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 riots in the capital Male in August 2003, the president and his government pledged to embark upon 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. Maldives officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the United Nations Human Rights Council, and in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.

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

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

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

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

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

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

Sunni Muslim (official)

394,451 (July 2012 est.)

15.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

3.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-12.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

MALE (capital) 120,000 (2009)

60 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

1.79 children born/woman (2012 est.)

1.595 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

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)

new constitution ratified 7 August 2008

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

unicameral People's Council or People's Majlis (77 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Majlis in February 2009 passed legislation that increased the number of seats to 77 from 50

Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of voting members of the People's Council; High Court; Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission

Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Shaykh Hussein RASHEED Ahmed]; Dhivehi Qaumee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Ahmed THASMEEN Ali]; Gaumee Itthihaad Party (National Unity Party) or GIP [Mohamed WAHEED]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Ibrahim DIDI]; Maldives National Congress or MNC; Maldives Social Democratic Party or MSDP; Meedhu Dhaaira; People's Alliance or PA [Abdullah YAMEEN]; People's Party or PP; Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP; Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Gasim IBRAHIM]; Social Liberal Party or SLP [Mazian RASHEED]

ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, 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, Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS, 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

Tourism, Maldives' largest economic activity, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector, but the fish catch has dropped sharply in recent years. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In the last decade, real GDP growth averaged around 6% per year except for 2005, when GDP declined following the Indian Ocean tsunami, and in 2009, when GDP shrank by nearly 5% as tourist arrivals declined and capital flows plunged in the wake of the global financial crisis. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a balance of payments crisis, which was eased with a December 2009, $79.3 million IMF standby agreement. However, after the first two disbursements, the IMF withheld subsequent disbursements due to concerns over Maldives' growing budget deficit. Maldives has had chronic budget deficits in recent years and the government's plans to cut expenditures have not progressed well. A new Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tourism was introduced in January 2011 and a new Business Profit Tax is to be introduced during 2012. These taxes are expected to increase government revenue by about 25%. The government has privatized the main airport and is partially privatizing the energy sector. Tourism will remain the engine of the economy. The Government of the Maldives has aggressively promoted building new island resorts. Due to increasing tourist arrivals, GDP growth climbed to 8% in 2010 and around 6% in 2011. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major 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.

$2.877 billion (2011 est.)

$2.679 billion (2010 est.)

$2.534 billion (2009 est.)

$1.944 billion (2011 est.)

24.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

-14.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

2.75% (31 December 2010 est.)

16% (31 December 2009 est.)

10.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

13% (31 December 2009 est.)

$974.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$581 million (31 December 2009)

$1.237 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.064 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.548 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$1.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

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

-$463 million (2010 est.)

-$419 million (2009 est.)

$163 million (2009 est.)

$331 million (2008 est.)

France 16.9%, Thailand 16.5%, India 15.2%, UK 9.1%, Sri Lanka 8.9%, Italy 7.3%, Philippines 4.4%, Germany 4.2% (2011)

$967 million (2009 est.)

$1.388 billion (2008 est.)

petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods

Singapore 23.1%, UAE 17.9%, India 8.9%, China 7.1%, Malaysia 6.6%, Sri Lanka 5.3%, Thailand 4.9% (2011)

$943 million (2010 est.)

$933 million (2009 est.)

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -

300 million kWh (2009 est.)

279 million kWh (2009 est.)

62,010 kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

6,875 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

6,088 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

919,000 Mt (2010 est.)

state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; state-owned TV operates 2 channels; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based station; 5 privately-owned radio stations (2009)

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

18-28 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2012)

5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

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)