Country Guide

Maldives Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

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:298 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 210
land:298 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC


Land boundaries:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 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 Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m


    Natural resources:
fish


Land use:
arable land:10%
permanent crops:10%
other:80% (2011)


Irrigated land:
0 sq km NA (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
0.03 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
0.03 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise


Environment - current issues:
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching


Environment - international agreements:
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:
smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective:Maldivian


Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs


Languages:
Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)


Religions:
Sunni Muslim (official)


Population:
393,595 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 177


Age structure:
0-14 years:21% (male 42,154/female 40,490)
15-24 years:23.4% (male 53,760/female 38,385)
25-54 years:46.5% (male 107,703/female 75,360)
55-64 years:4.8% (male 9,782/female 9,180)
65 years and over:4.2% (male 7,974/female 8,807) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:50 %
youth dependency ratio:42.7 %
elderly dependency ratio:7.4 %
potential support ratio:13.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:27.1 years
male:27.3 years
female:26.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
-0.09% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 202


Birth rate:
15.59 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 127


Death rate:
3.84 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 211


Net migration rate:
-12.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 217


Urbanization:
urban population:41.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.91% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
MALE (capital) 132,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.4 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.43 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.29 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.94 male(s)/female
total population:1.34 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
23.9


Maternal mortality rate:
60 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:24.59 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 73
male:27.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female:22.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:75.15 yearscountry comparison to the world: 99
male:72.86 years
female:77.55 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 164


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
34.7% (2009)


Health expenditures:
8.5% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.6 physicians/1,000 population (2007)


Hospital bed density:
4.3 beds/1,000 population (2009)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 97.9% of population
total: 98.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 2.1% of population
total: 1.4% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 97.5% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 98.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.5% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 1.3% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 159


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 142


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
12.9% (2008)country comparison to the world: 126


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
17.8% (2009)country comparison to the world: 38


Education expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 26

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:98.4%
male:98.4%
female:98.4% (2006 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:13 years
male:13 years
female:13 years (2003)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:22.2%country comparison to the world: 51
male:15.5%
female:30.5% (2006)

Government

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


Government type:
republic


Capital:
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:
7 provinces and 1 municipality*; Dhekunu (South), Maale*, Mathi Dhekunu (Upper South), Mathi Uthuru (Upper North), Medhu (Central), Medhu Dhekunu (South Central), Medhu Uthuru (North Central), Uthuru (North)


Independence:
26 July 1965 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)


Constitution:
many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008 (2010)


Legal system:
Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Mohamed JAMEEL Ahmed (since 17 November 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Mohamed JAMEEL Ahmed (since 17 November 2013)
cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president
elections:president elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); the election held on 7 September 2013 was annulled by the Supreme Court; rerun of first round held on 9 November 2013 and runoff held on 16 November (next election to be held in 2018)
election results:first round (9 November 2013); percent of vote - Mohamed NASHEED 46.9%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom 29.7%, Qasim IBRAHIM 23.3%; runoff (postponed to 16 November 2013); percent of vote - Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom elected president 51.4%, Mohamed NASHEED 48.6%


    Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or People's Majlis (85 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Elections Commission in December 2013 increased the number of seats to 85 from 77
elections:last held on 22 March 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
election results:percent of vote - PPM 40%, MDP 28.2%, JP 18.8%, MDA 5.9%, other 1.2%, independents 5.9%; seats by party - PPM 33, MDP 26, JP 15, MDA 5, other 1, independents 5


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 judges)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a separate 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)


Political parties and leaders:
ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Ahmed SAREER (since 11 January 2013)
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:
name:'Gaumee Salaam' (National Salute)

lyrics/music:Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA
note:lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of 'Auld Lang Syne'

Economy

Economy - overview:
Tourism, Maldives' largest economic activity, accounts for nearly 30% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is the second leading sector, but the fish catch has dropped sharply in recent years. 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. Lower than expected tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a balance of payments crisis, which was temporarily eased with a $79.3 million IMF Stand-By agreement. However, after the first two disbursements, the IMF withheld subsequent disbursements due to concerns over Maldives' growing budget deficit, and the government has been seeking other sources of budgetary support ever since. A new Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tourism introduced in January 2011, on general goods and services in October 2011, and a new Business Profit Tax introduced in July 2011 have provided a boost to revenue. In recent years, gross foreign reserves have hovered around $300 million, sufficient to finance about two to three months of imports. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, increasing employment opportunities, and combating corruption, cronyism, and a growing drug problem are other near-term 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):
$3.073 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$2.97 billion (2012 est.)
$2.945 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.27 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
0.9% (2012 est.)
6.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$9,000 (2012 est.)
$9,000 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:3%
industry:17%
services:80% (2012 est.)


Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish


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


Industrial production growth rate:
14% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Labor force:
159,700 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 177


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:15%
industry:15%
services:70% (2010 est.)


Unemployment rate:
28% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
14.5% (2010 est.)


Population below poverty line:
16% (2008)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.2%
highest 10%:33.3% (FY09/10)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.4 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 79

Budget:
revenues:$638 million
expenditures:$917 million (2012 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
28.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-12.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
16.7% (2011 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
7% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
6.96% (31 December 2011 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
10.2% (31 December 2011 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$547.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$531.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$1.298 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$1.237 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.559 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.601 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$555 million (31 December 2011 est.)


Current account balance:
-$600 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$437 million (2011 est.)


Exports:
$283 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
$316 million (2011 est.)


Exports - commodities:
fish


Exports - partners:
France 18.9%, Thailand 15.8%, UK 11.4%, US 9.4%, Sri Lanka 8.6%, Italy 8.1%, Germany 6.4% (2012)


Imports:
$1.406 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$1.314 billion (2011 est.)


Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods


Imports - partners:
Singapore 21.7%, UAE 20.9%, India 9.6%, Malaysia 7.6%, China 6%, Thailand 5.6%, Sri Lanka 4% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$356 million (30 November 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$326 million (30 November 2011 est.)


Debt - external:
$890.8 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$684.2 million (2011 est.)


Exchange rates:
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -
15.365 (2011)
14.602 (2011)
12.8 (2008)
12.8 (2007)

Energy

Electricity - production:
301.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172


Electricity - consumption:
280 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
62,080 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
99.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
6,875 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201


Refined petroleum products - imports:
6,088 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.071 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
23,140 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 183


Telephones - mobile cellular:
560,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 166


Telephone system:
general assessment:telephone services have improved; inter-atoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service
domestic:each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile-cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership that has reached 135 per 100 persons
international:country code - 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; state-owned TV operates 2 channels; 3 privately owned TV stations; state owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based station; 5 privately owned radio stations (2012)


Internet country code:
.mv


Internet hosts:
3,296 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 153


Internet users:
86,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 164

Transportation

Airports
9 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 159


Airports - with paved runways
total:7
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:4 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:2
914 to 1,523 m:2 (2013)


Roadways
total:88 kmcountry comparison to the world: 215
paved roads:88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu
note:island roads are mainly compacted coral (2013)


    Merchant marine
total:18country comparison to the world: 97
by type:bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned:4 (Singapore 4)
registered in other countries:4 (Panama 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Male

Military

Military branches
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010)


Military service age and obligation
18-28 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:156,319
females age 16-49:98,815 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:135,374
females age 16-49:85,181 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:4,167
female:3,595 (2010 est.)


Military - note
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

Disputes - international
none


    Trafficking in persons

 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook