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Background:
|
 The
Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then
under British protection. They became a republic in 1968,
three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being
developed on the archipelago. |
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Location:
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Southern Asia,
group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India |
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Geographic coordinates:
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3 15 N, 73 00 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 300
sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 1.7 times
the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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644 km |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot,
humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy,
southwest monsoon (June to August) |
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Terrain:
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flat, with white
sandy beaches |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in
the Addu Atoll 2.4 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish |
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Land use:
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arable land:
3.33%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 90% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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low level of
islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise |
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Environment - current issues:
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depletion of
freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming
and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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339,330 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
44.4% (male 77,424; female 73,191)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 91,045; female 87,331)
65 years and over: 3% (male 5,207; female 5,132) (2004
est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
17.5 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.6 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.86% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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36.06
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.44 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
58.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 57.43 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 63.68 years
male: 62.41 years
female: 65.01 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 100
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian |
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Ethnic groups:
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South Indians,
Sinhalese, Arabs |
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Religions:
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Sunni Muslim |
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Languages:
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Maldivian Dhivehi
(dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English
spoken by most government officials |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Male |
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Administrative divisions:
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19 atolls (atholhu,
singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative
division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu
Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu,
Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa,
Vaavu |
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Independence:
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26 July 1965
(from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
26 July (1965) |
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Constitution:
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adopted January
1998 |
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic
law with admixtures of English common law primarily in
commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November
1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then
the nomination must be ratified by a national referendum (at
least a 51% approval margin is required); president elected
for a five-year term; election last held 17 October 2003 (next
to be held NA 2008)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM
reelected in referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of
popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the
president
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM
(since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by popular
vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held
NA November 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 42 |
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Judicial branch:
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High Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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although
political parties are not banned, none exist |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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Maldives does not
have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission
to the UN in New York; permanent representative is Dr. Mohamed
LATHEEF |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not
have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is
accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there |
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Economy - overview:
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Tourism,
Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more
than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90%
of government tax revenue comes from import duties and
tourism-related taxes. Fishing is a second leading sector. The
Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989
initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to
the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized
regulations to allow more foreign investment. 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. Industry, which consists mainly of garment
production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about
18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of
erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying
country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.3% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $3,900 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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88,000 (2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 22%,
industry 18%, services 60% (1995) |
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Unemployment rate:
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NEGL% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$224 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $282 million, including capital
expenditures of $80 million (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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fish processing,
tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing,
garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4.4% (1996 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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117 million kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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108.8 million kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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3,200 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coconuts, corn,
sweet potatoes; fish |
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Exports:
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$90 million
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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fish, clothing |
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Exports - partners:
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US 52.6%, Sri
Lanka 13.3%, Thailand 9.5%, Japan 7.6%, UK 4.7% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$392 million
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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consumer goods,
intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products |
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Imports - partners:
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Singapore 26.6%,
UAE 15%, Sri Lanka 13.2%, India 7%, Malaysia 5.7%, Thailand
4.1% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$281 million
(2003 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA (1995) |
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Currency:
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rufiyaa (MVR) |
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Currency code:
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MVR |
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Exchange rates:
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rufiyaa per US
dollar - 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000),
11.77 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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28,700 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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41,900 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave
links; all inhabited islands are connected with telephone and
fax service
international: country code - 960; satellite earth
station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 1,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.mv |
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Internet hosts:
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NA |
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Internet users:
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15,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total: NA
km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Gan, Male |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 16
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,164 GRT/68,973 DWT
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated
cargo 1, short-sea/passenger 1
foreign-owned: North Korea 1
registered in other countries: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports:
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5 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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National Security
Service: comprising Security Branch (ground forces), Air
Element; Coast Guard |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 81,221 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 45,142 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$43.1 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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8.6% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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