison to the world: 91
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]
calendar year
1.3% (2017 est.)
0.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]
-0.35% (31 December 2016 est.)
-0.2% (31 December 2015)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
country comparison to the world: 159
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]
3% (31 December 2017 est.)
3.1% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]
$14.69 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$14.56 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
note: see entry for the EU for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
country comparison to the world: 75
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]
$19.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$19.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]
$20.02 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$19.19 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]
$4.632 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$4.468 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.353 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]
$1.075 billion (2017 est.)
$867 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]
$2.627 billion (2017 est.)
$2.493 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
[see also: Exports country ranks ]
machinery and mechanical appliances; mineral fuels, oils and petroleum products; pharmaceutical products; books and newspapers; aircraft/spacecraft and parts; toys, games, and sports equipment
US 27.3%, Germany 13.9%, France 8.3%, Singapore 5.6%, Japan 5.2%, Hong Kong 4.3%, Italy 4.2% (2016)
$5.191 billion (2017 est.)
$4.643 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
[see also: Imports country ranks ]
mineral fuels, oils and products; electrical machinery; aircraft/spacecraft and parts thereof; machinery and mechanical appliances; plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; vehicles and parts
Italy 20.9%, Canada 10.4%, Germany 6.3%, UK 5.9%, France 4.4% (2016)
$671.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$677.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]
$90.98 billion (September 2016 est.)
$99.02 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]
$166.1 million (1 June 2016 est.)
$155.5 million (1 June 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]
$65.49 million (June 2015 est.)
$64.77 million (June 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.906 (2017 est.)
0.9214 (2016 est.)
0.9214 (2015 est.)
0.885 (2014 est.)
0.7634 (2013 est.)