Statistical information Maldives 1992
Maldives in the World
Maldives - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: The Maldives were long a sultanate first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968 three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
Maldives - Geography 1992
top of pageLocation
Geographic coordinates
Map reference
Area
Total: 300 km²
Land: 300 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 644 km
Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm (defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India)
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: none
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to
March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain: flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters
Elevation
Natural resources: fish
Land use
Land use: arable land: 10%; permanent crops: 0%; meadows and pastures 3%; forest and woodland 3%; other 84%
Irrigated land
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards
Geography
Maldives - People 1992
top of pagePopulation: 234,371 (July 1992), growth rate 3.7% (1992)
Nationality: noun - Maldivian(s; adjective - Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
Maldivians are a generally homogenous admixture of
Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Austrolasian, and African
Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Austrolasian, and African
Languages:
Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic);
English spoken by most government officials
English spoken by most government officials
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate: 45 births/1000 population (1992)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1992)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1992)
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: 1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls
Current issues note: archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate: 61 deaths/1000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 64 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1992)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy: 92% (male 92%, female 92%) age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Maldives - Government 1992
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
Government type: republic
Capital: Male
Administrative divisions:
19 district (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu,
Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu,
Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu,
Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
Dependent areas
Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution: 4 June 1964
Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage: universal at age 21
Citizens' Council:
last held on 7 December 1989 (next to be held 7
December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected)
December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected)
President: last held 23 September 1988 (next to be held September 1994); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected
Executive branch: president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis)
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation:
AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Maldives does not maintain an embassy in the
US, but does have a UN mission in New York
US, but does have a UN mission in New York
US: the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there; US Consular Agency, Midhath Hilmy, Male; telephone 2,581
Diplomatic representation
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 flagNational symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Maldives - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping.
Agriculture is limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide only 10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is also an important source of government revenue. During the 1980s tourism has become one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1988 industry accounted for about 5% of GDP. Real GDP is officially estimated to have increased by about 10% annually during the period 1974-90.
Agriculture is limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide only 10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is also an important source of government revenue. During the 1980s tourism has become one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1988 industry accounted for about 5% of GDP. Real GDP is officially estimated to have increased by about 10% annually during the period 1974-90.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $174 million, per capita $770 (1988); real growth rate 10.1% (1990 est.)
Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products: accounts for almost 30% of GDP (including fishing; fishing more important than farming; limited production of coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; most staple foods must be imported; fish catch of 67,000 tons (1990 est.)
Industries: fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate - 5.0% (1988; accounts for 6% of GDP
Labor force: 66,000 (est.); 25% engaged in fishing industry
Organized labor: none
Labor force
Unemployment rate: NEGL%
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget: revenues $67 million; expenditures $82 million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1990 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports: $52.0 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: fish 57%, clothing 25%
Partners: US, UK, Sri Lanka
Imports: $128.9 million (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodoties: consumer goods 54%, intermediate and capital goods 33%, petroleum products 13%
Partners: Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 10.234 (January 1992), 10.253 (1991), 9.509 (1990), 9.0408 (1989), 8.7846 (1988), 9.2230 (1987)
Maldives - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 5,000 kW capacity; 11 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1990)
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Maldives - Communication 1992
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Maldives - Military 1992
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Percent of gdp:
exchange rate conversion - $1.8 million, NA% of
GDP (1984 est.)
GDP (1984 est.)
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Maldives - Transportation 1992
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports: 2 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 37,293 GRT/56,246
DWT; includes 11 cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum tanker
DWT; includes 11 cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum tanker
Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft
Ports and terminals
Maldives - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageDisputes international
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
