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 Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m

agricultural land:

23.3%;

• arable land 10%;
• permanent crops 10%;
• permanent pasture 3.3%

forest:

3%

other:

73.7% (2011 est.)

total:

0.01 cu km/yr (95%/5%/0%)

per capita:

18.44 cu m/yr (2008)

• 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

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

noun:

Maldivian(s)

adjective:

Maldivian

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.38 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.38 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.89 male(s)/female

total population:

1.26 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

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)

chief of state:

• President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013);
• Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015);
• note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government:

President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015)

cabinet:

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
• the election held on 7 September 2013 was annulled by the Supreme Court;
• rerun of first round held on 9 November 2013 and a runoff held on 16 November (next election to be held in 2018)

election results:

• first round (9 November 2013);
• percent of vote - Mohamed NASHEED (MDP) 46.9%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 29.7%, Qasim IBRAHIM (JP) 23.3%;
• runoff (16 November 2013);
• percent of vote - Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom elected president 51.4%, Mohamed NASHEED 48.6%

highest court(s):

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 judges)

judge selection and term of office:

• Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a separate 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis;
• judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts:

• High Court;
• Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts;
• Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)

• Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]
• Dhivehi Qaumee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]*
• Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP
• Gaumee Itthihaad Party (National Unity Party) or GIP [Mohamed WAHEED]
• Islamic Democratic Party or IDP*
• Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed SIYAM]
• Maldives National Congress or MNC [Ali AMJAD]*
• Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Mohamed MUNAWWAR]
• Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Reeko Moosa MANIKU]
• Maldivian Labor Party or MLP [Ahmed MOOSA]*
• Maldivian Social Democratic Party or MSDP [Reeko Ibrahim MANIKU]*
• Meedhu Dhaaira
• People's Alliance or PA [Moosa ZAMEERI]*
• People's Party or PP [Ahmed RIYAZ]*
• Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP
• Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]
• Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM]
• Social Liberal Party or SLP [Mazian RASHEED]*

note: political parties with an asterisk were dissolved on 7 February 2014 by the Elections Commission under the Political Parties Act, which requires a minimum membership;

the status of these parties is unresolved, as the Supreme Court later ruled the dissolution invalid

chief of mission:

Ambassador Ahmed SAREER (since 11 January 2013)

chancery:

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

telephone:

[1] (212) 599-6195

FAX:

[1] (212) 661-6405

• red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon;
• the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag;
• red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam

name:

"Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute)

lyrics/music:

Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA

note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"

agriculture:

15%

industry:

15%

services:

70% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%:

1.2%

highest 10%:

33.3% (FY09/10)

general assessment:

• telephone services have improved;
• inter-atoll communication through microwave links;
• all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service

domestic:

each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile-cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership that has reached 135 per 100 persons

international:

• country code - 960;
• linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG);
• satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

• state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently;
• state-owned TV operates 2 channels;
• 3 privately owned TV stations;
• state owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based station;
• 5 privately owned radio stations (2012)

total:

88 km

paved roads:

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

note: island roads are mainly compacted coral (2013)

country comparison to the world: 216

• 18-28 years of age for voluntary service;
• no conscription;
• 10th grade or equivalent education required;
• must not be a member of a political party (2012)

males age 16-49:

156,319

females age 16-49:

98,815 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49:

135,374

females age 16-49:

85,181 (2010 est.)

male:

4,167

female:

3,595 (2010 est.)