At the close of the second decade of the twenty-first Century, Maldives had the highest Per Capita GDP in the South Asia. It has a vibrant Tourism Sector which accounted for 28% of its GDP in the year 2018. Maldives Human development indicators are better than the rest of the South Asia. It has 99% adult literacy rate, 1.2% of infant mortality rate and average life expectancy of 72 years. Underdevelopment is the key challenge confronting most of the South Asian region in varying degrees. All progressives of the region have to address the problem of underdevelopment. Peace, pluralism and tolerance are the essential prerequisites for development. This page discusses the various developmental subjects related to Maldives. We appreciate and value your participation in these debates. Feel free to join our discussions by posting your articles, research papers, podcasts and video clips on the subject on this website.
Maldives: An Introductory Profile
Introduction
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, multiparty 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 and Location
Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Area: total: 298 sq km
land: 298 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 210
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: 1.8 m
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; 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
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: 393,253 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
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.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Population growth rate: -0.08% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Birth rate: 15.75 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Death rate: 3.89 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Net migration rate: -12.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
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
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: 68 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Infant mortality rate: 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.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.37 years
male: 73.06 years
female: 77.8 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Total fertility rate: 1.74 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 34.7% (2009)
Health expenditures: 10.8% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 50
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
total: 97.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.5% of population
rural: 1.7% of population
total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:17.8% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
Education expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 26
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.8%
female: 98.8% (2015 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15–24: total: 25.4%
male: 29.1%
female: 21.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Government and Politics
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”; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word “maladvipa” meaning “garland of islands”; Dhivehi Raajje in Maldivian means “Kingdom of the Dhivehi people”
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Male
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 (2016)
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 Abdulla JIHAD (since 21 June 2016); note—the president is both chief of state and head of government; Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015) was removed from office 5 November 2015
head of government: President Abdulla YAME EN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Abdulla JI HAD (since 22 June 2016); note—Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015) was removed from office 5 November 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 ru noff held on 16 November (next election to be held in 2018)
election results: first round—percent of vote—Mohamed NASH EED (MDP) 46.9%, Abdulla YAM EEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 29.7%, Qasim IBRAHIM (JP) 23.3%; runoff second round—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: Maldives has rapidly grown into a middle-income country, driven by tourism development. in 2015, the economy’s growth slowed to 4.8%, mainly due to lower tourism sector growth as tourist arrivals from China declined. However, the slowdown is expected to reverse in 2016. Tourism, construction, transport, and the communications sector accounted for 50% of the output on average. Tourism-related tax receipts increased by 13% in 2015 due to higher tax rates. This increase in dollar tax receipts directly led to higher usable reserves in 2015. The current account deficit widened to $400 million in 2015 due to increases in construction related imports. A large and growing fiscal deficit remains an ongoing economic challenge. 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. 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):
$5.191 billion (2015 est.)
$5.094 billion (2014 est.)
$4.784 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 174
GDP (official exchange rate)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.13 billion (2015 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1.9% (2015 est.)
6.5% (2014 est.) 4.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
GDP—per capita (PPP): $14,900 (2015 est.)
$14,900 (2014 est.)
$14,200 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 109
GDP—composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 19.3%
services: 77.2% (2014 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: 14% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Labor force: 195,100 (2014)
country comparison to the world: 174
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture: 15%
industry: 15%
services: 70% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.6% (2013 est.)
11% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
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: 37.4 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Budget: revenues: $960 million
expenditures: $1.148 billion (2014 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 31.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (–): -6% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Public debt: 72.8% of GDP (2014)
66.7% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 42
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (2015 est.)
2.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Market value of publicly traded shares: $555 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Current account balance: -$251 million (2015 est.)
-$125 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Exports: $300.9 million (2014 est.)
$331 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Exports—commodities: fish
Exports—partners: Thailand 17.9%, France 12.1%, Germany 10.7%, US 9.6%, Italy 6.8%, UK 6.4%, Sri Lanka 5.8%, Japan 4.6% (2015)
Imports: $1.993 billion (2014 est.) $1.733 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Imports—commodities: petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
Imports—partners: UAE 18.3%, Singapore 13.8%, China 10.6%, India 10.4%, Malaysia 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.5%, Thailand 4.9% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $627.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$381.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Debt—external: $741.6 million (2014 est.)
$792.2 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar—
15.25 (2015)
15.365 (2014)
Energy
Electricity—production: 287.2 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity—consumption: 267.1 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Electricity—installed generating capacity: 77,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Electricity—from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Refined petroleum products—consumption: 6,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Refined petroleum products—imports: 6,941 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 1.123 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Communications and Transport
Telephones—fixed lines: total subscriptions: 21,500
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Telephones—mobile cellular: total: 665,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 169 (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 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 (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: 3,296 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 153
Internet users: total: 18,600
percent of population: 4.7% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
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 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 216
Merchant marine: 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)
country comparison to the world: 97
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Male
Defense 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)
Military—note: the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is
inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008)
TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES
Disputes—international: none
Trafficking in persons: current situation: Maldives is a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and a source country for women and children subjected to labor and sex trafficking; primarily Bangladeshi and Indian migrants working both legally and illegally in the construction and service sectors face conditions of forced labor, including fraudulent recruitment, confiscation of identity and travel documents, nonpayment and withholding of wages, and debt bondage; a small number of women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and former Soviet states are trafficked to Maldives for sexual exploitation; Maldivian women may be subjected to sex trafficking domestically or in Sri Lanka; some Maldivian children are transported to the capital for domestic service, where they may also be victims of sexual abuse and forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List—Maldives does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government adopted a national action plan for 2015–2019 and is continuing to develop victim identification, protection, and referral procedures, but overall its anti-trafficking efforts did not increase; only five trafficking investigations were conducted, no new prosecutions were initiated for the second consecutive year, and no convictions were made, down from one in 2013; some officials warned businesses in advanced of planned raids for suspected trafficking offenses; victim protection deteriorated when the state-run shelter for female victims barred access to victims shortly after opening in January 2014, in part because of bureaucratic disputes, which dissuaded victims from pursuing charges against perpetrators; the government did not prosecute or hold accountable any employers or government officials for withholding passports (2015)
