Maldives

Republic of MaldivesDhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)

Maldives as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 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

329,684 people July 2003 est. · 217,945 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.91% 2003 est. · 3.64% in 1993

Median ageyears

17.3 years 2002 · 32.4 yrs in 2025

Life expectancyyears at birth

63.3 years 2003 est. · 63.86 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.26 children per woman 2003 est. · 6.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

60.13 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 76 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,900 2002 est. · $620 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.3% 2002 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 3.33%permanent crops 6.67%other 90% (1998 est.)

Area

300sq km

water: 0 sq kmland: 300 sq kmabout 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

644km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMcontiguous zone: 24 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, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

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

People

19 fields

Population

329,684

(July 2003 est.)growth rate: 2.91% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth

36.71Death

7.65Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)63.3

62.07 · 64.6Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)60.13

59.23 · 61.07

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)97.2%

97.1% · 97.3%Median age years (2002)17.3

17.2 · 17.4

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1%

(2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 44.9% (male 75,991; female 71,826)
15-64 years:: 52.1% (male 87,734; female 84,150)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 5,073; female 4,910) (2003 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:: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.26 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

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 short form:: Dhivehi Raajje
local long form:: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

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
elections:: president nominated by the Majlis and then the 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 in referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
cabinet:: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis
head of government:: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, 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; permanent representative is Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF

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.

36 fields

Real growth rate

2.3%

(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 4.4% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2002 est.)

Labor force

88,000

(2000)

Debt - external

$281million

(2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)

agriculture 20%industry 18%services 62% (2000 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

51.7%

Singapore

25.6%

16.2%

Sri Lanka

15%

UAE

14.5%

9.3%

Thailand

7.6%

Japan

India

6.6%

Malaysia

5.7%

4.6%

Exports $110 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)Imports $395 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)(2002)

Budget

Revenues

$224 million (excluding foreign grants)Expenditures

$282 million (2002 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $80 million

Electricity

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

Electricity production

117 million (2001)Electricity consumption

108.8 million (2001)

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 lesser 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

1,290

(1997)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

21,000

(1999) · country code .mv

Telephone system

general assessment:: 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)