Edition 2005 — Maldives — World Factbook

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: 43.9% (male 78,794/female 74,505) 15-64 years: 53% (male 94,488/female 90,624) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,339/female 5,356) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Airports

5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.) Military Maldives

Area

land: 300 sq km
total: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Background

The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It 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 islands' 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 Maldives

Birth rate

35.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)

Capital

Male

Climate

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

Coastline

644 km

Constitution

adopted 1 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 (code)

rufiyaa (MVR)

Currency code

MVR

Death rate

7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$281 million (2003 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

chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

NA (1995)

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. In late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million.

Electricity - consumption

115.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

124.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 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 - 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
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)
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$90 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, clothing

Exports - partners

US 26.5%, Thailand 23.5%, Sri Lanka 12.3%, Japan 11.7%, UK 9.8%, Germany 4.9% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Maldives

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 Maldives

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2002 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.25 billion (2002 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 with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean People Maldives

Government type

republic

Highways

paved: NA km
total: NA km
unpaved: NA km

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$392 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, intermediate and capital goods

Imports - partners

Singapore 24.9%, Sri Lanka 10.6%, UAE 10.3%, India 10.2%, Malaysia 7.6%, Bahrain 5.4% (2004)

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

female: 57.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
male: 55.63 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 56.52 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

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

Internet country code

.mv

Internet hosts

532 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

15,000 (2002) Transportation Maldives

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

High Court

Labor force

88,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 13.33%
other: 70% (2001)
permanent crops: 16.67%

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)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50
elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 65.42 years (2005 est.)
male: 62.76 years
total population: 64.06 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 97.3% (2003 est.) Government Maldives
male: 97.1%
total population: 97.2%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 71,774 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 56,687 (2005 est.)

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Median age

female: 17.8 years (2005 est.)
male: 17.58 years
total: 17.69 years

Merchant marine

by type: cargo 12, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 57,118 GRT/72,831 DWT

Military branches

National Security Service includes Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element, Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$41.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5.5% (2004) Transnational Issues Maldives

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Nationality

adjective: Maldivian
noun: Maldivian(s)

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 (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

although political parties are not banned, none exist

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population

349,106 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

2.82% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors