STATISTICS: MALDIVES

Maldives Official name: Divehi Jumhuriyya (Republic of Maldives). Form of government: republic with one legislative house (Majlis{1} [48{2}{3}]). Head of state and government: President. Capital: Male`. Official language: Divehi. Official religion: Islam. Monetary unit: 1 Maldivian rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari; valuation (Sept. 25, 1998) 1 U.S.$ = Rf 11.77; 1 = Rf 20.04. Demography Population (1998): 270,000. Density (1998): persons per sq mi 2,348, persons per sq km 906.0. Urban-rural (1997): urban 27.0%; rural 73.0%. Sex distribution (1997): male 51.17%; female 48.83%. Age breakdown (1997): under 15, 44.8%; 15-29, 27.7%; 30-44, 15.0%; 45-59, 7.3%; 60-74, 4.4%; 75 and over, 0.8%. Population projection: (2000) 285,000; (2010) 364,000. Doubling time: 21 years. Ethnic composition: the majority is principally of Sinhalese and Dravidian extraction; Arab, African, and Negrito influences are also present. Religious affiliation: virtually 100% Sunni Muslim. Major cities (1995): Male` 62,973. Vital statistics Birth rate per 1,000 population (1997): 41.8 (world avg. 25.0); legitimate, n.a.; illegitimate, n.a. Death rate per 1,000 population (1997): 7.6 (world avg. 9.3). Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1997): 34.2 (world avg. 15.7). Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman; 1997): 6.8. Marriage rate per 1,000 population (1996): 9.6. Divorce rate per 1,000 population (1996): 2.8. Life expectancy at birth (1997): male 65.0 years; female 63.0 years. Major causes of death per 100,000 population (1988): rheumatic fever 106.0; ischemic heart diseases 65.0; bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma 61.0; tetanus 23.5; tuberculosis 13.0; accidents and suicide 10.0. National economy Budget (1996). Revenue: Rf 1,968,900,000 (taxation 36.3%, nontax revenue 31.8%, loans for development 20.2%, foreign aid 11.1%). Expenditures: Rf 1,968,900,000 (social services 34.8%, social development 31.6%, economic development 23.9%). Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture, forestry, fishing (1996): vegetables and melons 24,300, coconuts 13,000, fruits (excluding melons) 8,622, roots and tubers (including cassava, sweet potatoes, and yams) 7,731, copra (1994) 2,000; fish catch 105,413. Mining and quarrying: coral for construction materials. Manufacturing: details, n.a.; however, major industries include boat building and repairing, coir yarn and mat weaving, coconut and fish processing, lacquerwork, garment manufacturing, and handicrafts. Construction: n.a. Energy production (consumption): electricity (kW-hr; 1994) 46,000,000 (46,000,000); coal, none (n.a.); petroleum products (metric tons; 1994) none (35,000); natural gas, none (n.a.). Tourism (1995): receipts from visitors U.S.$210,000,000; expenditures by nationals abroad (1994) U.S.$32,000,000. Population economically active (1990): total 56,435; activity rate of total population 26.5% (participation rates: ages 15-64, 50.2%; female 19.9%; unemployed 0.9%). Household income and expenditure (1990). Average household size 7.2; annual income per household Rf 2,616 (U.S.$274), sources of income: n.a.; expenditure (1981){4}: food and beverages 61.8%, housing equipment 17.0%, clothing 8.0%, recreation and education 5.9%, transportation 2.6%, health 2.5%, rent 1.6%. Public debt (external, outstanding; 1996): U.S.$162,600,000. Gross national product (at current market prices; 1996): U.S.$277,000,000 (U.S.$1,080 per capita). Land use (1994): forested 3.3%; meadows and pastures 3.3%; agricultural and under permanent cultivation 10.0%; built-on, wasteland, and other 83.4%. Foreign trade{5} Imports (1996): Rf 3,551,289,000 (machinery and transport equipment 27.9%, basic manufactures 23.7%, food and live animals 21.4%, petroleum products 9.1%). Major import sources: Singapore 32.0%; India 12.0%; Malaysia 8.5%; Sri Lanka 7.6%; United Kingdom 3.6%; Japan 3.5%. Exports (1996): Rf 699,190,000 (canned fish 28.0%, yellowfin tuna 20.5%, apparel and clothing 17.4%, dried skipjack tuna 11.0%). Major export destinations: Sri Lanka 18.3%; United Kingdom 21.7%; United States 10.2%; Germany 10.8%; Japan 10.6%; Thailand 9.5%. Transport Transport. Railroads: none. Roads: total length, n.a. Vehicles (1996): passenger cars 1,058; trucks and buses 1,244. Merchant marine (1992): vessels (100 gross tons and over) 44; total deadweight tonnage 78,994. Air transport (1994): passengers carried 38,000; passenger-km 7,000,000; airports (1997) with scheduled flights 5. Education and health Educational attainment (1990). Percentage of population age 15 and over having: no standard passed 25.6%; primary standard 37.2%; middle standard 25.9%; secondary standard 6.3%; preuniversity 3.4%; higher 0.4%; not stated 1.2%. Literacy (1995): total population age 15 and over literate 93.2%; males literate 93.0%; females literate 93.3%. Health: physicians (1996) 99 (1 per 2,587 persons); hospital beds (1995) 305 (1 per 1,192 persons); infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (1997) 50. Food (1995): daily per capita caloric intake 2,485 (vegetable products 82%, animal products 18%); 112% of FAO recommended minimum requirement. Military Total active duty personnel: Maldives maintains a single security force numbering about 700-1,000; it performs both army and police functions. {1} Also known or translated as Citizens' Majlis, Citizens' Council, or Citizens' Assembly. {2} Includes 8 nonelective seats. {3} The new constitution went into effect Jan. 1, 1998. {4} Weights of consumer price index components. {5} Import figures are f.o.b. in balance of trade and c.i.f. for commodities and trading partners.