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.

Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N 73 00 E

Map reference: Asia

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 644 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
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
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Arable land: 13.33%
Permanent crops: 30%
Other: 56.67% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Total renewable water resources: 0.03 km³ (1999)

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

Geography
Note: 1190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

Population: 396,334 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 174
Growth rate: -0.168% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 217
Below poverty line: 21% (2004)

Nationality
Noun: Maldivian
Adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups: South Indians Sinhalese Arabs

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

Religions: Sunni Muslim

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.3%
15-64 years: 73.8% (male 180,874/female 111,703)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,711/female 7,717) (2009 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.7 years
Male: 26.5 years
Female: 24.3 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.168% (2009 est.)
Rank: 217

Birth rate: 14.55 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 145

Death rate: 3.65 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 212

Net migration rate: -12.58 migrant(s)/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 179

Urbanization
Urban population: 38% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 5.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Environment
Current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; 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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.62 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.44 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 29.53 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 77
Male: 32.04 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 26.89 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.97 years
Rank: 94
Male: 71.78 years
Female: 76.28 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 144

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 147
People living with hivaids: fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 163
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: 8% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 15

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.3%
Male: 96.2%
Female: 96.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years (2006)

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: 19 atolls (atholhu singular and plural) and 1 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

Independence: 26 July 1965 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 26 July (1965)

Constitution: new constitution ratified 7 August 2008

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 Mohamed 'Anni' NASHEED ; Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11 November 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Mohamed 'Anni' NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11 November 2008)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: under the new constitution the president is elected by direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
Election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote - NASHEED 54.25% Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.75%

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or People's Majlis (77 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Majlis in February 2009 passed legislation that incresed the number of seats to 77 from 50
Elections: last held 9 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
Election results: percent of vote - DRP 36.8% MDP 32.9 % PA 9.2% DQP 2.6% AP 1.3% independents 17.1%; seats by party - DRP 28 MDP 25 PA 7 DQP 2 AP 1 independents 13; note - one seat unfilled

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of voting members of the People's Council; High Court; Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission

Political parties and leaders: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi Quamee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar NASEER]; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]; People's Alliance or PA [Abdullah YAMEEN]; Republican (Jumhooree) Party [Gasim IBRAHIM]; Social Liberal Party or SLP [Ibrahim ISMAIL]

International organization participation: ADB C CP FAO G-77 IBRD ICAO IDA IDB IFAD IFC IMF IMO Interpol IOC IPU ITU MIGA NAM OIC OPCW SAARC SACEP UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador ; Charge D'Affaires Abdul Ghafoor MOHAMED
In the us chancery: 800 2nd Avenue Suite 400E New York NY 10,017
In the us telephone: [1] (212) 599-6,195
In the us fax: [1] (212) 661-6,405
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE Jr. is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits

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 overview: Tourism Maldives' largest industry accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector. 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. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry which consists mainly of garment production boat building and handicrafts accounts for about 7% of GDP. 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. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004 a major tsunami left more than 100 dead 12,000 displaced and property damage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami the GDP contracted by about 4.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism post-tsunami reconstruction and development of new resorts helped the economy recover quickly with GDP growth registering 18% in 2006. Growth slowed in 2007-08 but remained above 5% per year. The trade deficit expanded sharply as a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material. Government spending on social needs subsidies and civil servant salaries have created a large budget deficit and inflation has picked up sharply reaching nearly 13% in October 2008 due to high oil and food prices. Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing reforming public finance and increasing employment are the major 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 187
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 69

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 149
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 7%
Industry: 17%
Services: 76% (2006 est.)

Agriculture products: coconuts corn sweet potatoes; fish

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

Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (2004 est.)
Rank: 141

Labor force: 136,100 (2007)
Rank: 172
By occupation agriculture: 22%
By occupation industry: 18%
By occupation services: 60% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 14.4% (2006 est.)
Rank: 151

Population below poverty line: 21% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $762 million
Expenditures: $884 million (2008 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5% (2007 est.)
Rank: 178

Central bank discount rate: 12.5% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 22

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 13% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 60

Stock of domestic credit: $1.08 billion (31 December 2007)
Rank: 97

Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA

Current account balance: -$472 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 109

Exports: $167 million (2006 est.)
Rank: 191
Commodities: fish
Partners: Thailand 34.4% UK 13.8% France 12.2% Italy 9% Sri Lanka 8.5% (2008)

Imports: $930 million (2006 est.)
Rank: 168
Commodities: petroleum products ships foodstuffs clothing intermediate and capital goods
Partners: Singapore 27.2% UAE 16.9% Malaysia 9.7% India 7.7% Thailand 4.9% Sri Lanka 4.6% Germany 4.1% (2008)

Debt external: $482 million (2006 est.)
Rank: 166

Exchange rates: rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 12.8 (2008) 12.8 (2007) 12.8 (2006) 12.8 (2005) 12.8 (2004)

Electricity
Production: 205 million kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 176
Consumption: 190.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 178
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 150
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 150
Exports: 0 m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 147
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 90
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 157

Telephones
Main lines in use: 50,396 (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 162
Mobile cellular: 450,500 (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 158

Telephone system
General assessment: telephone services have improved; each island now has at least 1 public telephone and there are mobile cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership that exceeds 100 per 100 persons
Domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service
International: country code - 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)

Internet
Country code: .mv
Hosts: 1732 (2009)
Hosts rank: 151
Users: 71,700 (2008)
Users rank: 164

Military expenditures: 5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 15

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Airports: 5 (2009)
Rank: 180
With paved runways total: 3
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2009)
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2009)

Roadways
Total: 88 km
Rank: 213
Paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu
Note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

Merchant marine
Total: 29
Rank: 86
By type: bulk carrier 1 cargo 23 petroleum tanker 3 refrigerated cargo 2
Foreign owned: 1 (Greece 1)
Registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1 Tuvalu 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Male

Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Idps: 1000-10,000 (2007)