Maldives
republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Maldives as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Southern Asia, in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of India
23 fieldstotal area
300 sq km
land area
300 sq km
comparative area
slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
exclusive economic zone
35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India
territorial sea
12 nm
Climate
- tropical;
- hot, humid;
- dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
- rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
arable land
10%
permanent crops
0%
meadows and pastures
3%
forest and woodland
3%
other
84%
current issues
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies
natural hazards
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
international agreements
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note
1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
People
21 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
64.67 years
male
63.24 years
female
66.17 years (1994 est.)
noun
Maldivian(s)
adjective
Maldivian
Languages
Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
total population
92%
male
92%
female
92%
by occupation
fishing industry 25%
Government
Republic
23 fieldsconventional long form
Republic of Maldives
conventional short form
Maldives
Administrative divisions
19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
Legal system
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
chief of state and head of government
- President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978);
- election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA);
- results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with 92.76% of the vote
cabinet
Ministry of Atolls; appointed by the president
Citizens' Council (Majlis)
- elections last held on 7 December 1989 (next to be held 7 December 1994);
- results - percent of vote NA;
- seats - (48 total, 40 elected)
Political parties and leaders
no organized political parties; country governed by the Didi clan for the past eight centuries
Member of
AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US
Maldives has no embassy in the US, but does have a UN mission in New York; Permanent Representative to the UN Ahmed ZAKI
chief of mission
the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
consular agency
Midhath Hilmy, Male
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.
25 fieldsOverview
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 became 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.
revenues
$95 million (excluding foreign transfers)
expenditures
$143 million, including capital expenditures of $71 million (1993 est.)
commodities
fish, clothing
partners
US, UK, Sri Lanka
commodities
consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
partners
Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India
capacity
5,000 kW
production
11 million kWh
consumption per capita
50 kWh (1990)
Industries
fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts
Agriculture
- accounts for almost 25% 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.)
recipient
- 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
Exchange rates
rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.105 (January 1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991), 9.509 (1990), 9.0408 (1989)
Communications
12 fieldstotal
NA
paved
NA
unpaved
NA (Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city)
Merchant marine
14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,848 GRT/58,496 DWT, cargo 12, container 1, oil tanker 1
total
2
usable
2
with permanent-surface runways
2
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
0
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 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Maldives.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/maldives/1994.