Maldives

republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)

Maldives as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMale
Area300 km2
1992

Every edition of Maldives

Populationas each edition published it
234,371 people July 1992 · 217,945 in 1990
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 3.64% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 63.86 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.5 children per woman 1992 · 6.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
61 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 76 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $620 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 4.7% in 1993

Geography

13 fields
Total area
300km2
Comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
644km
land boundaries: noneExclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm (defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India)Territorial sea: 12 nm

Land area

300 km2

Climate

  • tropical;
  • hot, humid;
  • dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
  • rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Terrain

flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters

Land use

  • arable land 10%;
  • permanent crops 0%;
  • meadows and pastures 3%;
  • forest and woodland 3%;
  • other 84%

Environment

1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls

Note

archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People

14 fields
Population
234,371
(July 1992), growth rate 3.7% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth
45Death
8Net migration
0
Labor force
66,000
(est.); 25% engaged in fishing industry
Literacy
92%
(male 92%, female 92%) age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Infant mortality rate

61 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth

62 years male, 64 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate

6.5 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality

noun - Maldivian(s); adjective - Maldivian

Ethnic divisions

Maldivians are a generally homogenous admixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Austrolasian, and African

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Languages

Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic); English spoken by most government officials

Government

Republic

18 fields

Long-form name

Republic of Maldives

Type

republic

Administrative divisions

19 district (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu

Independence

26 July 1965 (from UK)

Constitution

4 June 1964

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Executive branch

president, Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis)

Judicial branch

High Court

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978)

Political parties and leaders

no organized political parties; country governed by the Didi clan for the past eight centuries

Suffrage

universal at age 21

Elections

President:
last held 23 September 1988 (next to be held September 1994); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected
Citizens' Council:
  • last held on 7 December 1989 (next to be held 7 December 1994);
  • results - percent of vote NA;
  • seats - (48 total, 40 elected)

Member of

AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

Maldives does not maintain an embassy in the US, but does have a UN mission in New York

US:
  • the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there;
  • US Consular Agency, Midhath Hilmy, Male;
  • telephone 2581

Flag

red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

Economy

The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping.

16 fields
External debt
$70million
(December 1989)

Budget

Revenues
$67 millionExpenditures
$82 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1990 est.)

Overview

The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping. Agriculture is limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide only 10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is also an important source of government revenue.

During the 1980s tourism has become one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1988 industry accounted for about 5% of GDP. Real GDP is officially estimated to have increased by about 10% annually during the period 1974-90.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $174 million, per capita $770 (1988); real growth rate 10.1% (1990 est.)

Exports

$52.0 million (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities:
fish 57%, clothing 25%
partners:
US, UK, Sri Lanka

Imports

$128.9 million (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities:
consumer goods 54%, intermediate and capital goods 33%, petroleum products 13%
partners:
Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India

Industrial production

growth rate -5.0% (1988); accounts for 6% of GDP

Electricity

5,000 kW capacity; 11 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts

Agriculture

  • accounts for almost 30% of GDP (including fishing);
  • fishing more important than farming;
  • limited production of coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes;
  • most staple foods must be imported;
  • fish catch of 67,000 tons (1990 est.)

Economic aid

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $125 million;
  • OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million

Currency

rufiyaa (plural - rufiyaa); 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laaris

Exchange rates

rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 10.234 (January 1992), 10.253 (1991), 9.509 (1990), 9.0408 (1989), 8.7846 (1988), 9.2230 (1987)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Merchant marine, 13 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 11container 1petroleum tanker 113 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 37,293 GRT/56,246 DWT

Highways

Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city

Ports

Male, Gan

Civil air

1 major transport aircraft

Airports

2 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications

  • minimal domestic and international facilities;
  • 2,804 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

3 fields

Branches

National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

Manpower availability

males 15-49, 52,195; 29,162 fit for military service

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1.8 million, NA% of GDP (1984 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Maldives.” The World Factbook 1992. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/maldives/1992.

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