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' vulnerability to rising sea-level) on the UN Human Rights Council and in other international forums, as well as in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Asia

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

644 km

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

flat, with white sandy beaches

highest point: unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m

fish

arable land 10%; permanent crops 10%; permanent pasture 3.3%

0 sq km (2012)

tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; coral reef bleaching

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

392,960 (July 2016 est.)

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)

Sunni Muslim (official)

-0.07% (2016 est.)

16 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

3.9 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-12.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

MALE (capital) 156,000 (2014)

23.9

68 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

1.73 children born/woman (2016 est.)

34.7% (2009)

13.7% of GDP (2014)

1.42 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

4.3 beds/1,000 population (2009)

urban: 99.5% of population

rural: 97.9% of population

total: 98.6% of population

urban: 0.5% of population

rural: 2.1% of population

total: 1.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 98.3% of population

total: 97.9% of population

urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 1.7% of population

total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)

0.01% (2013 est.)

fewer than 100 (2013 est.)

fewer than 100 (2013 est.)

7% (2014)

17.8% (2009)

5.2% of GDP (2012)

presidential republic

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)

26 July 1965 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008; amended 2015 (2016)

Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

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]

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

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits

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

coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white

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.

$5.191 billion (2015 est.)

$5.094 billion (2014 est.)

$4.784 billion (2013 est.)

$3.13 billion (2015 est.)

1.9% (2015 est.)

6.5% (2014 est.)

4.7% (2013 est.)

$14,900 (2015 est.)

$14,900 (2014 est.)

$14,200 (2013 est.)

12% of GDP (2015 est.)

15.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

15.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

14% (2012 est.)

195,100 (2014)

11.6% (2013 est.)

11% (2012 est.)

16% (2008 est.)

37.4 (2004 est.)

30.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

-6% of GDP (2014 est.)

72.8% of GDP (2014)

66.7% of GDP (2013)

calendar year

1.4% (2015 est.)

2.5% (2014 est.)

7% (31 December 2013)

6.96% (31 December 2011)

10.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

10.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

$623 million (31 December 2013 est.)

$547.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.538 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$1.298 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.559 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.601 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$555 million (31 December 2011 est.)

-$251 million (2015 est.)

-$125 million (2014 est.)

$300.9 million (2014 est.)

$331 million (2013 est.)

fish

Thailand 18%, France 12.1%, Germany 10.7%, US 9.6%, Italy 6.8%, UK 6.4%, Sri Lanka 5.9%, Japan 4.6% (2015)

$1.993 billion (2014 est.)

$1.733 billion (2013 est.)

petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods

UAE 18.4%, Singapore 13.8%, China 10.6%, India 10.4%, Malaysia 7%, Sri Lanka 5.6%, Thailand 5% (2015)

$627.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$381.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

$741.6 million (2014 est.)

$792.2 million (2013 est.)

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -

15.25 (2016)

15.365 (2015)

300 million kWh (2014 est.)

300 million kWh (2014 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

82,000 kW (2014 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

7,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

10,760 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

1.2 million Mt (2013 est.)

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)

.mv

8Q (2016)

9 (2013)

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010)

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)

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)