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.
Geography
- Location
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
- Geographic coordinates
- Area 210/257
total: 298 sq km
land: 298 sq km
water: 0 sq km
- Area - 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
mean elevation:
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
agricultural land: 23.3%
arable land 10%; permanent crops 10%; permanent pasture 3.3%
forest: 3%
other: 73.7% (2011 est.)
- Irrigated land
0 sq km (2012)
- Total renewable water resources
0.03 cu km (2011)
- Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 0.01 cu km/yr (95%/5%/0%)
per capita: 18.44 cu m/yr (2008)
- 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 177/238
393,253 (July 2015 est.)
- Age structure
0-14 years: 21.05% (male 42,230/female 40,555)
15-24 years: 22.41% (male 51,141/female 36,970)
25-54 years: 47.08% (male 107,436/female 77,713)
55-64 years: 5.14% (male 10,243/female 9,968)
65 years and over: 4.32% (male 7,994/female 9,003) (2015 est.)
- Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 47.4%
youth dependency ratio: 40.5%
elderly dependency ratio: 6.9%
potential support ratio: 14.4% (2015 est.)
- Median age
total: 27.4 years
male: 27.5 years
female: 27.3 years (2015 est.)
- Population growth rate 205/233
-0.08% (2015 est.)
- Birth rate 125/224
15.75 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
- Death rate 209/225
3.89 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
- Net migration rate 216/222
-12.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
- Urbanization
urban population: 45.5% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 4.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- Major urban areas - population
MALE (capital) 156,000 (2014)
- Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.38 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.38 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
- Mother's mean age at first birth
23.9
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)
- Maternal mortality rate 100/184
68 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
- Infant mortality rate 73/224
total: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth 101/224
total population: 75.37 years
male: 73.06 years
female: 77.8 years (2015 est.)
- Total fertility rate 166/224
1.74 children born/woman (2015 est.)
- Contraceptive prevalence rate
34.7% (2009)
- Health expenditures 50/191
10.8% of GDP (2013)
- Physicians density
1.42 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
- 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 (2015 est.)
- Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 97.5% of population
rural: 98.3% of population
total: 97.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.5% of population
rural: 1.7% of population
total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)
- HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.01% (2013 est.)
- HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 100 (2013 est.)
- HIV/AIDS - deaths
fewer than 100 (2013 est.)
- Obesity - adult prevalence rate 126/191
7% (2014)
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight 36/138
17.8% (2009)
- Education expenditures 26/173
6.2% of GDP (2012)
- Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 48/134
total: 25.4%
male: 29.1%
female: 21.4% (2010 est.)
Government
- 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"; another possibility is that the name derives from the Sanskrit word "maladvipa" meaning "garland of islands"; Dhivehi Raajje in Maldivian means "kingdom of the Dhivehi people"
- 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; note - a proposed amendment to limit the age of presidential candidates was defeated in early 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
- Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Maldives
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
- Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
- Executive branch
chief of state: President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); 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 (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-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 a runoff held on 16 November (next election to be held in 2018)
election results: first round (9 November 2013); 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 (85 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 March 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
election results: percent of vote - MDP 40.8%, MDP 27.7%, JP 13.6%, MDA 4.0%, AP 2.7% other 0.3%, independent 10.9%; seats by party - PPM 33, MDP 26, JP 15, MDA 5, AP 1 , independent 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
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]
Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed]
Maldavian Democratic Party or MDP [Ali WAHEED]
Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]
Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM]
- Political pressure groups and leaders
other: various unregistered political parties
- 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
- 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 symbol(s)
coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white
- National anthem
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 exchange reserves have hovered around $300 million, sufficient to finance about two to three months of imports.
In July 2015, Maldives’ Parliament passed a constitutional amendment legalizing foreign ownership of land; foreign land-buyers must reclaim at least 70% of the desired land from the ocean and invest at least $1 billion in a construction project approved by Parliament. The political opposition claimed publicly that the law could enable China to build military infrastructure in Maldives.
Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, increasing employment opportunities, and combating corruption, cronyism, and a growing drug problem are 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) 175/230
$4.732 billion (2015 est.)
$4.554 billion (2014 est.)
$4.221 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
- GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.031 billion (2015 est.)
- GDP - real growth rate 12/225
7.6% (2015 est.)
7.7% (2014 est.)
1.5% (2013 est.)
- GDP - per capita (PPP) 115/230
$13,600 (2015 est.)
$13,300 (2014 est.)
$12,500 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
- Gross national saving 126/179
13.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
15.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
12.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 4%
industry: 23%
services: 73% (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 2/202
14% (2012 est.)
- Labor force 177/233
159,700 (2012)
- Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 15%
industry: 15%
services: 70% (2010 est.)
- Unemployment rate 126/207
11% (2012 est.)
12% (2011 est.)
- Population below poverty line
16% (2008 est.)
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 33.3% (FY09/10)
- Distribution of family income - Gini index 78/144
37.4 (2004 est.)
- Budget
revenues: $960 million
expenditures: $1.27 billion (2013 est.)
- Taxes and other revenues 82/219
31.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
- Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) 202/220
-10.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
- Public debt 42/176
72.8% of GDP
66.7% of GDP
- Fiscal year
calendar year
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 152/226
4% (2015 est.)
10.9% (2014 est.)
- Central bank discount rate 46/156
7% (31 December 2012)
6.96% (31 December 2011)
- Commercial bank prime lending rate 81/184
10.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
10.2% (31 December 2011 est.)
- Stock of narrow money 162/192
$623 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$547.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
- Stock of broad money 163/193
$1.538 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.298 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
- Stock of domestic credit 149/191
$1.559 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$1.601 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
- Market value of publicly traded shares 113/121
$555 million (31 December 2011 est.)
- Current account balance 83/197
-$232.4 million (2015 est.)
$310 million (2014 est.)
- Exports 190/224
$166 million (2013 est.)
$161 million (2012 est.)
- Exports - commodities
fish
- Exports - 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 165/223
$1.728 billion (2013 est.)
$1.55 billion (2012 est.)
- Imports - commodities
petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
- Imports - 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 155/170
$368.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$356 million (30 November 2012 est.)
- Debt - external 169/206
$793.6 million (2013 est.)
$890.8 million (2012 est.)
- Exchange rates
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -
15.365 (2015)
15.365 (2014)
Energy
- Electricity - production 180/220
287.2 million kWh (2012 est.)
- Electricity - consumption 185/219
267.1 million kWh (2012 est.)
- Electricity - exports 173/218
0 kWh (2013 est.)
- Electricity - imports 179/219
0 kWh (2013 est.)
- Electricity - installed generating capacity 181/214
77,000 kW (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from fossil fuels 21/214
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from nuclear fuels 147/214
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from hydroelectric plants 189/214
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from other renewable sources 204/212
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Crude oil - production 171/214
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
- Crude oil - exports 165/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Crude oil - imports 102/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Crude oil - proved reserves 171/215
0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - production 113/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - consumption 161/212
6,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - exports 205/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - imports 147/213
6,941 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Natural gas - production 107/216
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - consumption 175/215
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - exports 151/215
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - imports 104/214
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - proved reserves 174/212
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
- Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy 165/212
1.123 million Mt (2012 est.)
Communications
- Telephones - fixed lines 183/219
total subscriptions: 21,500
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
- Telephones - mobile cellular 164/217
total: 665,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 169 (2014 est.)
- 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)
- Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2009)
- Television broadcast stations
2 (2009)
- Internet country code
.mv
- Internet hosts 153/232
3,296 (2012)
- Internet users 201/217
total: 18,600
percent of population: 4.7% (2014 est.)
Transportation
- Airports 159/236
9 (2013)
- 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 216/223
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 (2013)
- Merchant marine 97/156
total: 18
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 and Security
- 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)
Transnational Issues
- Disputes - international
none