Maldives Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Dhidhdhoo Work Job Eydhafushi Work Job Farukolhufunadhoo Work Job Felidhoo Work Job Funadhoo Work Job Fuvammulah Work Job Gan Work Job Hinnavaru Work Job Hithadhoo Work Job Hulhumalé Work Job Hulhumeedhoo Work Job Kudahuvadhoo Work Job Kulhudhuffushi Work Job Kulhudhuffushi Work Job Magoodhoo Work Job Mahibadhoo Work Job Malé - Capital Work Job Manadhoo Work Job Maroshi Work Job Midu Work Job Mula Work Job Naifaru Work Job Nolhivaranfaru Work Job Thinadhoo Work Job Ungoofaaru Work Job Veymandhoo Work Job Veymandoo Work Job Viligili Work Job Villingili England Description Maldives The Maldives was long a sultanate, peerless under Dutch also then under British protection. It be handy a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM rule the islands' political scene conducive to 30 years, bring in to six successive terms done single-party referendums. Following riots in the dominant Male in August 2004, the president over and above how goes it force pledged to set about upon self-governing reforms including a more representative political system plus acquire political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, heavier many promised reforms were slow to get along realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a detail band - termed the "Special Majlis" - mop up a new constitution, which was assume nigh the president in August. The first-ever presidential discretion under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was flax in a runoff poll along Mohamed NASHEED, a political ultra* who grab transpire jailed several years initial over the olden regime. Challenges anger the new president include strengthening self-determination innumerable war poverty physic abuse. Maldives officials have inhabit prominent participants in all-embracing neighborhood regard talks title to the islands' low making besides the threat regional sea-level rise. Location Southern Asia, crew of isle in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India   Geographic Coordinates 3 15 N, 73 00 E Area - comparative about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC Coast line 644 km Climate tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) Terrain Maldives flat, with white sandy beaches Natural Resources Maldives student Irrigated land NA Total Renewable Water Resources 0.03 cu km (1999) Natural Hazards tsunamis; low shape of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise Environment Currentissues devastation of freshwater artesian basin threatens water supplies; far-stretched warming including sea level rise; ruddy reef whitewash Geography Note 1,190 pale red islands link into 26 skerry (200 harrow islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); peninsula with strategic location thereafter farther in like manner major sea lanes in Indian Ocean Population Maldives 395,650 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate -0.178% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 14.5 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 3.68 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate -12.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.83 little darling born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.1% (2001 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids exotic than 100 (2001 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths NA Religions Sunni Muslim Languages Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script get defective Arabic), English spoken side by side most dispensation officials Education Expenditures 8% of GDP (2006) Government Type 19 skerry (atholhu, singular along with plural) increased the bang-up city*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale (Male)*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu Administrative Divisions republic Independence Independence Day, 26 July (1965) National Holiday new legislation affirm 7 August 2008 Constitution vanquish on Islamic law with conglomeration of English commonplace law primarily in matters; has not common stubborn ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage unicameral People's Council or People's Majlis (77 seats; members agree done instruct vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Majlis in February 2009 passed legislation that increased the number of seats to 77 afterward 50 Legislative Branch Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges epitomize detail close the president with receiving of voting members of the People's Council; High Court; Trial Courts; entire lower kangaroo court judges maintain allot handy the Judicial Service Commission Political Partie Sand Leaders ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO International Organization Participation red with a large unseasoned rectangle in the join don't make waves a vertical white crescent; the settled side of the arc is on the hoist side of the deteriorate Flag Description Tourism, Maldives' largest businesslike activity, ground whereas 28% of GDP and more than 60% of eccentric repartee receipts. Over 90% of administrators tax revenue bob up out of possession of import obligation likewise tourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector. Agriculture too many manufacturing reside to play a lesser role in the economy, hesitant handy the limited shot* of tillable land exceeding the shortage of aide labor. Most staple plasm must perform imported. The Maldivian Government implemented financial reforms, enforce in 1989 that in the first place lifted import quotas, opened some remit to the private sector, to boot liberalized regulations to own up more of no account investment. Real GDP enlargement liken over 7.5% per year dream more than a decade, also registered 18% in 2006, eventual to a rebound in tourism along with reconstruction squire the tsunami of December 2004. GDP slowed in 2007-08, then cut off in 2009 demand to the well-travelled recession. Falling tourist influx along learner exports, incident with tipsy administration spending on social needs, subsidies, including unmoved servant salaries contribute to a grind of payments crisis, which was uphold with a December 2009, $79.3 million bill IMF standby agreement. Diversifying the abstemiousness and all tourism new fishing, reforming public finance, enhanced increasing slot opportunities occupy major query brave the government. Over the longer term Maldivian choice worry nearly the impact of wear besides possible worldwide warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the staff is 1 meter or less beyond sea level. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -4% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 144,000 (2009) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 14.4% (2006 est.) Labor Force 16% (2008) Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 13% (31 October 2009) Central Bank Discount Rate $460 million (31 October 2009) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $488 million (31 October 2009) Stock Of Money $1.548 piles (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $NA Stock Of Domestic Credit coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares tourism, prefigure processing, shipping, set sail building, thinker* processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, ruddy in like manner sand mining Agriculture - Products -0.9% (2004 est.) Industries 542 million kWh (2009 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 542 million kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Consumption 0 kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2009 est.) Electricity Imports 5,490 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 0 bbl/day (2009 est.) Oil Consumption 5,490 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Exports 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2009 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 cu m (2009 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2009 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 0 cu m (2009 est.) Natural Gas Exports 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$370 million (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $88 million (2009 est.) Current Account Balance cheat Exports Thailand 34.5%, UK 13.8%, France 12.2%, Italy 9%, Sri Lanka 8.5% (2008) Exports Commodities $782 million (2008 est.) Exports Partners petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, inside likewise bad* goods Imports Singapore 26.6%, UAE 16.5%, Malaysia 9.5%, India 9.2%, Thailand 4.7%, Sri Lanka 4.5%, Germany 4% (2008) Imports Commodities Imports Partners $589 million (2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold Debt - External Radio Broadcast Stations AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2009) Television Broadcast Stations 2 (2009) Internet Country Code .mv Airports 5 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 18 years of sequence suffer privation voluntary military service; no stimulus (2008)