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.<\/p>\n
Maldives: An Introductory Profile<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives\u00a0became a British protectorate in 1887. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands\u2019 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\u2014termed the \u201cSpecial Majlis\u201d\u2014finalized 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\u2019s resignation. Though the commission found no evidence of a coup, the report recommended the need to strengthen the country\u2019s 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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n Geography and Location<\/strong><\/p>\n Location:\u00a0Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India<\/p>\n Area:\u00a0total:<\/strong>\u00a0298 sq km<\/p>\n land:\u00a0298 sq km<\/p>\n water:\u00a00 sq km<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0210<\/p>\n Coastline:\u00a0644 km<\/p>\n Maritime claims:\u00a0measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines<\/p>\n territorial sea:\u00a012 nm<\/p>\n contiguous zone:\u00a024 nm<\/p>\n exclusive economic zone:\u00a0200 nm<\/p>\n Climate:<\/strong>\u00a0tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)<\/p>\n Terrain:<\/strong>\u00a0flat, with white sandy beaches<\/p>\n Elevation:\u00a0mean elevation:\u00a01.8 m<\/p>\n elevation extremes:\u00a0lowest point:\u00a0Indian Ocean 0 m<\/p>\n highest point:\u00a0unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m<\/p>\n Natural resources:<\/strong>\u00a0fish<\/p>\n Land use:<\/strong>\u00a0agricultural land:\u00a023.3%<\/p>\n arable land:\u00a010%;<\/p>\n permanent crops:\u00a010%;<\/p>\n permanent pasture:\u00a03.3%<\/p>\n forest:\u00a03%<\/p>\n other:\u00a073.7% (2011 est.)<\/p>\n Irrigated land:\u00a00 sq km (2012)<\/p>\n Total renewable water resources:<\/strong>\u00a00.03 cu km (2011)<\/p>\n Freshwater withdrawal (domestic\/industrial\/agricultural):\u00a0total:\u00a00.01 cu km\/yr (95%\/5%\/0%)<\/p>\n per capita:\u00a018.44 cu m\/yr (2008)<\/p>\n Natural hazards:<\/strong>\u00a0tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise<\/p>\n Environment<\/strong>\u2014current issues:\u00a0depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; coral reef bleaching<\/p>\n Environment\u2014international agreements:\u00a0party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified:\u00a0none of the selected agreements<\/p>\n Geography\u2014note:<\/strong>\u00a0smallest 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<\/p>\n People<\/strong><\/p>\n Nationality:\u00a0noun:\u00a0Maldivian(s)<\/p>\n adjective:\u00a0Maldivian<\/p>\n Ethnic groups:<\/strong>\u00a0South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs<\/p>\n Languages:<\/strong>\u00a0Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)<\/p>\n Religions:<\/strong>\u00a0Sunni Muslim (official)<\/p>\n Population:<\/strong>\u00a0393,253 (July 2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0177<\/p>\n Age structure:\u00a00\u201314 years:\u00a021.05% (male 42,230\/female 40,555)<\/p>\n 15\u201324 years:\u00a022.41% (male 51,141\/female 36,970)<\/p>\n 25\u201354 years:\u00a047.08% (male 107,436\/female 77,713)<\/p>\n 55\u201364 years:\u00a05.14% (male 10,243\/female 9,968)<\/p>\n 65 years and over:\u00a04.32% (male 7,994\/female 9,003) (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Dependency ratios:\u00a0total dependency ratio:\u00a047.4%<\/p>\n youth dependency ratio:\u00a040.5%<\/p>\n elderly dependency ratio:\u00a06.9%<\/p>\n potential support ratio:\u00a014.4% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Median age:\u00a0total:\u00a027.4 years<\/p>\n male:\u00a027.5 years<\/p>\n female:\u00a027.3 years (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0135<\/p>\n Population growth rate:\u00a0-0.08% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0205<\/p>\n Birth rate:\u00a015.75 births\/1,000 population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0125<\/p>\n Death rate:\u00a03.89 deaths\/1,000 population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0209<\/p>\n Net migration rate:\u00a0-12.68 migrant(s)\/1,000 population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0216<\/p>\n Urbanization:<\/strong>\u00a0urban population:\u00a045.5% of total population (2015)<\/p>\n rate of urbanization:\u00a04.49% annual rate of change (2010\u201315 est.)<\/p>\n Major urban areas\u2014Population:\u00a0MALE (capital) 156,000 (2014)<\/p>\n Sex ratio:<\/strong>\u00a0at birth:\u00a01.05 male(s)\/female<\/p>\n total population:\u00a01.26 male(s)\/female (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Mother\u2019s mean age at first birth:\u00a023.9<\/p>\n note:\u00a0median age at first birth among women 25\u201329 (2009 est.)<\/p>\n Maternal mortality rate:<\/strong>\u00a068 deaths\/100,000 live births (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0100<\/p>\n Infant mortality rate:<\/strong>\u00a0total:\u00a023.7 deaths\/1,000 live births<\/p>\n male:\u00a026.11 deaths\/1,000 live births<\/p>\n female:\u00a021.17 deaths\/1,000 live births (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a073<\/p>\n Life expectancy at birth:<\/strong>\u00a0total population:\u00a075.37 years<\/p>\n male:\u00a073.06 years<\/p>\n female:\u00a077.8 years (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0101<\/p>\n Total fertility rate:<\/strong>\u00a01.74 children born\/woman (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0166<\/p>\n Contraceptive prevalence rate:\u00a034.7% (2009)<\/p>\n Health expenditures:<\/strong>\u00a010.8% of GDP (2013)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a050<\/p>\n Physicians density:\u00a01.42 physicians\/1,000 population (2010)<\/p>\n Hospital bed density:\u00a04.3 beds\/1,000 population (2009)<\/p>\n Drinking water source:<\/strong><\/p>\n improved:<\/p>\n urban:\u00a099.5% of population<\/p>\n rural:\u00a097.9% of population<\/p>\n total:\u00a098.6% of population<\/p>\n unimproved:<\/p>\n urban:\u00a00.5% of population<\/p>\n rural:\u00a02.1% of population<\/p>\n total:\u00a01.4% of population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Sanitation facility access:<\/strong><\/p>\n improved:<\/p>\n urban:\u00a097.5% of population<\/p>\n rural:\u00a098.3% of population<\/p>\n total:\u00a097.9% of population<\/p>\n total:\u00a097.9% of population<\/p>\n unimproved:<\/p>\n urban:\u00a02.5% of population<\/p>\n rural:\u00a01.7% of population<\/p>\n total:\u00a02.1% of population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Children under the age of 5 years underweight:17.8% (2009)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a036<\/p>\n Education expenditures:<\/strong>\u00a05.2% of GDP (2012)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a026<\/p>\n Literacy:\u00a0definition:\u00a0age 15 and over can read and write<\/p>\n total population:\u00a099.3%<\/p>\n male:\u00a099.8%<\/p>\n female:\u00a098.8% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Unemployment, youth ages 15\u201324:\u00a0total:\u00a025.4%<\/p>\n male:\u00a029.1%<\/p>\n female:\u00a021.4% (2010 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a048<\/p>\n Government and Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n Country name:\u00a0conventional long form:\u00a0Republic of Maldives<\/p>\n conventional short form:\u00a0Maldives<\/p>\n local long form:\u00a0Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa<\/p>\n local short form:\u00a0Dhivehi Raajje<\/p>\n etymology:<\/strong>\u00a0archipelago apparently named after the main island (and capital) of Male; the word \u201cMaldives\u201d means \u201cthe islands (dives) of Male\u201d; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word \u201cmaladvipa\u201d meaning \u201cgarland of islands\u201d; Dhivehi Raajje in Maldivian means \u201cKingdom of the Dhivehi people\u201d<\/p>\n Government type:<\/strong>\u00a0presidential republic<\/p>\n Capital:\u00a0name:\u00a0Male<\/p>\n Administrative divisions:<\/strong>\u00a07 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)<\/p>\n Independence:<\/strong>\u00a026 July 1965 (from the UK)<\/p>\n National holiday:\u00a0Independence Day, 26 July (1965)<\/p>\n Constitution:<\/strong>\u00a0many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008; amended 2015 (2016)<\/p>\n Legal system:<\/strong>\u00a0Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters<\/p>\n International law organization participation:<\/strong>\u00a0has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction<\/p>\n Citizenship:\u00a0citizenship by birth:\u00a0no<\/p>\n citizenship by descent only:\u00a0at least one parent must be a citizen of the Maldives<\/p>\n dual citizenship recognized:\u00a0yes<\/p>\n residency requirement for naturalization:\u00a0unknown<\/p>\n Suffrage:\u00a018 years of age; universal<\/p>\n Executive branch:<\/strong>\u00a0chief of state:\u00a0President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Abdulla JIHAD (since 21 June 2016); note\u2014the 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<\/p>\n head of government:\u00a0President Abdulla YAME EN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Abdulla JI HAD (since 22 June 2016); note\u2014Vice President Ahmed ADHEEB Abdul Ghafoor (since 22 July 2015) was removed from office 5 November 2015<\/p>\n cabinet:\u00a0Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president<\/p>\n elections\/appointments:\u00a0president 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)<\/p>\n election results:\u00a0first round\u2014percent of vote\u2014Mohamed NASH\u00a0EED (MDP) 46.9%, Abdulla YAM EEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 29.7%, Qasim IBRAHIM (JP) 23.3%; runoff second round\u2014percent of vote\u2014Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom elected president 51.4%, Mohamed NASHEED 48.6%<\/p>\n Legislative branch:<\/strong>\u00a0description:\u00a0unicameral Parliament or People\u2019s Majlis (85 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)<\/p>\n elections:\u00a0last held on 22 March 2014 (next to be held in 2019)<\/p>\n election results:\u00a0percent of vote\u2014MDP 40.8%, MDP 27.7%, JP 13.6%, MDA 4.0%, AP 2.7% other 0.3%, independent 