Malta - Poverty and wealth

While wages are low in Malta, the nation's low cost of living allows workers to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. In addition, the government provides housing subsidies for low-income families. Education and health care are free and available for most Maltese, though medical services are limited. With unemployment low (4.5 percent in 2000) and the standard of living relatively high, Malta is ranked 27th in the world in the United Nations Human Development Report 2000 . The standard of living doubles every 13 years.

Exchange rates: Malta
Maltese liri (LM) per US$1
Jan 2001	0.4370
2000	0.4376
1999	0.3994
1998	0.3885
1997	0.3857
1996	0.3604
SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2001 [ONLINE].

GDP per Capita (US$)
Country	1975	1980	1985	1990	1998
Malta	2,996	4,659	5,362	7,019	18,620
United States	19,364	21,529	23,200	25,363	29,683
Italy	11,969	14,621	15,707	18,141	19,574
Cyprus	3,619	6,334	7,818	10,405	12,857
SOURCE: United Nations. Human Development Report 2000; Trends in human development and per capita income.