Maldives

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

lowest point:

Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:

unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

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

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• 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

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.057 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.043 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.964 male(s)/female

total population:

1.046 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

noun:

Maldivian(s)

adjective:

Maldivian

conventional long form:

Republic of Maldives

conventional short form:

Maldives

local long form:

Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

local short form:

Dhivehi Raajje

name:

Male

geographic coordinates:

4 10 N, 73 30 E

time difference:

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

• 19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*;
• Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale* (Male), Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

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)

cabinet:

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:

• president nominated by the Majlis;
• 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 in 2008)

election results:

President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%

• Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI];
• Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM];
• Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar NASEER];
• Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED];
• note - political parties were allowed to register in June 2005

chief of mission:

Ambassador Mohamed LATHEEF

chancery:

800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017

telephone:

[1] (212) 599-6195

FAX:

[1] (212) 661-6405

agriculture:

22%

industry:

18%

services:

60% (1995)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

general assessment:

telephone services have improved; each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile cellular networks with expanding subscribership

domestic:

interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service

international:

country code - 960; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

total:

88 km

paved roads:

• 88 km - 60 km in Male;
• 14 km on Addu Atolis;
• 14 km on Laamu

note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

males age 18-49:

71,774

females age 18-49:

69,229 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49:

56,687

females age 18-49:

54,454 (2005 est.)

• Maldives has no regular armed forces;
• the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) includes ground forces, the Coast Guard, and a small, undermanned air element;
• with its small size and with little servable equipment, the MNDF is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2007)