Maldives Population: 393,988
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| Background | |
| 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. In mid-2012, the Commission of National Inquiry was set by the Government to probe events leading to the regime change. Though no evidence of a coup was found, the report recommended the need to strengthen the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future, and to further investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. 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. |
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| Geography | |
| 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 | |
| Location: | Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India |
| Geographic coordinates: | 3 15 N, 73 00 E |
| Area: | total: 298 sq km land: 298 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land Boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 644 km |
| Maritime claims: | measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) |
| Terrain: | flat, with white sandy beaches |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m |
| Natural resources: | fish |
| Land use: | arable land: 13.33% permanent crops: 30% other: 56.67% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | NA |
| Natural hazards: | tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise |
| Current Environment Issues: | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
| International Environment Agreements: | 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 393,988 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 21.1% (male 42,352/female 40,686) 15-24 years: 24.2% (male 56,016/female 39,443) 25-54 years: 46% (male 108,025/female 73,074) 55-64 years: 4.5% (male 9,379/female 8,431) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 7,961/female 8,621) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 26.5 years male: 26.9 years female: 25.8 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.127% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 15.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 3.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -12.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | 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.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 26.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 74.69 years male: 72.44 years female: 77.05 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.78 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 100 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian |
| Ethnic groups: | South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs |
| Religions: | Sunni Muslim (official) |
| Languages: | Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 93% female: 94.7% (2006 Census) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | name: Male geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 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) |
| Independence: | 26 July 1965 (from the UK) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 26 July (1965) |
| Constitution: | new constitution ratified 7 August 2008 |
| Legal system: | Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | 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 the World 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 September 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 |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Parliament 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 - NA; seats by party as of February 2013 - MDP 29, PPM 18, DRP 14, JP 6, PA 2, DQP 1, independents 7 |
| Judicial branch: | 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 |
| Political parties and leaders: | Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]; Dhivehi Qaumee Party [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; Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed SIYAM]; Maldives National Congress or MNC [Ali AMJAD]; Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Mohamed MUNAWWAR]; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Moosa MANIKU]; Maldivian Labor Party or MLP [Ahmed MOOSA]; Maldivian Social Democratic Party or MSDP [Reeko Ibrahim MANIKU]; Meedhu Dhaaira; People's Alliance or PA [Moosa ZAMEERI]; People's Party or PP [Ahmed RIYAZ]; 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 pressure groups and leaders: | other: various unregistered political parties |
| International organization participation: | 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed SAREER chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6194 FAX: [1] (212) 599-6195 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | 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 |
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| Economy | |
| Tourism, Maldives' largest economic activity, accounts for 28% 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. Lower than expected 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 Stand-By 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, on general goods and services in October 2011, and a new Business Profit Tax introduced in July 2011 have provided a boost to revenue. Economic growth slowed to 3.4% of GDP in 2012, compared to 7.0% in 2011 because of slower tourist arrivals and weak global conditions. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, increasing employment opportunities, and combating corruption, cronyism, and a growing drug problem are major near-term challenges facing the government. Gross foreign reserves at the end of November 2012 were approximately $356 million, compared with $326 million in 2011, and were sufficient to finance only 2.6 months of imports. 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.974 billion (2012 est.) $2.876 billion (2011 est.) $2.688 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $1.537 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3.4% (2012 est.) 7% (2011 est.) 5.7% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,700 (2012 est.) $8,700 (2011 est.) $8,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3% industry: 17% services: 80% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 152,500 (2010) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 11% industry: 23% services: 65% (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 28% (2012 est.) 14.5% (2010 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 16% (2008) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 33.3% (FY09/10) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (2012 est.) 16.7% (2011 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $638 million expenditures: $917 million (2012 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish |
| Industries: | tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining |
| Industrial production growth rate: | -0.9% (2004 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 300 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 279 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2012 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2012 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2012 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2012 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2012 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$600 million (2012 est.) $437 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $283 million (2012 est.) $316 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | fish |
| Exports - partners: | France 19.2%, Thailand 18.7%, UK 10.4%, Sri Lanka 10.1%, India 8.5%, Italy 8.2%, Germany 4.7% (2011) |
| Imports: | $1.406 billion (2012 est.) $1.314 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods |
| Imports - partners: | Singapore 23.2%, UAE 18%, India 8.7%, China 7.1%, Malaysia 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.3%, Thailand 4.9% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $356 million (30 November 2012 est.) $326 million (30 November 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $890.8 million (2012 est.) $684.2 million (2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $555 million (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Exchange rates: | rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 15.39 (2011) 14.602 (2011) 12.8 (2008) 12.8 (2007) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 24,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 183 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 530,400 (2011) |
| Telephone system: | 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 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) (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .mv |
| Internet hosts: | 3,296 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 86,400 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 6 (2012) country comparison to the world: 172 |
| Airports (paved runways): | 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 (unpaved runways): | total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2012) |
| Roadways: | 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) |
| Merchant marine: | 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) |
| Ports and terminals: | Male |
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| Military | |
| 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 branches: | Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 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) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 156,319 females age 16-49: 98,815 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 135,374 females age 16-49: 85,181 (2010 est.) |
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