Estonia vs Malta development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

In terms of demography, Estonia has a birth rate of 8 per 1,000 people, comparable to Malta's 8.1. However, Estonia faces higher death rates at 11.7 compared to Malta's 7.3, indicating potential public health challenges. Life expectancy is notably lower in Estonia at 78.5 years compared to Malta's 83.5 years. When looking at child health, Estonia has a lower mortality rate for under-5s at 2.1 compared to 5.5 in Malta. Interestingly, both countries report a similar prevalence of undernourishment at 2.5%. Estonia's net migration stands at -7,742, indicating a population decline, while Malta enjoys a positive net migration of 6,323. In healthcare, Estonia's expenditure is lower than Malta's, with 7% of GDP spent on health compared to 9.5% in Malta. The number of physicians per 1,000 people is lower in Estonia (3.4) versus Malta (4.3), suggesting that Malta may have better access to healthcare services.

Economy

Estonia's economy shows a GDP per capita of $31,170, significantly lower than Malta's $42,347. In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), Estonia again trails at $49,334 behind Malta's $67,364. Exports in Estonia account for 76.3% of its GDP compared to an impressively high 123% in Malta, indicating a heavily export-driven economy in the latter. Estonia's inflation rate is higher at 3.5% compared to Malta's 1.7%, which can affect consumer purchasing power. The country faces economic challenges with net foreign direct investment inflows at -8.2% of GDP, while Malta enjoys a robust FDI inflow of 175%, signifying a more attractive environment for foreign investors. Also noteworthy is the current account balance; Estonia's is at -1.1% compared to Malta's 5.7%, indicating more economic stability in the latter.

Trade and Investment

Estonia has a modest level of high-technology exports at $2.1 billion compared to Malta's $1.2 billion. The structure of their economies is different; Estonia is more reliant on high-tech goods, while Malta's high export percentage suggests it has a diversified trade base. Estonia’s imports also reflect a significant portion of GDP at 75.7%, compared to Malta's 106%, indicating a heavy reliance on foreign products. The logistics performance index gives Estonia a score of 3.5 while Malta scores slightly better at 3.7, reflecting the overall quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure.

Governance and Institutions

Estonia ranks better in governance indicators, with a control of corruption score of 1.5 compared to just 0.1 in Malta. Similarly, Estonia's government effectiveness score is 1.3 while Malta's is 0.4. Both countries have relatively low scores for political stability, with Estonia at 0.7 and Malta at 0.9. Regulatory quality and rule of law also favor Estonia (1.4) versus Malta (0.7). These factors suggest that Estonia benefits from better governance structures and is perceived as less corrupt, contributing to a more effective public administration.

Infrastructure and Technology

Estonia presents a robust technological landscape with a high percentage of internet usage at 93.2% of the population compared to Malta's 92.1%. The rankings for logistics performance indicate that both countries maintain solid trade and transport infrastructure, though Estonia is slightly behind in this aspect with a score of 3.5 against Malta's 3.7. Additionally, Estonia emphasizes research and development expenditure at 1.8% of GDP, significantly higher than Malta's 0.6%, indicating a strong investment in innovation and technology. Estonia's focus on patents, with 25 applications from residents, showcases its commitment to intellectual property compared to Malta's 5.

Environment and Sustainability

In environmental metrics, Estonia shows a commitment to renewable energy with 38% of total energy consumption coming from renewable sources, vastly improving its sustainability profile, especially compared to Malta's 8.6%. However, Estonia's total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are higher at 10.5 tCO2e, while Malta, albeit lower in renewable usage, has emissions of only 3.7 tCO2e. Water stress also differs significantly, with Estonia having a manageable water withdrawal level of 10.8%, whereas Malta faces acute pressure with a staggering 78.3%. These indicators highlight a contrast in environmental sustainability and resource management between the two nations, with Estonia showing greater potential for renewable energy but a higher ecological footprint.