Maldives

Republic of MaldivesDhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)

Maldives as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 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, south-southwest of India

Populationas each edition published it

301,475 people July 2000 est. · 217,945 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.06% 2000 est. · 3.64% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

62.2 years 2000 est. · 63.86 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.62 children per woman 2000 est. · 6.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

65.52 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 76 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,800 1999 est. · $620 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

7% 1999 est. · 4.7% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.

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 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinescontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references

Asia

Climate

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

Terrain

flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation extremes

lowest point:: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

Natural resources

fish

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies;
global warming and sea level rise;
coral reef bleaching

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts);
archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People

15 fields

Population

301,475

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 3.06% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

38.96Death

8.32Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)62.2

61.05 · 63.4

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)93.2%

93.3% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 46% (male 71,273; female 67,323)
15-64 years:: 51% (male 78,598; female 75,331)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 4,666; female 4,284) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.09 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

65.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.62 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Maldivian(s)
adjective:: Maldivian

Ethnic groups

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Languages

Maldivian Dhivehi (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

People's Council or Majlis, 42 seats, elected 20 November 1999one dot, one seat

independents 42

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

republic

Capital

Male

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

Independence

26 July 1965 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution

adopted January 1998

Legal system

based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

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:: appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis
elections:: president nominated by the Majlis and then that nomination must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval margin is required);
president elected for a five-year term;
election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)
election results:: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results:: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 42

Judicial branch

High Court

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, OPCW, 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

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

Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts.

31 fields

Real growth rate

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 4.4% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1999 est.)

Labor force

67,000

(1995)

Debt - external

$188million

(1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 20%industry 18%services 62% (1999 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$166 million (excluding foreign grants)Expenditures

$192 million (1999 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $80 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

85 million (1998)Electricity consumption

79 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Almost 400,000 tourists visited the islands in 1998. Fishing is a second leading sector.

The Maldivian Government began 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. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

300

(1999)

Fixed lines

21,000

(1999)

Telephone system

minimal domestic and international facilities

domestic:: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international:: satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)