The World Factbook CIA Home CIA Home About CIA Careers Offices of CIA News & Information Library Kid’s Page Contact CIA CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

         
  Maldives  
Flag of Maldives
Click to enlarge
Categories Banner
 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Maldives



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Maldives Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. 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 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 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. Challenges facing the new president include strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse.
   Geography    Maldives Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
644 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
0.03 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%)
per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
low level of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Maldives Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
385,925 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 46,174/female 44,396)
15-64 years: 72.7% (male 172,279/female 108,152)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,510/female 7,414) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 25.1 years
male: 26 years
female: 23.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.566% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.59 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.41 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 30.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 73.72 years
male: 71.55 years
female: 76.01 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.97 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8% of GDP (2006)
   Government    Maldives Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
new constitution ratified 7 August 2008
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Mohamed NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mohamed NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President (vacant)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
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 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote - NASHEED 54.25%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.75%; note - NASHEED is expected to assume office on 11 November 2008
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
other: various unregistered political parties
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ADB, 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, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Hussain MANIKU
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:
Definition Field Listing
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Maldives Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.588 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$1.049 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4,600 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 16%
industry: 7%
services: 77% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
101,300 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 22%
industry: 18%
services: 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NEGL% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)
expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$344.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$434.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.08 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.9% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
230 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
203.7 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,490 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,499 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,362 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$472 million (2007)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$167 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fish
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Thailand 28.3%, UK 17.6%, France 8.8%, Sri Lanka 8.6%, Algeria 8.2%, Japan 6.4%, Italy 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$930 million f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Canada 35.2%, Singapore 15%, UAE 10.2%, India 7.4%, Malaysia 7.1% (2007)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$482 million (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
rufiyaa (MVR)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003)
   Communications    Maldives Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33,200 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
317,800 (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: telephone services have improved; each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership approaching 90 per 100 persons
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service
international: country code - 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.mv
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,600 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Maldives Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 29
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 23, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Tuvalu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Male
   Military    Maldives Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Quick Reaction Force, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 89,505
females age 16-49: 85,745 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 72,150
females age 16-49: 69,058 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 4,749
female: 4,084 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
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)
   Transnational Issues    Maldives Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
IDPs: 1,000-10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Bottom Banner