ARCHIVE // MV // 2017

Maldives

2017 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; state-owned TV operates 2 channels; 3 privately owned TV stations; state owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based station; 5 privately owned radio stations (2012)
Internet country code [time series]
.mv
Internet users [time series]
total: 232,210 | percent of population: 59.1% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: telephone services have improved; inter-atoll 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 over 200 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) (2016)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 21,136 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 812,128 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 207 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $1.481 billion | expenditures: $1.7 billion (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-6.5% of GDP (2016, est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Central bank discount rate [time series]
7% (31 December 2013) | 6.96% (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 49
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
10.5% (31 December 2012 est.) | 10.2% (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75
Current account balance [time series]
$-831 million (2016 est.) | $-326 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104
Debt - external [time series]
$693.7 million (2015 est.) | $741.6 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
38.4 (2009 est.) | 37.4 (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Maldives has quickly become a middle-income country, driven by the rapid growth of its tourism and fisheries sectors, but the country still contends with a large and growing fiscal deficit. Economic growth slowed to 2.8% in 2015, mainly because of a decline in tourists from China and Russia. Despite lower growth, tourism-related tax receipts increased by 13% in 2015 because of higher tax rates. This increase in tax receipts led to higher usable foreign exchange reserves that helped partially fund increases in construction related imports. | In 2015, Maldives’ Parliament passed a constitutional amendment legalizing foreign ownership of land; foreign land-buyers must reclaim at least 70% of the desired land from the ocean and invest at least $1 billion in a construction project approved by Parliament. | Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, increasing employment opportunities, and combating corruption, cronyism, and a growing drug problem are 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 - | 15.25 (2016) | 15.25 (2015)
Exports [time series]
$239.7 million (2015 est.) | $300.9 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish
Exports - partners [time series]
Thailand 33.8%, Sri Lanka 10%, US 8.7%, France 8.6%, Germany 8.6%, Ireland 4.9%, Italy 4.8%, UK 4.1% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$4.238 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$6.483 billion (2016 est.) | $6.161 billion (2015 est.) | $5.9 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 169
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: NA% | government consumption: NA% | investment in fixed capital: NA% | investment in inventories: NA% | exports of goods and services: 108.2% | imports of goods and services: 89.3% (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 3% | industry: 16% | services: 81% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$18,300 (2016 est.) | $17,900 (2015 est.) | $17,700 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 104
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3.9% (2016 est.) | 3.3% (2015 est.) | 7.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69
Gross national saving [time series]
0.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | 12.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 16.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 1.2% | highest 10%: 33.3% (FY09/10)
Imports [time series]
$1.896 billion (2015 est.) | $1.993 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Imports - commodities [time series]
petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
Imports - partners [time series]
UAE 15.6%, Singapore 14.3%, China 13.4%, India 12.9%, Sri Lanka 6.3%, Malaysia 5.7%, Thailand 4.7% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
14% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6
Industries [time series]
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.8% (2016 est.) | 1.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84
Labor force [time series]
195,100 (2014) | country comparison to the world: 176
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 15% | industry: 15% | services: 70% (2010 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$555 million (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113
Population below poverty line [time series]
16% (2008 est.)
Public debt [time series]
81.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 72% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$565.5 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $627.4 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Stock of broad money [time series]
$1.337 billion (31 December 2015) | $1.298 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$324 million (31 December 2015) | $256 million (31 December 2013) | country comparison to the world: 127
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$1.559 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $1.601 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$338.5 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $623 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
43.8% of GDP (2016, est.) | country comparison to the world: 27
Unemployment rate [time series]
11.6% (2013 est.) | 11% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
1.2 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - consumption [time series]
325.5 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
96.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
3.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
104,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Electricity - production [time series]
350 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 175
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
11,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
10,760 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 298 sq km | land: 298 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 210
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 [time series]
mean elevation: 1.8 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m | highest point: 8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; 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]
smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 23.3% | arable land 10%; permanent crops 10%; permanent pasture 3.3% | forest: 3% | other: 73.7% (2011 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]
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
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago
Terrain [time series]
flat, with white sandy beaches
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
21 administrative atolls (atholhuthah, singular - atholhu); Addu, Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi, Ariatholhu Uthuruburi, Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu, Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi, Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi, Kolhumadulu, Maale, Maaleatholhu, Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi, Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi, Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi, Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi, Mulakatholhu, Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi, Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi, Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi, Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi
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)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Maldives | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Constitution [time series]
history: many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008 | amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum; amended 2015 (2017)
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 | etymology: archipelago apparently named after the main island (and capital) of Male; the word "Maldives" means "the islands (dives) of Male"; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word "maladvipa" meaning "garland of islands"; Dhivehi Raajje in Maldivian means "Kingdom of the Dhivehi people"
