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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, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005.

Location

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

Natural Resources

fish

Population - distribution

about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago

395650
Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)
MALE (capital) 156,000 (2014)
Conventional long form
Republic of Maldives
Conventional short form
Maldives
Local long form
Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Local short form
Dhivehi Raajje
presidential republic
Name
Male
Geographic coordinates
4 10 N, 73 30 E
Time difference
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Maldives has quickly become a middle-income country, driven by the rapid growth of its tourism and fisheries sectors, but the country still contends with a large and growing fiscal deficit. Economic growth slowed to 2.8% in 2015, mainly because of a decline in tourists from China and Russia. Despite lower growth, tourism-related tax receipts increased by 13% in 2015 because of higher tax rates. This increase in tax receipts led to higher usable foreign exchange reserves that helped partially fund increases in construction related imports.
Inflation
0.503%
External debt stocks
US$ 943,017,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
30.2%
Real Interest Rate
10.277%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
4.915%
Current Account Balance
US$ -325,699,751
Labor Force, Total
218,312
Employment in Agriculture
8.02%
Employment in Industry
22.74%
Employment in Services
68.08%
Unemployment Rate
3.23%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 3,197,300,305
Exports of goods and services
US$ 3,367,100,023
Total Merchandise Trade
64.33%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 298,720,360
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 2,893,996,901
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Commodities
fish
Partners
Thailand 17.4%, France 11.7%, Germany 10.3%, US 9.3%, Sri Lanka 8.5%, Italy 6.6%, UK 6.2%, Japan 4.5% (2015)
Commodities
petroleum products, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
Partners
UAE 18.1%, Singapore 13.6%, China 10.5%, India 10.3%, Malaysia 6.9%, Thailand 4.9%, Sri Lanka 4.7% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
D
A high-risk political and economic situation and an often very difficult business environment can have a very significant impact on corporate payment behavior. Corporate default probability is very high.
Business Climate Rating
C
The business environment is difficult. Corporate financial information is often unavailable and when available often unreliable. Debt collection is unpredictable. The institutional framework has many troublesome weaknesses. Intercompany transactions run major risks in the difficult environments rated C.
  • Growing bilateral relations with China
  • Tourism potential of the uninhabited atolls
  • Airport infrastructures
  • Supported by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Dependence on international economic cycle due to poor economic diversification
  • Chronic budget deficit and growing momentum of public debt
  • Political instability
  • Vulnerable to natural disasters and adverse effects of climate change

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