ARCHIVE // MV // 1998

Maldives

1998 Edition — sovereign

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Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [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
Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]
$179 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid [time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]
Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for about 18% 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. About 350,000 tourists visited the islands in 1997. Fishing is a second leading growth 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 15% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is three feet or less above sea level.
Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]
14,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]
191 kWh (1995)
Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]
50 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates [time series]
rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1-11.770 (1995-January 1998), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993)
Exports [time series]
total value: $59 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: fish, clothing partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year Communications
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity-$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 22% industry: 15% services: 63% (1994 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity-$1,800 (1997 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]
6.2% (1997 est.)
Imports [time series]
total value: $302 million (f.o.b., 1996) 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) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]
6.3% (1996)
Labor force [time series]
total: 56,435 (1990 est.) by occupation: fishing industry and agriculture 25%, services 21%, manufacturing and construction 21%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 16%, transportation and communication 10%, other 7%
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: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones 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]
1
Televisions [time series]
7,309 (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
NEGL%
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]
about 1.7 times 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
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m
Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies
International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates [time series]
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 3% other: 84% (1993 est.)
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 hazards [time series]
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Natural resources [time series]
fish
Terrain [time series]
flat, with white sandy beaches
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
4 June 1968
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Data code [time series]
MV
Diplomatic representation from the US [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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Executive branch [time series]
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: Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; note-need not be members of Majilis elections: president elected by secret ballot of the Majlis for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998) election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of Majlis vote-Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76%
Flag (Flag description) [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
Government type [time series]
republic
Independence [time series]
26 July 1965 (from UK)
International organization participation [time series]
AsDB, C, CCC, 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 Citizens' Council or Majlis (48 seats; 40 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 40
Capital (National capital) [time series]
Male (Maale)
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
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
National Security Service (paramilitary police force)
Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]
$NA
Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]
NA%
Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]
males age 15-49: 63,879 (1998 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]
males: 35,610 (1998 est.)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 47% (male 70,244; female 66,758) 15-64 years: 50% (male 73,784; female 70,539) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,735; female 4,151) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
40.12 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate [time series]
5.96 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African
Infant mortality rate [time series]
41.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 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: 67.57 years male: 65.87 years female: 69.35 years (1998 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.2% male: 93.3% female: 93% (1995 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population [time series]
290,211 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
3.42% (1998 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: 1.14 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
5.84 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]
none MALI
Transportation
Airports [time series]
2 (1997 est.)
Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 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 70,703 GRT/108,485 DWT ships by type: cargo 17, container 1, oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Gan, Male
Railways [time series]
0 km