Maldives

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

28,284 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

minimal domestic and international facilities domestic: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones

8,523 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

7,309 (1992 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing

Budget

revenues: $88 million (excluding foreign grants) expenditures: $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Currency

1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari

Debt - external

$137.5 million (1994 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy - overview

During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1994, tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounted for about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The Maldivian Government initiated 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. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In 1994, industry which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about 15% of GDP.

Electricity - capacity

18,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

163 kWh (1994 est.)

Electricity - production

40 million kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (January 1997), 11.770 (1996), 11.770 (1995), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992)

Exports

total value: $50 million (f.o.b., 199) commodities: fish, clothing partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $423 million (1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 21.5% industry: 15.3% services: 63.2% (1994 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,620 (1995 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.8% (1995 est.)

Imports

total value : $268 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products partners : Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand

Industrial production growth rate

6.3% (1994 est.)

Industries

fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Inflation rate - consumer price index

7.7% (1995 est.)

Labor force

total: 56,435 (1990 est.) by occupation: fishing industry and agriculture 25%, services 21%, manufacturing and construction 21%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 16%, transportation and communication 10%, other 7%

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

Area

total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Coastline

644 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m

Environment - current issues

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Geography - note

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 10% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland : 3% other: 84% (1993 est.)

Location

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone : 35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India territorial sea : 12 nm

Natural hazards

low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

flat, with white sandy beaches

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

4 June 1968

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form : Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Data code

MV

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

Diplomatic representation in the US

Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by Ahmed ZAKI

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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majilis elections : president elected by secret ballot of the Majlis for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998) election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of Majlis vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76%

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

26 July 1965 (from UK)

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

High Court

Legal system

based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Citizens' Council or Majlis (48 seats; 40 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results : percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 40

National capital

Male (Maale)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Political parties and leaders

although political parties are not banned, none exist

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Military branches

National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49 : 61,408 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 34,245 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 47% (male 67,967; female 64,643) 15-64 years : 50% (male 71,316; female 67,993) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,534; female 3,938) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

40.98 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African

Infant mortality rate

44.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.86 years male: 65.23 years female: 68.58 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.2% male: 93.3% female: 93% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

280,391 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

3.47% (1997 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.95 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none MALI

Airports

2 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 (1996 est.)

Heliports

0

Highways

total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,079 GRT/108,455 DWT ships by type: cargo 17, oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

Gan, Male

Railways

0 km