Maldives

Republic of Maldives

republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)

Maldives as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 82 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

Position3 15 N, 73 00 E

Area300 sq km

LocationSouthern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

270,758 people July 1996 est. · 217,945 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.52% 1996 est. · 3.64% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

66.17 years 1996 est. · 63.86 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.06 children per woman 1996 est. · 6.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

47 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 76 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,560 1994 est. · $620 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.6% 1994 est. · 4.7% in 1993

Geography

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

15 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: nearly twice 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

lowest point:: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:: unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m

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

Geographic 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

270,758

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 3.52% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

41.88Death

6.64Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years66.17

64.6 · 67.82

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy93.2%

93.3% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (male 65,559; female 62,399)
15-64 years:: 50% (male 69,071; female 65,659)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 4,336; female 3,734) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.16 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Maldivian(s)
adjective:: Maldivian

Languages

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

Government

Republic

18 fields

Name of country

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) was reelected for a five-year term by secret ballot of the Majlis;
election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with 92.76% of the vote
cabinet:: Ministry of Atolls was appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majilis

Legislative branch

unicameral; members elected for five-year terms or appointed by the president

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

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by Ahmed ZAKI

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

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

During the 1980s tourism became one of the most | important and highest growth sectors of the economy.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,560

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

6.6%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: 6.3% (1994 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

16.5%

(1994 est.)

Labor force

66,000

(est.)by occupation: fishing industry 25%

GDP composition by sector(1994 est.)

agriculture 21.5%industry 15.3%services 63.2% (1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$88 million (excluding foreign grants)Expenditures

$141 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 5,000 kW

Electricity production

30 millionElectricity consumption per capita

123 (1993)

During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1994, tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounted for about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is a second leading growth sector.

Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. 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 cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In 1994, industry which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about 15% of GDP.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $390 million (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

Industries

fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Agriculture

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing

Exports

$75.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

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

Imports

$195.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

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