Malta vs Romania development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

In terms of demography, Malta has a population of approximately 574,346, significantly smaller than Romania's 19.1 million. The birth rate in Malta is slightly higher at 8.1 per 1,000 people compared to Romania's 8. However, Malta boasts a considerably lower death rate of 7.3 per 1,000, while Romania's stands at 12.7. Malta's life expectancy at birth is also notably higher, at 83.5 years, contrasting with Romania's 76.6 years. Additionally, Malta presents a lower under-5 mortality rate of 5.5, compared to Romania’s 6.6. The prevalence of undernourishment is the same for both countries at 2.5%. Malta's health expenditure as a percentage of GDP is also higher at 9.5% compared to Romania’s 5.7%, indicating a potentially stronger healthcare system. Furthermore, Malta has more physicians per 1,000 people (4.3) than Romania (3.5), suggesting better healthcare accessibility and quality. Lastly, Malta has a lower suicide mortality rate, with 6.5 per 100,000 people versus Romania's 9.6, denoting a better mental health landscape.

Economy

When examining economic indicators, Malta exhibits significantly higher GDP per capita at $42,347 compared to Romania's $20,072. In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), Malta's GDP per capita is $67,364, while Romania's is $48,712, reinforcing Malta's stronger economic position. Malta also has a staggering export figure of goods and services that constitutes 123% of its GDP, overshadowing Romania's 35.6%. On the import side, Malta also ranks higher, with imports at 106% of GDP against Romania's 41.7%. Inflation rates are lower in Malta at 1.7% compared to Romania's 5.7%, indicating a more stable economic environment. Additionally, Malta demonstrates a remarkable level of foreign direct investment inflows, accounting for 175% of its GDP, in stark contrast to Romania's mere 1.9%. Overall, Malta's economy appears more robust and prosperous compared to Romania's.

Trade and Investment

In terms of trade and investment, Malta excels with its high percentage of exports to GDP and foreign direct investment net inflows, substantially surpassing Romania. The logistics performance index in Malta is rated at 3.7, reflecting a higher quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure compared to Romania's score of 2.9. This superior logistics performance indicates better facilitation of trading activities and movement of goods. Malta’s emphasis on high-technology exports, although at $1.2 billion, is less compared to Romania’s $9.7 billion; however, the disparity in overall economic output and size of the economies should be noted.

Governance and Institutions

In terms of governance, Malta ranks higher in several dimensions. The control of corruption index indicates a score of 0.1 for Malta versus 0 for Romania, signifying relatively better governance. Malta's government effectiveness score stands at 0.4 compared to Romania's -0.1, again indicating a more efficient governance structure. Moreover, Malta enjoys a higher political stability rating at 0.9 against Romania's 0.4, suggesting a more stable political environment. The regulatory quality score is also in Malta's favor at 0.7 compared to Romania’s 0.3, reflecting a more conducive environment for business operations and compliance with regulations. Additionally, Malta's rule of law score of 0.7 outperforms Romania's 0.4, further establishing Malta as a country with more effective governmental and judicial institutions.

Infrastructure and Technology

Malta showcases superior infrastructure compared to Romania, particularly evident in the logistics performance index. With a score of 3.7, Malta's trade and transport infrastructure quality is ranked higher than Romania's 2.9. Access to technology is also evident, with 92.1% of Malta's population using the Internet compared to 89.2% in Romania. This reflects Malta's emphasis on technological penetration into society, facilitating better economic activities and enhancing communication. Furthermore, while both countries invest a similar percentage of GDP in research and development at 0.6% for Malta and 0.5% for Romania, the implications of Malta's advanced infrastructure support a stronger overall technological landscape.

Environment and Sustainability

In the domain of environmental sustainability, Malta faces challenges with a significant level of water stress, utilizing 78.3% of its available freshwater resources compared to Romania’s 7.4%. However, Malta's renewable energy consumption, while lower at 8.6% compared to Romania’s 23.6%, may reflect ongoing efforts to transition towards sustainable energy sources, albeit at a slower pace. When considering greenhouse gas emissions, Malta emits 3.7 tons of CO2 per capita, which is lower than Romania's 5.6 tons, suggesting a relatively cleaner environment in Malta. Overall, both nations face distinct environmental challenges, but Malta displays a greater balance of economic output against environmental sustainability metrics.