Maldives

Republic of Maldives

republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)

Maldives as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 76 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 sq km

LocationSouthern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

261,310 people July 1995 est. · 217,945 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.58% 1995 est. · 3.64% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

65.49 years 1995 est. · 63.86 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.17 children per woman 1995 est. · 6.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

50 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 76 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,500 1993 est. · $620 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.4% 1993 est. · 4.7% in 1993

Geography

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, | south-southwest of India

14 fields

Land useshare of 300 sq km

arable land 10%permanent crops 0%forest and woodland 3%other 84%meadows and pastures 3% in all

Area

300sq km

land area: 300 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

644km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with Indiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

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

Environment

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

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People

15 fields

Population

261,310

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 3.58% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

42.8Death

7Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years65.49

63.99 · 67.07

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy91%

91% · 92%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Labor force

66,000

(est.)by occupation: fishing industry 25%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (female 60,038; male 63,042)
15-64 years:: 50% (female 63,526; male 67,020)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 3,537; male 4,147) (July 1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Maldivian(s)
adjective:: Maldivian

Languages

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

Government

Republic

18 fields

Names

conventional 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

Executive branch

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 1998);
results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with 92.76% of the vote
cabinet:: Ministry of Atolls; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral

Citizens' Council (Majlis):: elections last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999);
results - percent of vote NA;
seats - (48 total, 40 elected, 8 appointed by the president) independents 40

Political parties and leaders

although political parties are not banned, none exist; 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, 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

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
consular agency:: Midhath Hilmy, Male
telephone:: 322581

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

Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work | force and accounting for over 60% of exports.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,500

(1993 est.)

Real growth rate

5.4%

(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 24% (1990); accounts for 6% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

20%

(1993)

External debt

$130million

(1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$95 million (excluding foreign transfers)Expenditures

$143 million (1993 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $71 million

Installed generating capacity, 5,000 kW

Electricity production

30 millionElectricity consumption per capita

123 (1993)

Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy.

In 1993, tourism accounted for 17% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. The Maldivian government initiated an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment.

Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivatable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In 1993, industry which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about 6% of GDP.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $360 million (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

Exports

$38.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: fish, clothing
partners:: US, UK, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Germany

Imports

$177.8 million (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
partners:: Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India, Japan

Industries

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

Agriculture

fishing, coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes

Economic aid

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