Maldives
Republic of MaldivesDhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
republicIndependence 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Maldives as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM - currently in his sixth term in office - has dominated the island's political scene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government have pledged to embark upon democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
Geography
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
18 fieldsLand useshare of 300 sq km
Climate
- tropical;
- hot, humid;
- dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
- rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Elevation extremes
- lowest point:
- Indian Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
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 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2004 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 44.4% (male 77,424; female 73,191)
- 15-64 years:
- 52.6% (male 91,045; female 87,331)
- 65 years and over:
- 3% (male 5,207; female 5,132) (2004 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:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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 fieldsPeople's Council or Majlis, 50 seats, elected 22 January 2005one dot, one seat
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:
- Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
- 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 17 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
- election results:
- President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
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 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)
- election results:
- percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50
International organization participation
AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF
- chancery:
- 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
- telephone:
- [1] (212) 599-6195
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.
35 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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. 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.
Industries
fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Exchange rates
rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.2421 (2001), 11.77 (2000), 11.77 (1999)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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:
- country code - 960; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 16 ships by typeone square, one ship · ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,164 GRT/68,973 DWT
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Military
National Security Service: comprising Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element; Coast Guard
6 fieldsMilitary branches
National Security Service: comprising Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element; Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Maldives.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/maldives/2004.