Maldives

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Maldives

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Divehi Raajjeyge Jumhuriyya/Republic of the Maldives Area 298 sq km/115 sq mi Capital Malé Language Divehi (a Sinhalese dialect; official), English, Arabic Religion Sunni Muslim Time difference GMT +5 Major holidays 1 January, 26 July (2 days), 11 November (2 days); variable: Eid-ul-Adha (4 days), end of Ramadan (3 days), New Year (Muslim), Prophet's Birthday, first day of Ramadan (2 days), Huravee (February), Martyrs (April), National (October/November, 2 days)


GEOGRAPHY

Physical features comprises 1,196 coral islands, grouped into 12 clusters of atolls, largely flat, none bigger than 13 sq km/5 sq mi, average elevation 1.8 m/6 ft; 203 are inhabited Airports one international airport and four domestic airports; total passengers carried: 315,000 (2000 est) Railways none Roads total road network: 9.6 km/6 mi; passenger cars: 7.8 per 1,000 people (2003 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state and government Maumoon Abd Gayoom from 1978 Political system authoritarian nationalist Political executive unlimited presidency Administrative divisions 20 districts and the capital (Malé) Political parties none; candidates elected on basis of personal influence and clan loyalties Death penalty retains the death penalty for ordinary crimes but can be considered abolitionist in practice; date of last known execution 1952 Armed forces no standing army; paramilitary forces of 5,000 (2006) Defence spend (% GDP) 6.4 (2003 est) Education spend (% GDP) 3.9 (2000 est) Health spend (% GDP) 5.5 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency rufiya GDP (US$) 817 million (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 13 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 787 million (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 2,740 (2004 est) Consumer price inflation 7% (2006 est) Unemployment 2% (2003 est) Labour force 14% agriculture, 36% industry, 50% services (2001) Foreign debt (US$) 345 million (2004 est) Major trading partners Singapore, USA, UK, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Japan, United Arab Emirates Resources coral (mining was banned as a measure against the encroachment of the sea) Industries fish canning, clothing, soft-drink bottling, shipping, lacquer work, shell craft, tourism Exports marine products (tuna bonito (‘Maldive fish’)), clothing. Principal market: USA 32.3% (2003) Imports consumer manufactured goods, petroleum products, food, intermediate and capital goods. Principal source: Singapore 24.9% (2004) (2002) Arable land 13.3% (2006 est) Agricultural products coconuts, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, chillies; fishing (the Maldives' second-largest source of foreign exchange after tourism in 1998)


POPULATION

Population 337,400 (2006 est) Population growth rate 4% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 1,132 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 30 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 41%, 15–59 54%, 60+ 5% (2005 est) Ethnic groups four main groups: Dravidian in the northern islands, Arab in the middle islands, Sinhalese in the southern islands, and African Life expectancy 69 (men); 68 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 46 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 7 Literacy rate 97% (men); 97% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 7.8 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 0.8 (2002 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 99 (urban); 78 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 9.6 (2004 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 34.5 (2004 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 129 (1997) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 143 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 11 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 5.8 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

12th century AD Islam introduced by seafaring Arabs, who displaced the indigenous Dravidian population. 14th century Ad-Din sultanate established. 1558–73 Under Portuguese rule. 1645 Became a dependency of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), which was ruled by the Dutch until 1796 and then by the British, with Sinhalese and Indian colonies being established. 1887 Became an internally self-governing British protectorate, which remained a dependency of Sri Lanka until 1948. 1932 The sultanate became an elected position when the Maldives' first constitution was introduced. 1953 Maldive Islands became a republic within the Commonwealth, as the ad-Din sultanate was abolished. 1954 Sultan restored. 1959–60 Secessionist rebellion in Suvadiva (Huvadu) and Addu southern atolls. 1965 Achieved full independence outside Commonwealth. 1968 Sultan deposed after referendum; republic reinstated with Ibrahim Nasir as president. 1975 Closure of British airforce staging post on southern island of Gan led to substantial loss in income. 1978 Autocratic Nasir retired; replaced by progressive Maumoon Abd Gayoom. 1980s Economic growth boosted by rapid development of tourist industry. 1982 Rejoined the Commonwealth. 1985 Became founder member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. 1988 Coup attempt by Sri Lankan mercenaries, thought to have the backing of former president Nasir, foiled by Indian paratroops. 1998 President Gayoom re-elected. 2003 Amnesty International accused government of political repression and torture. Unprecedented antigovernment protests broke out in Male, triggered by deaths of four prison inmates. President Gayoom re-elected for record sixth term in office with 90% of referendum vote. 2004 Gayoom promised to allow formation of political parties and limit presidential term. State of emergency declared after violence broke out during a pro-democracy rally; almost 100 people imprisoned. Tsunami hit, killing scores of people and severely damaging many islands. Government said it had set back development by 20 years. 2005 Parliament voted unanimously in favour of multiparty system. Opposition party leader Mohamed Nasheed charged with terrorism and sedition; government claimed he had criticized the president and incited violence. 2006 Senior opposition figure Jennifer Latheef, serving ten-year sentence on terrorism charges, pardoned by President Gayoom. She refused to recognize the pardon, insisting on retrial to clear her name. 2007 Maldive coastguard vessel sank a boat the government claimed was carrying suspected Tamil Tigers from Sri Lanka. Referendum approved president's plans for presidential system of government. Three cabinet ministers resigned during August. Bomb in Male injured 12 tourists


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