Maldives

Republic of Maldives

republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)

Maldives as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 92 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 (Maale)

Position3 15 N, 73 00 E

Area300 sq km

LocationSouthern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

280,391 people July 1997 est. · 217,945 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.47% 1997 est. · 3.64% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

66.86 years 1997 est. · 63.86 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.95 children per woman 1997 est. · 6.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

44.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 76 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,620 1995 est. · $620 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.8% 1995 est. · 4.7% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 300 sq km

arable land 10%permanent crops 0%forests and woodland 3%other 84% (1993 est.)permanent pastures 3% in all

Area

300sq km

land: 300 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout 1.7 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

Highest point

24m

unnamed location on Wilingililowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

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)

Natural hazards

low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

Environment - current issues

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea

Geography - 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

280,391

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 3.47% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

40.98Death

6.3Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1997 est.)66.86

65.23 · 68.58

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)93.2%

93.3% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (male 67,967; female 64,643) 15-64 years : 50% (male 71,316; female 67,993)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 4,534; female 3,938) (July 1997 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:: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.05 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

44.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 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; President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978)

18 fields

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form:: Maldives
local long form :: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form:: Dhivehi Raajje

Administrative divisions

19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*;
Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

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:: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majilis
elections :: president elected by secret ballot of the Majlis for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998)
election results:: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of Majlis vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76%

Legislative branch

unicameral Citizens' Council or Majlis (48 seats; 40 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
election results :: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 40

Political parties and leaders

although political parties are not banned, none exist

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CCC, 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 the 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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 description

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.

22 fields

Real growth rate

5.8%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 6.3% (1994 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

7.7%

(1995 est.)

Labor force

56,435

(1990 est.)by occupation: fishing industry and agriculture 25%, services 21%, manufacturing and construction 21%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 16%, transportation and communication 10%, other 7%

Debt - external

$137.5million

(1994 est.)

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

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 - $423 million (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,620 (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

18,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - production

40 million kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

163 kWh (1994 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing

Exports

total value:: $50 million (f.o.b., 199)
commodities:: fish, clothing
partners:: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK

Imports

total value :: $268 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities:: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
partners :: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

8,523

(1992 est.)

Telephone system

minimal domestic and international facilities

domestic:: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)