1996 Edition

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

Location

3 15 N, 73 00 E -- Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India Flag ----

Area

comparative area

nearly twice the size of Washington, DC

land area

300 sq km

total area

300 sq km

Climate

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

Coastline

644 km

Environment

current issues

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies

international agreements

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

natural hazards

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

Geographic coordinates

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Geographic note

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

10%

forest and woodland

3%

meadows and pastures

3%

other

84%

permanent crops

0%

Location

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

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

flat

highest point

unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 47% (male 65,559; female 62,399) 15-64 years: 50% (male 69,071; female 65,659) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,336; female 3,734) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

41.88 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African

Infant mortality rate

47 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Maldivian Divehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.82 years (1996 est.)

male

64.6 years

total population

66.17 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

93%

male

93.3%

total population

93.2%

Nationality

adjective

Maldivian

noun

Maldivian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

270,758 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.52% (1996 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio

all ages

1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu

Capital

Male

Citizens' Council (Majlis)

elections last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected, 8 appointed by the president) independents 40

Constitution

4 June 1968

Data code

MV

Diplomatic representation in US

Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by Ahmed ZAKI

Executive branch

cabinet

Ministry of Atolls was appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majilis

chief of state and head of government

President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978) was reelected for a five-year term by secret ballot of the Majlis; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with 92.76% of the vote

Flag

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

Independence

26 July 1965 (from UK)

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

High Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral; members elected for five-year terms or appointed by the president

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Maldives

conventional short form

Maldives

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Political parties and leaders

although political parties are not banned, none exist

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

Agriculture

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing

Budget

expenditures

$141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$88 million (excluding foreign grants)

Currency

1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1994, tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounted for about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The Maldivian Government initiated 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. In 1994, industry which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about 15% of GDP.

Electricity

capacity

5,000 kW

consumption per capita

123 kWh (1993)

production

30 million kWh

Exchange rates

rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (January 1996), 11.770 (1995), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991)

Exports

$75.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

fish, clothing

partners

Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK

External debt

$137.5 million (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $390 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

21.5%

industry

15.3%

services

63.2% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita

$1,560 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

6.6% (1994 est.)

Imports

$195.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products

partners

Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand

Industrial production growth rate

6.3% (1994 est.)

Industries

fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

16.5% (1994 est.)

Labor force

66,000 (est.)

by occupation

fishing industry 25%

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

Branches

National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

59,179

males fit for military service

33,016 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

28,284 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

minimal domestic and international facilities

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones

8,523 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

7,309 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

2

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1 (1995 est.)

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

Highways

paved

NA km

total

NA km

unpaved

NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 17, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

total

20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 73,284 GRT/113,669 DWT

Ports

Gan, Male

Railways

0 km