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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali NASEER Mohamed (since 21 July 2017) | chancery: 801 Second Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017 | telephone: [1] (212) 599-6194 and 599-6195 | FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Abdulla JIHAD (since 21 June 2016); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - Vice President Mohamed JAMEEL was removed from office 22 July 2015 and Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor was removed from office 5 November 2015 | head of government: President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Abdulla JIHAD (since 21 June 2016); note - Vice President Mohamed JAMEEL was removed from office 22 July 2015 and Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor was removed from office 5 November 2015 | cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by Parliament | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the election held on 7 September 2013 was annulled by the Supreme Court; rerun of first round held on 9 November 2013 and a runoff held on 16 November 2013 (next election to be held in 2018) | election results: percent of vote in first round - Mohamed NASHEED (MDP) 46.9%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 29.7%, Qasim IBRAHIM (JP) 23.3%; Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom elected president in second round - Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom 51.4%, Mohamed NASHEED 48.6%
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]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
26 July 1965 (from the UK)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, 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]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a separate 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 | subordinate courts: High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)
Legal system [time series]
Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Parliament or People's Majlis (85 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 22 March 2014 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: percent of vote - MDP 40.8%, PPM 27.7%, JP 13.6%, MDA 4.0%, AP 2.7% other 0.3%, independent 10.9%; seats by party - PPM 33, MDP 26, JP 15, MDA 5, AP 1, independent 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]
coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA] | Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed Shiyam MOHAMED] | Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Hassan LATHEEF] | Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Abdulla YAMEEN] | Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM]
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, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005. | In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM in August 2008. 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 GAYOOM regime. 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 in response to his ordering the arrest of a top judge, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. In mid-2012, a Commission of National Inquiry was established by the government to probe events leading up to NASHEED's resignation. Though the commission found no evidence of a coup, the report recommended strengthening the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future, and to investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. Maldivian officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' vulnerability to rising sea-level).
Military and Security
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 service age and obligation [time series]
18-28 years of age for voluntary 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: 21.4% (male 42,871/female 41,162) | 15-24 years: 20.21% (male 45,547/female 33,804) | 25-54 years: 48.1% (male 106,701/female 82,187) | 55-64 years: 5.85% (male 11,312/female 11,667) | 65 years and over: 4.45% (male 8,042/female 9,416) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
16.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
17.8% (2009) | country comparison to the world: 36
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
34.7% (2009)
Death rate [time series]
4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 38 | youth dependency ratio: 32.3 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 | potential support ratio: 17.7 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 99.5% of population | rural: 97.9% of population | total: 98.6% of population | urban: 0.5% of population | rural: 2.1% of population | total: 1.4% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
5.7% of GDP (2015) | country comparison to the world: 26
Ethnic groups [time series]
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
13.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 4
Hospital bed density [time series]
4.3 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 22 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74
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: 75.8 years | male: 73.5 years | female: 78.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.3% | male: 99.8% | female: 98.8% (2015 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
MALE (capital) 156,000 (2014)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
68 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84
Median age [time series]
total: 28.2 years | male: 28.1 years | female: 28.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
23.9 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Maldivian(s) | adjective: Maldivian
Net migration rate [time series]
-12.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
8.6% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 148
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
1.58 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Population [time series]
392,709 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176
Population distribution [time series]
about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.06% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206
Religions [time series]
Sunni Muslim (official)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 97.5% of population | rural: 98.3% of population | total: 97.9% of population | urban: 2.5% of population | rural: 1.7% of population | total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.37 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.34 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female | total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.73 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 25.4% | male: 29.1% | female: 21.4% (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 47.5% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.52% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Trafficking in persons [time series]
current situation: Maldives is a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and a source country for women and children subjected to labor and sex trafficking; primarily Bangladeshi and Indian migrants working both legally and illegally in the construction and service sectors face conditions of forced labor, including fraudulent recruitment, confiscation of identity and travel documents, nonpayment and withholding of wages, and debt bondage; a small number of women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and former Soviet states are trafficked to Maldives for sexual exploitation; Maldivian women may be subjected to sex trafficking domestically or in Sri Lanka; some Maldivian children are transported to the capital for domestic service, where they may also be victims of sexual abuse and forced labor | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Maldives does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government adopted a national action plan for 2015-19 and is continuing to develop victim identification, protection, and referral procedures, but overall its anti-trafficking efforts did not increase; only five trafficking investigations were conducted, no new prosecutions were initiated for the second consecutive year, and no convictions were made, down from one in 2013; some officials warned businesses in advance of planned raids for suspected trafficking offenses; victim protection deteriorated when the state-run shelter for female victims barred access to victims shortly after opening in January 2014, in part because of bureaucratic disputes, which dissuaded victims from pursuing charges against perpetrators; the government did not prosecute or hold accountable any employers or government officials for withholding passports (2015)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
9 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 159
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 7 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
8Q (2016)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 18 | 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) | country comparison to the world: 97
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 3 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 (2015)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): 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: island roads are mainly compacted coral (2013) | country comparison to the world: 216