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MALDIVES - GENERAL INFORMATION

Original name: Republic of Maldives

National flag:

Briefly:

Geography

The Republic of Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean rests about 700km southwest of Sri-Lanka. In all, the nation consists of around 1,192 islands, 200 of which are inhabited. A constantly rising sea level continues to threaten the natural stability of the Maldives islands, the world’s flattest country. A 2004 tsunami, generated by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean significantly flooded the nation, leaving many homeless. In addition, the geography of many islands was altered and cartographers have begun re-drawing maps of the island nation.

Demographics

A 2005 census shows the island nation’s population somewhere around 300,000 inhabitants. The nation reached this size thanks to a significant population growth rate during the latter half of the 20th century. That rate has since diminished. Life expectancy has risen from just 46 years in 1978 to about 72 years today. A study in 2006 showed that about 50,000 foreign employees inhabit the island, mainly from the neighboring South Asian countries of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Population: 369,031 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 81,383/female 76,984)
15-64 years: 54% (male 101,699/female 97,518)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,619/female 5,828)
(2007 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.732% (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: <100 (2001 est.)

Economy

Tourism and fisheries provide the backbone of the Maldives economy. While GDP growth per capita peaked at around 26.5% during the 1980s, it leveled off to around 11.5% during the 1990s. In 2005, Maldives boasted at GDP of $2.6 billion placing it as the world’s 162nd largest economy. It ranks 79th worldwide, and as of 2002 2nd among South Asian Nations, with a per capita GDP of about $7,675 per person.

History

Maldives is a presidential republic, with a president who serves as the head of government and chief operator of its executive branch. The president is selected by the Majilis, the nation’s parliament, by a secret vote. He serves one five-year term.

Members of parliament are elected through universal suffrage from their various regions. Each atoll elects two members of parliament to the 50 members body. In addition, eight are appointed by the President.

In 2005, the formation of political parties altered Maldives’ political landscape. Initially, 36 members of the parliament joined the Dhivehi Raiyyathunge Party (the Maldivivan Peoples Party) and elected President Gayoom to office. The remaining members formed the Maldivian Democratic party as the main opposition to Gayoom’s DRP. Two members remained independent.

Upon Gayoom’s election, he immediately published the Roadmap for the Reform Agenda, aimed at rewriting the Maldivian constitution. The Cabinet to for the Constitutional Assembly, which convened in 2004, has made little progress towards writing a new constitution. Opposition to Gayoom’s DRP would rather see him removed form office than cooperate to write a new constitution.

Today, the DRP, lead by Gayoom is measured to be the largest political party in Maldives, with an estimated 35,000 card-carrying members. The MDP is second with around 14,000 members.