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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 59,179 males fit for military service: 33,016 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

28,284 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

minimal domestic and international facilities domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

8,523 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

7,309 (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing

Budget [time series]

revenues: $88 million (excluding foreign grants) expenditures: $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

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 [time series]

capacity: 5,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 123 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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 [time series]

$75.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: fish, clothing partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$137.5 million (1994 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 21.5% industry: 15.3% services: 63.2% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$1,560 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

6.6% (1994 est.)

Imports [time series]

$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 [time series]

6.3% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

16.5% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

66,000 (est.) by occupation: fishing industry 25%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NEGL%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 300 sq km land area: 300 sq km comparative area: nearly twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

644 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

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 [time series]

fish

Terrain [time series]

flat lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Male

Constitution [time series]

4 June 1968

Data code [time series]

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

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 [time series]

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

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)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

High Court

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

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

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

although political parties are not banned, none exist

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.17 years male: 64.6 years female: 67.82 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 93.2% male: 93.3% female: 93%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

270,758 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.52% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio [time series]

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 all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 2 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 73,284 GRT/113,669 DWT ships by type: cargo 17, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Gan, Male

Railways [time series]

0 km