Maldives Geography Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km AreaÑcomparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 644 km 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 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 Wilingili 24 m Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 3% other: 84% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise EnvironmentÑcurrent issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies EnvironmentÑinternational agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea GeographyÑnote: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean People Population: 290,211 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 70,244; female 66,758) 15-64 years: 50% (male 73,784; female 70,539) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,735; female 4,151) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 3.42% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 40.12 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) 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: 1.14 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 41.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.57 years male: 65.87 years female: 69.35 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.84 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian Ethnic groups: Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African Religions: Sunni Muslim Languages: Maldivian Divehi (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: 93.2% male: 93.3% female: 93% (1995 est.) Government 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 Government type: republic National capital: Male (Maale) 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 Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965) Constitution: 4 June 1968 Legal system: 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); noteÑthe president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); noteÑthe president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; noteÑneed 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 voteÑMaumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76% 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 voteÑNA; seatsÑindependents 40 Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not banned, none exist 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 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 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 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 Economy EconomyÑoverview: Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for about 18% 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. About 350,000 tourists visited the islands in 1997. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. 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. 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. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 15% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is three feet or less above sea level. GDP: purchasing power parityÑ$500 million (1997 est.) GDPÑreal growth rate: 6.2% (1997 est.) GDPÑper capita: purchasing power parityÑ$1,800 (1997 est.) GDPÑcomposition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 15% services: 63% (1994 est.) Inflation rateÑconsumer price index: 6.3% (1996) 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% Budget: revenues: $88 million (excluding foreign grants) expenditures: $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.) Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1994 est.) ElectricityÑcapacity: 14,000 kW (1995) ElectricityÑproduction: 50 million kWh (1995) ElectricityÑconsumption per capita: 191 kWh (1995) AgricultureÑproducts: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing Exports: total value: $59 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: fish, clothing partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK Imports: total value: $302 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand DebtÑexternal: $179 million (1996 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1Ñ11.770 (1995-January 1998), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993) Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Telephones: 8,523 (1992 est.) Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities domestic: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones international: satellite earth stationÑ1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 Radios: 28,284 (1992 est.) Television broadcast stations: 1 Televisions: 7,309 (1992 est.) Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km; noteÑMale has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.) Ports and harbors: Gan, Male Merchant marine: total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,703 GRT/108,485 DWT ships by type: cargo 17, container 1, oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.) Airports: 2 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.) Military Military branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police force) Military manpowerÑavailability: males age 15-49: 63,879 (1998 est.) Military manpowerÑfit for military service: males: 35,610 (1998 est.) Military expendituresÑdollar figure: $NA Military expendituresÑpercent of GDP: NA% Transnational Issues DisputesÑinternational: none