* βeta
Maldives
Background :
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.
Location :
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Geographic Coordinates Center :
3 15 N, 73 00 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 72.69 |
| North | 7.10 |
| East | 73.64 |
| South | -0.69 |
Map references :
Asia
Area :
| total | 298 | square km |
| land | 298 | square km |
| water | 0 | square km |
Coastline :
644.00 km
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 | 0 | metres |
| highest point | 4 | metres |
Natural resources :
| fish |
Land use :
| arable land | 13.33 | % |
| permanent crops | 30.00 | % |
| other | 56.67 | % |
Total renewable water resources :
0 cubic km
Natural hazards :
| tsunamis |
current issues :
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
international agreements :
| Biodiversity | Climate Change |
| Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol | Desertification |
| Hazardous Wastes | Law of the Sea |
| Ozone Layer Protection | Ship Pollution |
Population :
396 334
Indicators :
| Growth rate | -0.17 | % |
| Birth rate | 14.55 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.90 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 3.65 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | -12.58 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 22.30 | % |
| 15-64 years | 73.80 | % |
| 65 years and over | 3.90 | % |
Median age :
| total | 25.70 | years |
| male | 26.50 | years |
| female | 24.30 | years |
Sex ratio :
| at birth | 1.05 | male(s)/female |
| under 15 years | 1.04 | male(s)/female |
| 15-64 years | 1.62 | male(s)/female |
| 65 years and over | 1.00 | male(s)/female |
| total population | 1.44 | male(s)/female |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 29.53 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 73.97 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 71.78 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 76.28 | years |
| HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.10 | % |
| HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 100 |
Languages :
| Maldivian Dhivehi | |
| English spoken by most government officials |
Literacy :
| total population | 96.30 | % |
| male | 96.20 | % |
| female | 96.40 | % |
Country name :
| conventional long form | Republic of Maldives |
| conventional short form | Maldives |
| local long form | Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa |
| local short form | Dhivehi Raajje |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | MV |
| ISO Numeric | 462 |
| ISO3 | MDV |
| FIPS | MV |
| ccTLD | mv |
| English | Maldives |
Administrative divisions :
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
Capital :
| name | Male |
| geographic coordinates | 4 10 N, 73 30 E |
| time difference | 5.00 |
International organization participation :
| ADB | AOSIS |
| C | CP |
| FAO | G-77 |
| IBRD | ICAO |
| IDA | IDB |
| IFAD | IFC |
| ILO | IMF |
| IMO | IOC |
| IPU | ITU |
| Interpol | MIGA |
| NAM | OIC |
| OPCW | SAARC |
| SACEP | UN |
| UNCTAD | UNESCO |
| UNIDO | UNWTO |
| UPU | WCO |
| WFTU | WHO |
| WIPO | WMO |
| WTO |
Independence :
1965-07-26
National holiday :
Independence Day
1965-07-26
Executive branch :
| President Mohamed "Anni" NASHEED |
Legislative branch :
| PA | 9.20 | % |
| DQP | 2.60 | % |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 1 674 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 1 300 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | -4.00 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 4 200 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 5.60 | % |
| industry | 16.90 | % |
| services | 77.50 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 11.00 | % |
| industry | 23.00 | % |
| services | 65.00 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Unemployment rate | 14.40 | % |
| Population below poverty line | 16.00 | % |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 7.30 | % |
| Current account balance | - 370 000 000 | $ |
| Debt external | 589 000 000 | $ |
| Military expenditures | 5.50 | % of GDP |
Budget :
| revenues | 487 000 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 873 000 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| coconuts | corn |
| fish | sweet potatoes |
Industries :
| boat building | coconut processing |
| coral and sand mining | fish processing |
| garments | handicrafts |
| rope | shipping |
| tourism | woven mats |
Energy :
| Electricity Production | 542 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Consumption | 542 000 000 | kWh |
| Oil Consumption | 5 490 | bbl/day |
| Oil Imports | 5 490 | bbl/day |
Value :
88 000 000 $
Partners :
| Thailand (th) | 34.50 | % |
| United Kingdom (gb) | 13.80 | % |
| France (fr) | 12.20 | % |
| Italy (it) | 9.00 | % |
| Sri Lanka (lk) | 8.50 | % |
Commodities :
| fish |
Value :
782 000 000 $
Partners :
| Singapore (sg) | 26.60 | % |
| UAE | 16.50 | % |
| Malaysia (my) | 9.50 | % |
| India (in) | 9.20 | % |
| Thailand (th) | 4.70 | % |
| Sri Lanka (lk) | 4.50 | % |
| Germany (de) | 4.00 | % |
Commodities :
| clothing | foodstuffs |
| intermediate and capital products | petroleum products |
| ships |
Currency-code :
MVR
Currency-name :
rufiyaa
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 50 396 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 450 500 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 6 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 2 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | mv | |
| Internet Hosts | 1 732 | |
| Internet Users | 71 700 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 3 | |
| Roadways - total | 88 | km |
Flag
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