Maldives

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Introduction - Maldives:
Country	Maldives


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 pledged to embark upon democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress has been slow, however, and many promised reforms have been delayed indefinitely. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.


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

Geographic coordinates	3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references	Asia

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

Area comparative	about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries	0 km

Coastline	644 km

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

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

Terrain	flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation extremes	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

Natural resources	fish

Land use	arable land: 13.33% permanent crops: 30% other: 56.67% (2005)

Irrigated land	NA

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

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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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:
Population	369,031 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure	0-14 years: 42.9% (male 81,383/female 76,984) 15-64 years: 54% (male 101,699/female 97,518) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,619/female 5,828) (2007 est.)

Median age	total: 18.1 years male: 18 years female: 18.2 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate	2.732% (2007 est.)

Birth rate	34.2 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate	6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio	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.)

Infant mortality rate	total: 53.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 52.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth	total population: 64.76 years male: 63.41 years female: 66.19 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate	4.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	0.1% (2001 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	less than 100 (2001 est.)

Hiv aids deaths	NA

Nationality	noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups	South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Religions	Sunni Muslim

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

Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.3% male: 96.2% female: 96.4% (2000 census)

Government - Maldives:
Country name	conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Government type	republic

Capital	name: Male geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions	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

Independence	26 July 1965 (from UK)

National holiday	Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution	adopted 1 January 1998

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

Suffrage	21 years of age; universal

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) 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%

Legislative branch	unicameral Peoples Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50

Judicial branch	High Court

Political parties and leaders	Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian Peoples 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

Political pressure groups and leaders	various unregistered political parties

International organization participation	AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the us	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

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

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:
Economy overview	Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 28% 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 the second leading sector. 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 7% of GDP. 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. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami, the GDP contracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-tsunami reconstruction, and development of new resorts helped boost GDP by about 18 percent in 2006. The trade deficit has expanded sharply as a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material. Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing is the major challenge facing the government. Over the longer term 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.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$2.839 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$906 million (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate	18% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$3,900 (2002 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 16% industry: 7% services: 77% (2006 est.)

Labor force	101,300 (2004)

Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1995)

Unemployment rate	NEGL% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line	21% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate consumer prices	6% (2005 est.)

Budget	revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants) expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)

Agriculture products	coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

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

Industrial production growth rate	-0.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity production	149.9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption	139.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity exports	0 kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	0 kWh (2004)

Oil production	0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil consumption	7,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exports	NA bbl/day

Oil imports	NA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves	0 bbl

Natural gas production	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports	$214 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports commodities	fish

Exports partners	Thailand 32.1%, UK 13.9%, Sri Lanka 11.6%, Japan 10%, France 6.7%, Algeria 6% (2006)

Imports	$832 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports commodities	petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods

Imports partners	Singapore 23.3%, UAE 15.8%, India 11.1%, Malaysia 7.9%, Thailand 7%, Sri Lanka 5.7% (2006)

Debt external	$482 million (2006 est.)

Economic aid recipient	$27.9 million (2004)

Currency code	rufiyaa (MVR)

Exchange rates	rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002)

Communications - Maldives:
Fiscal year	calendar year

Telephones main lines in use	32,500 (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	262,600 (2006)

Telephone system	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)

Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Television broadcast stations	1 (2006)

Internet country code	.mv

Internet hosts	1,357 (2006)

Internet users	20,100 (2005)

Transportation - Maldives:
Airports	5 (2006)

Airports with paved runways	total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways	total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Roadways	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)

Merchant marine	total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,149 GRT/87,220 DWT by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2 registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals	Male

Military - Maldives:
Military branches	Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Quick Reaction Force, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2007)

Military service age and obligation	18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service	males age 18-49: 71,774 females age 18-49: 69,229 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service	males age 18-49: 56,687 females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)

Military note	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)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	5.5% (2005 est.)

Disputes international	none