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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; state-owned TV operates 2 channels; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based station; 5 privately-owned radio stations (2009)

Internet country code [time series]

.mv

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

3,296 (2012) country comparison to the world: 153

Internet users [time series]

86,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 164

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: telephone services have improved; interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service domestic: each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile-cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership that has reached 135 per 100 persons international: country code - 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

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

24,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 183

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

530,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 164

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $591 million expenditures: $790 million (2011 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-14% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.96% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 2.75% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.2% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 10.38% (31 December 2010 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$490 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 -$463 million (2010 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.015 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $943 million (2010 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Tourism, Maldives' largest economic activity, accounts for 30% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is the second leading sector, but the fish catch has dropped sharply in recent years. 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. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a balance of payments crisis, which was temporarily eased with a $79.3 million IMF standby agreement. However, after the first two disbursements, the IMF withheld subsequent disbursements due to concerns over Maldives' growing budget deficit, and the government has been seeking other sources of budgetary support ever since. A new Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tourism introduced in January 2011 and a new Business Profit Tax introduced in 2012 have provided a boost to revenue. Economic growth slowed to 3.5% of GDP in 2012, compared to 5.8% in 2011 because of slower tourist arrivals and weak global conditions. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major near-term challenges 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 1 meter or less above sea level.

Exchange rates [time series]

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 15.39 (2011) 14.602 (2011) 12.8 (2008) 12.8 (2007)

Exports [time series]

$346.4 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $163 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish

Exports - partners [time series]

France 19.2%, Thailand 18.7%, UK 10.4%, Sri Lanka 10.1%, India 8.5%, Italy 8.2%, Germany 4.7% (2011)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.424 billion (2012 est.)

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

$2.945 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $2.846 billion (2011 est.) $2.688 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

agriculture: 3% industry: 14% services: 83% (2011 est.)

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

$8,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $8,700 (2011 est.) $8,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

3.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 5.8% (2011 est.) 5.7% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.465 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $1.388 billion (2008 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Singapore 23.2%, UAE 18%, India 8.7%, China 7.1%, Malaysia 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.3%, Thailand 4.9% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-0.9% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12.8% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 6% (2010 est.)

Labor force [time series]

110,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 182

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 11% industry: 23% services: 65% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$555 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

16% (2008)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.237 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $1.241 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.548 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$974.9 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $978.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

41.5% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Unemployment rate [time series]

28% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 14.5% (2010 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

919,000 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - consumption [time series]

279 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

62,010 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - production [time series]

300 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

6,875 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

6,088 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 298 sq km country comparison to the world: 210 land: 298 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 Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%) per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)

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]

tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise

Natural resources [time series]

fish

Terrain [time series]

flat, with white sandy beaches

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.03 cu km (1999)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 provinces and 1 municipality*; Dhekunu (South), Maale*, Mathi Dhekunu (Upper South), Mathi Uthuru (Upper North), Medhu (Central), Medhu Dhekunu (South Central), Medhu Uthuru (North Central), Uthuru (North)

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]

new constitution ratified 7 August 2008

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, Ambassador Michele J. Sison, is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed SAREER 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 Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 8 February 2012); Vice President Mohamed Waheed DEEN (since 22 February 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 7 February 2012) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: under the new constitution, the president is elected by direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be held in July 2013) election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote - Mohamed NASHEED 54.3%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.7%; note - Mohamed NASHEED resigned the presidency on 7 February 2012 following weeks of public protests over his controversial order to arrest a senior judge, and Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku assumed the presidency

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

26 July 1965 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of voting members of the People's Council; High Court; Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission

Legal system [time series]

Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Council or People's Majlis (77 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Majlis in February 2009 passed legislation that increased the number of seats to 77 from 50 elections: last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014) election results: percent of vote - DRP 36.4%, MDP 33.8 %, PA 9.1%, DQP 2.6% Republican Party 1.2%, independents 16.9%; seats by party as of October 2011 - MDP 35, DRP 17, PPM 15, JP 2, PA 2, Meedhu DHAAIRA 1, independents 5

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute) lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

National symbol(s) [time series]

crescent moon

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

Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Shaykh Hussein RASHEED Ahmed]; Dhivehi Qaumee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Ahmed THASMEEN Ali]; Gaumee Itthihaad Party (National Unity Party) or GIP [Mohamed WAHEED]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Ibrahim DIDI]; Maldives National Congress or MNC; Maldives Social Democratic Party or MSDP; Meedhu Dhaaira; People's Alliance or PA [Abdullah YAMEEN]; People's Party or PP; Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP; Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Gasim IBRAHIM]; Social Liberal Party or SLP [Mazian RASHEED]

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

other: various unregistered political parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. President NASHEED faced a number of challenges including strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests following his sacking of a top judge, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. Maldives officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the United Nations Human Rights Council, and in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 156,319 females age 16-49: 98,815 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 135,374 females age 16-49: 85,181 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 4,167 female: 3,595 (2010 est.)

Military - note [time series]

the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, 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 (2008)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

5.5% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-28 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21.2% (male 42,742/ female 41,069) 15-64 years: 74.6% (male 175,458/ female 118,814) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 7,935/ female 8,433) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

25.7% (2001) country comparison to the world: 25

Death rate [time series]

3.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

11.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 5

Ethnic groups [time series]

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

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

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 124

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 26.46 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 75 male: 28.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.69 years country comparison to the world: 101 male: 72.44 years female: 77.05 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 93% female: 94.7% (2006 Census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

MALE (capital) 120,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

60 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 100

Median age [time series]

total: 26.5 years male: 26.9 years female: 25.8 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Net migration rate [time series]

-12.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.595 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population [time series]

394,451 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.127% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim (official)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 96% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 4% of population total: 2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 12 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.48 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.34 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.79 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 22.2% country comparison to the world: 42 male: 15.5% female: 30.5% (2006)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 40% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

6 (2012) country comparison to the world: 176

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 18 country comparison to the world: 97 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 4 (Singapore 4) registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Male

Roadways [time series]

total: 88 km country comparison to the world: 215 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)