Malta Malta vs Portugal Portugal development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Malta
Malta, Value
Portugal
Portugal, Value
Malta
Malta, Rank
Portugal
Portugal, Rank
Malta Malta as % of
Portugal Portugal
Current account balance (% of GDP) 5.69 2.17 19 40 262 %
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 123 46.5 6 44 266 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 175 4.27 1 23 4,094 %
GDP per capita (current US$) 42,347 28,844 27 45 147 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 67,364 50,617 24 41 133 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 106 44.7 6 61 238 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 1.65 2.42 123 99 68.3 %
Net migration 6,323 20,648 52 37 30.6 %
Population, total 574,346 10,701,636 170 89 5.37 %

Demography and Health

Malta and Portugal exhibit contrasting demographic profiles with a birth rate of 8.1 per 1,000 people for both countries. However, Malta has a significantly lower death rate at 7.3 compared to Portugal's 11.2, reflecting better health outcomes. Despite a larger population of 10.7 million in Portugal compared to Malta's 574,346, Malta ranks higher in life expectancy with 83.5 years against Portugal's 82.3 years. Under-5 mortality rates are also higher in Malta at 5.5 per 1,000 live births compared to Portugal's 3.2, indicating potential health care challenges in maternal and child health. The prevalence of undernourishment is equal at 2.5%, showing a shared aspect of food security. Additionally, Malta has a higher suicide mortality rate at 6.5 than Portugal's 11.5, suggesting greater mental health challenges.

Economy

Malta's economy, as measured by GDP per capita, is significantly stronger at $42,347 compared to Portugal's $28,844. Furthermore, in purchasing power parity (PPP), Malta again outshines Portugal with $67,364 versus $50,617. The GDP composition reveals Malta's high dependency on exports of goods and services, which constitute 123% of its GDP, contrasting with Portugal's 46.5%. Conversely, Malta also has a higher import rate at 106% of GDP against Portugal’s 44.7%. Inflation rates are lower in Malta at 1.7% compared to Portugal's 2.4%, indicating a more stable pricing environment for consumers. Lastly, the unemployment rate in Malta stands at an impressive 3.1%, while Portugal reports 6.5%, reflecting healthier labor market conditions in Malta.

Trade and Investment

Malta shows remarkable performance in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), with net inflows comprising 175% of GDP, highlighting its business-friendly climate. This is notably superior to Portugal's 4.3%. Conversely, Portugal leads in high-technology exports, tallying $4.2 billion against Malta's $1.2 billion. Notably, Malta ranks 11th and 7th in exports and imports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP, while Portugal, ranking significantly lower in both categories, stands at 80th and 85th respectively. This significant trade reliance may reveal Malta's vulnerability to global market shifts. Both countries deal with similar poverty headcount ratios at around 16%, hinting at similar levels of economic inequality.

Governance and Institutions

In terms of governance, Portugal has clearer advantages, notably in control of corruption (0.7 compared to Malta's 0.1) and government effectiveness (1 against Malta's 0.4). The rule of law is more robust in Portugal, scoring 1.1 compared to Malta's 0.7. Additionally, Portugal enjoys higher political stability (0.7) compared to Malta (0.9). While Malta ranks favorably in regulatory quality at 0.7 over 0.8 of Portugal, the overall governance framework in Portugal reflects better institutional strength and public administration effectiveness.

Infrastructure and Technology

Both countries have attained significant advancements in infrastructure and technology, though Malta slightly edges out with a logistics performance index of 3.7 compared to Portugal's 3.6. This suggests that Malta has slightly better trade and transportation infrastructure. Moreover, internet usage in Malta is higher at 92.1% of the population against 85.8% in Portugal, indicating better access to digital resources. However, Malta's research and development expenditure at 0.6% of GDP contrasts with Portugal's more substantial 1.7%, showcasing Portugal's commitment to fostering innovation and technological advancement.

Environment and Sustainability

In environmental sustainability, Malta confronts significant challenges. It has the highest level of water stress, with 78.3% of freshwater resources withdrawn, far exceeding Portugal's 12.3%. While Malta has a somewhat lower per capita greenhouse gas emissions (3.7 tons) compared to Portugal (5 tons), both countries face scrutiny over their sustainable practices. Renewable energy consumption again reveals a disparity: Malta consumes 8.6% of total final energy from renewable sources, while Portugal leads significantly with 32.3%. There is room for improvement in Malta regarding sustainability initiatives aimed at enhancing environmental resilience and reducing ecological footprints.