10.9%; seats by party\u2014PPM 33, MDP 26, JP 15, MDA 5, AP 1, independent 5<\/p>\n Judicial branch:<\/strong>\u00a0highest court(s):\u00a0Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 judges)<\/p>\n judge selection and term of office:\u00a0Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission\u2014a separate 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public\u2014and upon confirmation by voting members of the People\u2019s Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70<\/p>\n subordinate courts:\u00a0High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)<\/p>\n Political parties and leaders:<\/strong>\u00a0Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]<\/p>\n Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed]<\/p>\n Maldavian Democratic Party or MDP [Ali WAHEED]<\/p>\n Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]<\/p>\n Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM]<\/p>\n Political pressure groups and leaders:<\/strong>\u00a0other:\u00a0various unregistered political parties<\/p>\n International organization participation:<\/strong>\u00a0ADB, 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<\/p>\n Flag description:<\/strong>\u00a0red 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<\/p>\n National symbol(s):<\/strong>\u00a0coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white<\/p>\n National anthem:\u00a0name:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cGaumee Salaam\u201d (National Salute)<\/p>\n lyrics\/music:\u00a0Mohamed Jameel DIDI\/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA<\/p>\n note:\u00a0lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of \u201cAuld Lang Syne\u201d<\/p>\n Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n Economy\u2014overview:<\/strong>\u00a0Maldives has rapidly grown into a middle-income country, driven by tourism development. in 2015, the economy\u2019s 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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n GDP (purchasing power parity):<\/strong><\/p>\n $5.191 billion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n $5.094 billion (2014 est.)<\/p>\n $4.784 billion (2013 est.)<\/p>\n note:\u00a0data are in 2015 US dollars<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0174<\/p>\n GDP (official exchange rate)<\/p>\n GDP (official exchange rate):\u00a0$3.13 billion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n GDP\u2014real growth rate:\u00a01.9% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n 6.5% (2014 est.) 4.7% (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0138<\/p>\n GDP\u2014per capita (PPP):\u00a0$14,900 (2015 est.)<\/p>\n $14,900 (2014 est.)<\/p>\n $14,200 (2013 est.)<\/p>\n note:\u00a0data are in 2015 US dollars<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0109<\/p>\n GDP\u2014composition, by sector of origin:<\/strong><\/p>\n agriculture:\u00a03.5%<\/p>\n industry:\u00a019.3%<\/p>\n services:\u00a077.2% (2014 est.)<\/p>\n Agriculture<\/strong>\u2014products:\u00a0coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish<\/p>\n Industries:<\/strong>\u00a0tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining<\/p>\n Industrial production growth rate:\u00a014% (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a02<\/p>\n Labor force:<\/strong>\u00a0195,100 (2014)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0174<\/p>\n Labor force\u2014by occupation:\u00a0agriculture:\u00a015%<\/p>\n industry:\u00a015%<\/p>\n services:\u00a070% (2010 est.)<\/p>\n Unemployment rate:<\/strong>\u00a011.6% (2013 est.)<\/p>\n 11% (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0130<\/p>\n Population below poverty line:<\/strong>\u00a016% (2008 est.)<\/p>\n Household income or consumption by percentage share:\u00a0lowest:\u00a010%: 1.2%<\/p>\n highest:\u00a010%: 33.3% (FY09\/10)<\/p>\n Distribution of family income\u2014Gini index:\u00a037.4 (2004 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a079<\/p>\n Budget:<\/strong>\u00a0revenues:\u00a0$960 million<\/p>\n expenditures:\u00a0$1.148 billion (2014 est.)<\/p>\n Taxes and other revenues:\u00a031.7% of GDP (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a080<\/p>\n Budget surplus (+) or deficit (\u2013):\u00a0-6% of GDP (2016 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0181<\/p>\n Public debt:<\/strong>\u00a072.8% of GDP (2014)<\/p>\n 66.7% of GDP (2013)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a042<\/p>\n Fiscal year:<\/strong>\u00a0calendar year<\/p>\n Inflation rate (consumer prices):\u00a01.4% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n 2.5% (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a097<\/p>\n Market value of publicly traded shares:<\/strong>\u00a0$555 million (31 December 2011 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0113<\/p>\n Current account balance:\u00a0-$251 million (2015 est.)<\/p>\n -$125 million (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a085<\/p>\n Exports:<\/strong>\u00a0$300.9 million (2014 est.)