Background: A sultanate since the 12th century the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. 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 political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003 the president and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and 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. President NASHEED faced a number of challenges including strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. In early February 2012 after several weeks of street protests following his sacking of a top judge NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. In mid-2012 a Commission of National Inquiry was set by the government to probe events leading up to NASHEED's resignation. Though the commission found no evidence of a coup the report recommended the need to strengthen the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future and to further investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. Maldivian officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the UN Human Rights Council and in other international forums as well as in encouraging regional cooperation especially between India and Pakistan.

Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N 73 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 298 km²
Land: 298 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 210
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 Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 23.3%
Forest: 3%
Other: 73.7%

Irrigated land: 0 km² NA (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 0.03 km³ (2011)

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

Geography
Note: smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1190 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

Population: 393,253 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 177
Growth rate: -0.08% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 205
Below poverty line: 16% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Maldivian
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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 21.05%
15-24 years: 22.41%
25-54 years: 47.08%
55-64 years: 5.14%
65 years and over: 4.32% (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 47.4%
Youth dependency ratio: 40.5%
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.9%
Potential support ratio: 14.4%

Median age
Total: 27.4 years
Male: 27.5 years
Female: 27.3 years

Population growth rate: -0.08% (2015 est.)
Rank: 205

Birth rate: 15.75 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 125

Death rate: 3.89 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 209

Net migration rate: -12.68 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 216

Urbanization
Urban population: 45.5% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 4.49% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: MALE (capital) 156,000 (2014)

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
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.38 male/female
25-54 years: 1.38 male/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male/female
Total population: 1.26 male/female

Infant mortality rate
Total: 23.7 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 26.11 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 21.17 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 73

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.37 years
Male: 73.06 years
Female: 77.8 years
Rank: 101

Total fertility rate: 1.74 children born/woman (2015 est.)
Rank: 166

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 34.7% (2009)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 1.42 physicians/1000 population (2010)

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

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (2013 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 133
People living with hivaids: fewer than 100 (2013 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 127
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2013 est.)
Deaths rank: 113

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7% (2014)
Rank: 126

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 17.8% (2009)
Rank: 36

Education expenditures: 6.2% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 26

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.3%
Male: 99.8%
Female: 98.8%

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

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; amended 2015 (2015)

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; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ; Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ; Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term ; the election held on 7 September 2013 was annulled by the Supreme Court; rerun of first round held on 9 November 2013 and a runoff held on 16 November (next election to be held in 2018)
Election results: first round ; percent of vote - Mohamed NASHEED (MDP) 46.9% Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 29.7% Qasim IBRAHIM (JP) 23.3%; runoff (16 November 2013); percent of vote - Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom elected president 51.4% Mohamed NASHEED 48.6%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament or People's Majlis
Elections: last held on 22 March 2014
Election results: percent of vote - PPM 40% MDP 28.2% JP 18.8% MDA 5.9% other 1.2% independent 5.9%; seats by party - PPM 33 MDP 26 JP 15 MDA 5 other 1 independent 5

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court
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

Political parties and leaders
Note: political parties with an asterisk were dissolved on 7 February 2014 by the Elections Commission under the Political Parties Act which requires a minimum membership; the status of these parties is unresolved as the Supreme Court later ruled the dissolution invalid:

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 Ahmed SAREER
In the us chancery: 800 2nd Avenue Suite 400E New York NY 10,017
In the us telephone: [1] 599-6,195
In the us FAX: [1] 661-6,405
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits

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'
Lyrics and 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 overview:

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 177

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 62

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 117

Gross national saving:
Rank: 172

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4%
Industry: 23%
Services: 73%

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: 159,700 (2012)
Rank: 177
By occupation agriculture: 15%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 70%

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 116

Population below poverty line: 16% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.2%
Highest 10: 33.3%

Distribution of family income gini index: 37.4 (2004 est.)
Rank: 78

Budget
Revenues: $762 million
Expenditures: $876 million
Surplus or deficit: -4.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 156

Taxes and other revenues: 31.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 82

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 115

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 46

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 80

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 158

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 160

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 148

Market value of publicly traded shares: $555 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 113

Current account balance:
Rank: 95

Exports:
Rank: 186
Commodities: fish
Partners: Thailand 18.8% France 16% US 10.9% Japan 7.5% Germany 7.2% UK 6.1% Italy 5.5% Sri Lanka 4.7% (2014)

Imports:
Rank: 169
Commodities: petroleum products clothing intermediate and capital goods
Partners: Singapore 18% UAE 18% India 9% Malaysia 8.3% China 6.7% Sri Lanka 5.7% Thailand 5.5% (2014)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 155

Debt external:
Rank: 168

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 265.2 million kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 180
Consumption: 246.6 million kWh (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 183
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 174
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 177
Installed generating capacity: 77,080 kW (2011 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 181
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 44
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 145
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 187
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 107

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 202
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 158
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 98
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 168

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 177
Products consumption: 7,610 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products consumption rank: 161
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 201
Products imports: 6,940 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products imports rank: 137

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 170
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 175
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 149
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 102
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 173

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.123 million Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 166

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 21,500
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5
Fixed lines rank: 183
Mobile cellular total: 665,800
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 169
Mobile cellular rank: 164

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 ; 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
Users total: 18,600
Users percent of population: 4.7%
Users rank: 201

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)

Airports: 9 (2013)
Rank: 159
With paved runways total: 7
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2

Roadways
Total: 88 km
Paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu
Note: island roads are mainly compacted coral
Rank: 216

Merchant marine
Total: 18
By type: bulk carrier 1 cargo 14 petroleum tanker 1 refrigerated cargo 2
Foreign owned: 4
Registered in other countries: 4 (2010)
Rank: 97

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Male

Disputes international: none