Map of Maldives | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. The islands became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005.


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

Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 298 km²
Land: 298 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 209
Comparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 644 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

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

Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation
Mean elevation: 2 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest point: 8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 23.3% (2011 est.)
Forest: 3% (2011 est.)
Other: 73.7% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

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


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Population
Distribution: about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago: 391,904 (July 2020 est.)
Rank: 176
Growth rate: -0.08% (2020 est.)
Growth rate rank: 202
Below poverty line: 15% (2009 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Maldivian(s)
Adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes

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

Religions: Sunni Muslim (official)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.13% (male 44,260/female 42,477)
15-24 years: 17.24% (male 37,826/female 29,745)
25-54 years: 48.91% (male 104,217/female 87,465)
55-64 years: 6.91% (male 12,942/female 14,123)
65 years and over: 4.81% (male 8,417/female 10,432) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 30.2
Youth dependency ratio: 25.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.7
Potential support ratio: 21.4 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 29.5 years
Male: 29.2 years
Female: 30 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 129

Population growth rate: -0.08% (2020 est.)
Rank: 202

Birth rate: 16 births/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 110

Death rate: 4.1 deaths/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 212

Net migration rate: -12.7 migrant(s)/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 220

Population distribution: about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago

Urbanization
Urban population: 40.7% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 2.93% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 177,000 MALE (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.27 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 24.5 years (2009 est.)
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 19.8 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 22 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 17.5 deaths/1000 live births (2020 est.)
Rank: 77

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.4 years
Male: 74 years
Female: 78.9 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 96

Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Rank: 170

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 18.8% (2016/17)

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.7% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 9% (2017)

Physicians density: 3.72 physicians/1000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2016)
Rank: 148

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 17.7% (2009)
Rank: 32

Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2016)
Rank: 93

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.7%
Male: 97.3%
Female: 98.1% (2016)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
Conventional short form: Maldives
Local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Etymology: archipelago apparently named after the main island (and capital) of Male; the word Maldives means the islands (dives) of Male; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word maladvipa meaning garland of islands; Dhivehi Raajje in Dhivehi means Kingdom of the Dhivehi people

Government type: presidential 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): etymology: derived from the Sanskrit word 'mahaalay' meaning 'big house'

Administrative divisions: 21 administrative atolls (atholhuthah, singular - atholhu); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi)

Dependent areas

Independence: 26 July 1965 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution
History: many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008
Amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum; amended 2015

Legal system: Islamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Maldives
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ibrahim Ibu Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023)
Election results: Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH elected president (in 1 round); Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 58.3%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 41.7%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament or Peoples Majlis (87 seats - includes 2 seats added by the Elections Commission in late 2018; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 6 April 2019 (next to be held in 2023)
Election results: percent of vote - MDP 44.7%, JP 10.8%, PPM 8.7%, PNC 6.4%, MDA 2.8%, other 5.6%, independent 21%; seats by party - MDP 65, JP 5, PPM 5, PNC 3, MDA 2, independent 7; composition - men 83, women 4, percent of women 4.6%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4-6 justices; note - 3 justices as of late 2019)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the Peoples 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: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP [Ahmed Thasmeen ALI]Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed Shiyam MOHAMED]Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]Maldives Labor and Social Democratic Party or MLSDP [Ahmed SHIHAM]Maldives Thirdway Democrats or MTD [Ahmed ADEEB]Maumoon/Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]National Democratic Congress [Yousuf Maaniu] (formed in 2020)People's National Congress or PNC [Abdul Raheem ABDULLA] (formed in early 2019)Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM] (2020)

International organization participation: ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, 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 THILMEEZA Hussain (since 8 July 2019); (2020)
In the us chancery: 801 Second Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10,017
In the us telephone: [1] (212) 599-6,194 and 599-6,195
In the us FAX: [1] (212) 661-6,405
From the us:

Flag description: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam

National symbols: coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white

National anthem
Name: Gaumee Salaam (National Salute)
Lyricsmusic: 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'

National heritage


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real:
Real note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 54

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Rank: 75

Gross national saving:
Rank: 180

Gdp composition by end use
Date:
Exports of goods and services: 93.6% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: 89% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3% (2015 est.)
Industry: 16% (2015 est.)
Services: 81% (2015 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.)
Rank: 4

Labor force: 222,200 (2017 est.)
Rank: 167
By occupation agriculture: 7.7%
By occupation industry: 22.8%
By occupation services: 69.5% (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 36

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 15% (2009 est.)

Gini index

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

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: 1.19 billion (2016 est.)
Expenditures: 1.643 billion (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -10.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 212

Taxes and other revenues: 26.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Rank: 111

Public debt:
Rank: 62

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 123

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:
Rank: 140

Exports:
Rank: 188
Partners: Thailand 42.8%, Sri Lanka 8.7%, Bangladesh 6.4%, France 6.2%, US 6.1%, Germany 5%, Ireland 4.6% (2017)
Commodities: fish

Imports:
Rank: 170
Commodities: petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
Partners: UAE 17.1%, India 13.5%, Singapore 13.3%, China 10.8%, Sri Lanka 6.7%, Malaysia 6%, Thailand 4.5% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 153

Debt external:
Rank: 167

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2020)
Production: 402 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 171
Consumption: 373.9 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 178
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 165
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 171
Installed generating capacity: 278,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 161
Generation sources fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 39
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 137
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 185
Generation sources other renewable sources: 4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 114

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 169
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 160
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 160
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 164

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 172
Products consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 160
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 177
Products imports: 10,840 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 144

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 165
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 171
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 146
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 153
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2016 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 166

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.648 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 161

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 12,316
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.14 (2019 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 186
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 611,662
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155.95 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 170

Telephone system

Broadcast media: state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations and 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)

Internet
Country code: .mv
Users total: 248,004
Users percent of population: 63.19% (July 2018 est.)
Users rank: 170

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 53,470
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2018 est.)
Rank: 133


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces:

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

Space program

Terrorist groups: Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) (2020)
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in a title='Appendix-T' href='../appendix/appendix-t.html'>Appendix-T/a>


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 36
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,147,247 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.75 million (2018)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 8Q (2016)

Airports: 9 (2013)
Rank: 157
With paved runways total: 7 (2017)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 93 km (2018)
Paved: 93 km
Note:
Rank: 214

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 62
By type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 20, oil tanker 16, other 25 (2019)
Rank: 107

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Male


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs