Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/147.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 9KB | 279 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Maldive.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Maldives"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Maldives, click {z,"66.059359,2.345954,84.717734,16.711198",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 300 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 300 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} nearly twice the size of Washington, DC

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 644 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone
coincides with maritime boundary with India
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest
monsoon (June to August)

{2}Terrain:{4} flat
{3}lowest point:{4} Indian Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} fish

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 10%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 3%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 3%
{3}other:{4} 84%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies

{2}natural hazards:{4} low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

{2}Geographic note:{4} 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location
astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 270,758 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 47% (male 65,559; female 62,399)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 50% (male 69,071; female 65,659)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 3% (male 4,336; female 3,734) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 3.52% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 41.88 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 6.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 1.16 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 47 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 66.17 years
{3}male:{4} 64.6 years
{3}female:{4} 67.82 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 6.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Maldivian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Maldivian

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African

{2}Religions:{4} Sunni Muslim

{2}Languages:{4} Maldivian Divehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by
most government officials

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 93.2%
{3}male:{4} 93.3%
{3}female:{4} 93%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Maldives
{3}conventional short form:{4} Maldives

{2}Type of government:{4} republic

{2}Capital:{4} Male

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu,
Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani,
Thaa, Waavu

{2}Independence:{4} 26 July 1965 (from UK)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

{2}Constitution:{4} 4 June 1968

{2}Legal system:{4} based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in
commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 21 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
chief of state and head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November
1978) was reelected for a five-year term by secret ballot of the Majlis; election last held 1 October
1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with
92.76% of the vote
{3}cabinet:{4} Ministry of Atolls was appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majilis

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral; members elected for five-year terms or appointed by the president
Citizens' Council (Majlis): elections last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected, 8 appointed by the president)
independents 40

{2}Judicial branch:{4} High Court

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} although political parties are not banned, none exist

{2}International organization participation:{4} AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4} Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by Ahmed ZAKI

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4} the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US
Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest
growth sectors of the economy. In 1994, tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounted for about
18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is a second
leading growth sector. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and
tourism-related taxes. The Maldivian Government initiated 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. Agriculture and manufacturing
continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable
land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In 1994, industry
which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about
15% of GDP.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $390 million (1994 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 6.6% (1994 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $1,560 (1994 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 21.5%
{3}industry:{4} 15.3%
{3}services:{4} 63.2% (1994 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 16.5% (1994 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 66,000 (est.)
{3}by occupation:{4} fishing industry 25%

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NEGL%

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $88 million (excluding foreign grants)
{3}expenditures:{4} $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven
mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 6.3% (1994 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 5,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 30 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 123 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing

{2}Exports:{4} $75.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} fish, clothing
{3}partners:{4} Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK

{2}Imports:{4} $195.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
{3}partners:{4} Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand

{2}External debt:{4} $137.5 million (1994 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari

{2}Exchange rates:{4} rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (January 1996), 11.770 (1995), 11.586 (1994),
10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} NA km
{3}paved:{4} NA km
{3}unpaved:{4} NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} Gan, Male

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 73,284 GRT/113,669 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} cargo 17, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 8,523 (1992 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} minimal domestic and international facilities
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 28,284 (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1

{2}Televisions:{4} 7,309 (1992 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 59,179
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 33,016 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $NA, NA% of GDP