<\/p>\n $331 million (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0182<\/p>\n Exports\u2014commodities:\u00a0fish<\/p>\n Exports\u2014partners:\u00a0Thailand 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)<\/p>\n Imports:<\/strong>\u00a0$1.993 billion (2014 est.) $1.733 billion (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0163<\/p>\n Imports\u2014commodities:\u00a0petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods<\/p>\n Imports\u2014partners:\u00a0UAE 18.3%, Singapore 13.8%, China 10.6%, India 10.4%, Malaysia 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.5%, Thailand 4.9% (2015)<\/p>\n Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:<\/strong>\u00a0$627.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)<\/p>\n $381.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0143<\/p>\n Debt\u2014external:<\/strong>\u00a0$741.6 million (2014 est.)<\/p>\n $792.2 million (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0170<\/p>\n Exchange rates:<\/strong>\u00a0rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar\u2014<\/p>\n 15.25 (2015)<\/p>\n 15.365 (2014)<\/p>\n Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n Electricity<\/strong>\u2014production:\u00a0287.2 million kWh (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0180<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014consumption:\u00a0267.1 million kWh (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0184<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014installed generating capacity:\u00a077,000 kW (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0181<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014from fossil fuels:\u00a0100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a021<\/p>\n Refined petroleum products\u2014consumption:\u00a06,900 bbl\/day (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0161<\/p>\n Refined petroleum products\u2014imports:\u00a06,941 bbl\/day (2012 est.)<\/p>\n Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:<\/strong>\u00a01.123 million Mt (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0165<\/p>\n Communications and Transport<\/strong><\/p>\n Telephones<\/strong>\u2014fixed lines:\u00a0total subscriptions:\u00a021,500<\/p>\n subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:\u00a05 (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0183<\/p>\n Telephones\u2014mobile cellular:\u00a0total:\u00a0665,800<\/p>\n subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:\u00a0169 (2014 est.)\u00a0country comparison to the world:\u00a0164<\/p>\n Telephone system:\u00a0general assessment:\u00a0telephone services have improved; inter-atoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service<\/p>\n domestic:\u00a0each 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<\/p>\n international:\u00a0country code\u2014960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station\u20143 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)<\/p>\n Broadcast media:<\/strong>\u00a0state-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)<\/p>\n Radio broadcast stations:\u00a0AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2009)<\/p>\n Television broadcast stations:\u00a02 (2009)<\/p>\n Internet country code:\u00a0. mv<\/strong><\/p>\n Internet hosts:\u00a03,296 (2012)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0153<\/p>\n Internet users:\u00a0total:\u00a018,600<\/p>\n percent of population:\u00a04.7% (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0201<\/p>\n Roadways:\u00a0total:\u00a088 km<\/strong><\/p>\n paved roads:\u00a088 km\u201460 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu<\/p>\n note:\u00a0island roads are mainly compacted coral (2013)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a0216<\/p>\n Merchant marine:\u00a0total:\u00a018<\/p>\n by type:\u00a0bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2<\/p>\n foreign-owned:\u00a04 (Singapore 4)<\/p>\n registered in other countries:\u00a04 (Panama 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:\u00a097<\/p>\n Ports and terminals:\u00a0major seaport(s):\u00a0Male<\/p>\n Defense and Security<\/strong><\/p>\n Military branches:<\/strong>\u00a0Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010)<\/p>\n Military service age and obligation:\u00a018\u201328 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2012)<\/p>\n Military\u2014note:\u00a0the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is<\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES<\/strong><\/p>\n Disputes\u2014international:\u00a0none<\/p>\n Trafficking in persons:<\/strong>\u00a0current situation:\u00a0Maldives 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<\/p>\n tier rating:\u00a0Tier 2 Watch List\u2014Maldives 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\u20132019 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)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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% […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":155,"parent":71,"menu_order":32,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-84","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n