World Facts Index
 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 slow to come to fruition. Nonetheless, political parties were
legalized in 2005. A constituent assembly - termed the "special
majlis" - has pledged to complete the drafting of a new constitution by the
end of 2007 and first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate,
multi-party system are slated for November 2008. Tourism and fishing are being
developed on the archipelago.
Geography of Maldives
|
Location:
|
Southern Asia, group of
atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India |
|
Coordinates:
|
3 15 N, 73 00 E |
|
Area:
|
total: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 300 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
about 1.7 times the size of
Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
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644 km |
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Maritime claims:
|
measured from claimed
archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM |
|
Climate:
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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 Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
fish |
|
Natural hazards:
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low level of islands makes
them very sensitive to sea level rise |
|
Environment current issues:
|
depletion of freshwater
aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise;
coral reef bleaching |
|
Geography - note:
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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
|
Population of Maldives
|
Population:
|
385,925 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 80,113/female 75,763)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 98,040/female 94,029)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,477/female 5,586) |
|
Median age:
|
17.9 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
2.78% |
|
Infant mortality:
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54.89 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 64.41 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 65.8 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
4.9 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs |
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Religions:
|
Sunni Muslim |
|
Languages:
|
Maldivian Dhivehi (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: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Maldives
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa |
|
Government type:
|
republic |
|
Capital:
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Male |
|
Administrative divisions:
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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 |
|
Independence:
|
26 July 1965 (from UK) |
|
National holiday:
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Independence Day, 26 July (1965) |
|
Constitution:
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adopted January 1998 |
|
Legal system:
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based on Islamic law with admixtures of
English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
|
Suffrage:
|
21 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
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. |
|
Legislative branch:
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unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42
elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
|
|
Judicial branch:
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High Court |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
political parties were allowed to register in June 2005;
the first entrants are: 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] |
Economy
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 the economy recover quickly. The trade deficit has expanded
sharply as a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material.
Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing and increasing employment are the
major 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.
|
GDP:
|
$1.588 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
7.5% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$4,600 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
5.6% |
|
Labor force:
|
88,000 |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat
building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining |
|
Agriculture:
|
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish |
|
Exports:
|
fish, clothing |
|
Export partners:
|
Thailand 30.6%, UK 13.8%, Sri Lanka 13.4%, Japan 13.3%,
Algeria 5.8% |
|
Imports:
|
petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing,
intermediate and capital goods |
|
Import partners:
|
Singapore 26.5%, UAE 10.2%, Sri Lanka 10%, India 9.6%,
Malaysia 7.1%, Thailand 5.2%, Bahrain 5.1% |
|
Currency:
|
rufiyaa (MVR) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |