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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.mv

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,082 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

20,100 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

32,500 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

262,600 (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2006)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

rufiyaa (MVR)

Debt - external [time series]

$482 million (2006 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$66.83 million (2005)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

157.1 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

169 million kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish

Exports - partners [time series]

Thailand 33.1%, UK 14.3%, Sri Lanka 11.9%, Japan 10.3%, France 6.9%, Algeria 6.1% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$906 million (2006 est.)

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

$2.839 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 16% industry: 7% services: 77% (2006 est.)

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

$3,900 (2002 est.)

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

18% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Singapore 23.2%, UAE 15.8%, India 11.1%, Malaysia 7.9%, Thailand 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.7% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-0.9% (2004 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

101,300 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

7,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

21% (2004)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NEGL% (2003 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

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]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

adopted 1 January 1998

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

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]

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

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) 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%

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, 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

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 People's 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

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

Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

various unregistered political parties

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 71,774 females age 18-49: 69,229 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 56,687 females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)

Military - note [time series]

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 and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

5.5% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.76 years male: 63.41 years female: 66.19 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

369,031 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.732% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2006)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 22 ships (1000 GRT or over) 85,935 GRT/114,054 DWT by type: cargo 17, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Tuvalu 1) (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Male

Roadways [time series]

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)