Airports [time series]

2 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Civil air [time series]

1 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city

Merchant marine [time series]

16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,066 GRT/112,480 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 bulk

Ports [time series]

Male, Gan

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

minimal domestic and international facilities; 2,325 telephones; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

no military force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$1.8 million (1984 est.)

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 49,261; 27,519 fit for military service

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for almost 30% of GDP (including fishing); fishing more important than farming; limited production of coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; most staple foods must be imported

Aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $84 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million

Budget [time series]

revenues $51 million; expenditures $50 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (1988 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

rufiyaa (plural--rufiyaa); 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laaris

Electricity [time series]

5,000 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1--9.3043 (January 1990), 9.0408 (1989), 8.7846 (1988), 9.2230 (1987), 7.1507 (1986), 7.0981 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$47.0 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--fish 57%, clothing 39%; partners--Thailand, Western Europe, Sri Lanka

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$70 million (December 1988)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$136 million, per capita $670; real growth rate 9.2% (1988)

Imports [time series]

$90.0 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities-- intermediate and capital goods 47%, consumer goods 42%, petroleum products 11%; partners--Japan, Western Europe, Thailand

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 3.9% (1988 est.)

Industries [time series]

fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

14% (1988 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping. Agriculture is limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide only 10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing 80% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is also an important source of government revenue. During the 1980s tourism has become one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1988 industry accounted for about 14% of GDP. Real GDP is officially estimated to have increased by about 10% annually during the period 1974-86, and GDP estimates for 1988 show a further growth of 9% on the strength of a record fish catch and an improved tourist season.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

644 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls

Exclusive fishing zone [time series]

about 100 nm (defined by geographic coordinates);

Extended economic zone [time series]

37-310 nm (segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India);

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

10% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 3% forest and woodland; 84% other

Natural resources [time series]

fish

Note [time series]

archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

Terrain [time series]

flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

12 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

300 km2; land area: 300 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

19 district (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 [time series]

Male

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

negligible

Constitution [time series]

4 June 1964

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Maldives does not maintain an embassy in the US, but does have a UN mission in New York; US--the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there; US Consular Agency, Mahduedurage, Violet Magu, Henveru, Male; telephone 2581

Executive branch [time series]

president, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

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 [time series]

26 July 1965 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court Chief of State and Head of Government--President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since since 11 November 1978)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of Maldives

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ADB, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth (special member), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

no organized political parties; country governed by the Didi clan for the past eight centuries

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 21 President--last held 23 September 1988 (next to be held September 1994); results--President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom reelected; Citizens' Council--last held on 7 December 1984 (next to be held 7 December 1989); results--percent of vote NA; seats--(48 total, 40 elected)

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Birth rate [time series]

46 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

admixtures of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, and black

Infant mortality rate [time series]

76 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

66,000 (est.); 80% engaged in fishing industry

Languages (Language) [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

60 years male, 65 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

36%

Nationality [time series]

noun--Maldivian(s); adjective--Maldivian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

none

Population [time series]

217,945 (July 1990), growth rate 3.7% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

Sunni Muslim

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.6 children born/woman (1990)