2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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
Age structure
0-14 years: 45.63% (male 72,920; female 68,895) 15-64 years: 51.37% (male 81,506; female 78,149) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,806; female 4,488) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Airports
5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2000 est.) Maldives Military
Area
total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
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. Maldives Geography
Birth rate
38.15 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $166 million (excluding foreign grants) expenditures: $192 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1999 est.)
Capital
Male
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Coastline
644 km
Constitution
adopted January 1998
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Currency
rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code
MVR
Death rate
8.09 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$237 million (2000 est.)
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
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
Disputes - international
none
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
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 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. 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.
Electricity - consumption
93.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
101 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
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
Ethnic groups
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Exchange rates
rufiyaa per US dollar - 11.770 (fixed rate since 1995)
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: appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then that 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; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%
Exports
$88 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities
fish, clothing
Exports - partners
US, UK, Sri Lanka, Japan
Fiscal year
calendar year Maldives Communications
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 Maldives Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $594 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 20% industry: 18% services: 62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
7.6% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography - note
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean Maldives People
Government type
republic
Highways
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.05% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$372 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities
consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners
Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Canada
Independence
26 July 1965 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate
4.4% (1996 est.)
Industries
fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Infant mortality rate
63.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet country code
.mv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
2,000 (2000) Maldives Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
High Court
Labor force
67,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 3% other: 84% (1993 est.)
Languages
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
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 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
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 62.56 years male: 61.39 years female: 63.8 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.2% male: 93.3% female: 93% (1995 est.) Maldives Government
Location
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Map references
Asia
Maritime claims
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine
total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,604 GRT/81,451 DWT ships by type: cargo 16, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches
National Security Service
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
NA% Maldives Transnational Issues
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 71,856 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 40,006 (2001 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Nationality
noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian
Natural hazards
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Natural resources
fish
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Population
310,764 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
3.01% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Gan, Male
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios
35,000 (1999)
Railways
0 km
Religions
Sunni Muslim
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: 1.07 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
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)
Telephones - main lines in use
21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1,290 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
10,000 (1999)
Terrain
flat, with white sandy beaches
Total fertility rate
5.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
NEGL%
Waterways
none