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 political demonstrations 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)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 96% of population

total: 98% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 4% of population

total: 2% of population

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, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, 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 Michele J. Sison, 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 30% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. 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. 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 temporarily eased with a $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, and the government has been seeking other sources of budgetary support ever since. A new Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tourism introduced in January 2011 and a new Business Profit Tax introduced in 2012 have provided a boost to revenue. Economic growth slowed to 3.5% of GDP in 2012, compared to 5.8% in 2011 because of slower tourist arrivals and weak global conditions. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major near-term 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.

$2.945 billion (2012 est.)

$2.846 billion (2011 est.)

$2.688 billion (2010 est.)

$1.424 billion (2012 est.)

41.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

-14% of GDP (2011 est.)

6.96% (31 December 2011 est.)

2.75% (31 December 2010 est.)

10.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

10.38% (31 December 2010 est.)

$974.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$978.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.237 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.241 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.548 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$1.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

$555 million (31 December 2011 est.)

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

-$490 million (2011 est.)

-$463 million (2010 est.)

$346.4 million (2011 est.)

$163 million (2009 est.)

France 19.2%, Thailand 18.7%, UK 10.4%, Sri Lanka 10.1%, India 8.5%, Italy 8.2%, Germany 4.7% (2011)

$1.465 billion (2011 est.)

$1.388 billion (2008 est.)

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

Singapore 23.2%, UAE 18%, India 8.7%, China 7.1%, Malaysia 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.3%, Thailand 4.9% (2011)

$1.015 billion (2011 est.)

$943 million (2010 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 (2012 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

6,875 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

6,088 bbl/day (2012 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)