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Maldives
Maldives (South Asia)
Introduction :: Maldives
Introduction
Background
A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887 and a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. After political demonstrations in the capital Male in 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.
In 2008, a constituent assembly -- termed the "Special Majlis" -- finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held later that year. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist whom the regime had jailed several years earlier. In 2012, after several weeks of street protests in response to a top judge's arrest, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. A government-appointed Commission of National Inquiry concluded that there was no evidence of a coup, but NASHEED contended that police and military personnel forced him to resign. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. In 2018, YAMEEN lost his reelection bid to parliamentarian Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH. YAMEEN was arrested and jailed in 2022 on corruption charges. Maldives' fourth democratic election was held in September 2023. The winner, Male City Mayor Dr. Mohamed MUIZZU, campaigned on a platform of Maldivian sovereignty, vowing to remove Indian military personnel from the country. MUIZZU represents a joint Progressive Pary of Maldives and People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition.
Geography :: Maldives
Geography
Location
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Geographic coordinates
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total : 298 sq km
land: 298 sq km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 209
Area - comparative
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
644 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain
flat coral atolls, with white sandy beaches; sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge
Elevation
highest point: 8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources
fish
Land use
agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 10% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 10% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 3% (2018 est.)
other: 73.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2012)
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
Natural hazards
tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise
Geography - note
smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
People and Society
Population
total: 388,858
male: 197,739
female: 191,119 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 177; male 176; total 177
Nationality
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups
homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes
Languages
Dhivehi (official, closely related to Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)
Religions
Sunni Muslim (official)
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 44,321/female 42,626)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 143,021/female 135,044)
65 years and over: 6.1% (2024 est.) (male 10,397/female 13,449)
2023 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 35.6
youth dependency ratio: 29.5
elderly dependency ratio: 6.2
potential support ratio: 16.2 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 31.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 31.3 years
female: 32.4 years
comparison ranking: total 120
Population growth rate
-0.2% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 210
Birth rate
15.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 108
Death rate
4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 210
Net migration rate
-12.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 225
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
Urbanization
urban population: 42% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
177,000 MALE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
23.2 years (2016/17 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
57 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 95
Infant mortality rate
total: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 62
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.1 years
female: 79.9 years
comparison ranking: total population 90
Total fertility rate
1.7 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 165
Gross reproduction rate
0.83 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
18.8% (2016/17)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
11.4% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
2.05 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
4.3 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 99.1% of population
total: 99.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0.9% of population
total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.6% (2016)
comparison ranking: 149
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 142
Tobacco use
total: 25.2% (2020 est.)
male: 44.4% (2020 est.)
female: 6% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 50
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
14.8% (2016/17)
comparison ranking: 34
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
71.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 2.2%
men married by age 18: 2.2% (2017 est.)
Education expenditures
5.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 50
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 14 years (2019)
Environment
Environment - current issues
rising sea levels threaten land; depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Land use
agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 10% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 10% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 3% (2018 est.)
other: 73.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 42% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Revenue from forest resources
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 183
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 79
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 13 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 1.44 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.14 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 211,506 tons (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
etymology: archipelago apparently named after the main island (and capital) of Male; the word "Maldives" means "the islands (dives) of Male"; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word "maladvipa" meaning "garland of islands"; Dhivehi Raajje in Dhivehi means "Kingdom of the Dhivehi people"
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: derived from the Sanskrit word "mahaalay" meaning "big house"
Administrative divisions
21 administrative atolls (atholhuthah, singular - atholhu); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi)
Independence
26 July 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Legal system
Islamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters
Constitution
history: many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008
amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum; amended 2015
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Maldives
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023)
head of government: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by People's Majlis
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); first round held on 9 September 2023 and runoff held on 30 September 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
election results:
2023: Mohamed MUIZZU elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed MUIZZU (PNC) 46.1%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 39.1%, Ilyas LABEEB (DEMS) 7.1%, other 7.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Mohamed MUIZZU 54%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH 46%
2018: Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH elected president in first round; Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 58.3%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 41.7%
Legislative branch
legislature name: People's Majlis (Majlis)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 93 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 4/21/2024
parties elected and seats per party: People's National Congress (PNC) (66); Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) (12); Independents (11); Other (4)
percentage of women in chamber: 3.2%
expected date of next election: April 2029
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)
Political parties
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP
Maldives Development Alliance or MDA
Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP
Maldives Third Way Democrats or MTD
People's National Congress or PNC
People's National Front
Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP
International organization participation
ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed (since 15 June 2023)
chancery: 1100 H Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 516-5458
email address and website:
WashingtonInfo@foreign.gov.mv
The Embassy (mdvmission.gov.mv)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo Yue-Ho YON (since 6 September 2023); note - Ambassador YON is the first resident US ambassador to the Republic of Maldives
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka; note - as of early November 2023, the US has no consular or diplomatic offices in Maldives; the US Mission to Maldives operates from US Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
email address and website:
Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Maldives
Flag description
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
National symbol(s)
coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white
National anthem
name: "Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute)
lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA
note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; major tourism, fishing, and shipping industries; high public debt; systemic corruption; crippled by COVID-19; ongoing deflation; poverty has tripled since pandemic began
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$11.723 billion (2023 est.)
$11.194 billion (2022 est.)
$9.834 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 164
Real GDP growth rate
4.73% (2023 est.)
13.83% (2022 est.)
37.69% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 60
Real GDP per capita
$22,300 (2023 est.)
$21,400 (2022 est.)
$19,100 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 95
GDP (official exchange rate)
$6.591 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.93% (2023 est.)
2.33% (2022 est.)
0.54% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 58
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: B3 (2020)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5.1% (2023 est.)
industry: 9.7% (2023 est.)
services: 70.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 36; industry 197; agriculture 115
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 51.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 17.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 35% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -2.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 74.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -75.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
fruits, vegetables, nuts, other meats, tomatoes, bananas, maize, pulses, coconuts, papayas (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Industrial production growth rate
3.25% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 98
Labor force
268,000 (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 170
Unemployment rate
4.13% (2023 est.)
4.42% (2022 est.)
5.02% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 80
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 14.9% (2023 est.)
male: 18.6% (2023 est.)
female: 9.2% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 96
Population below poverty line
5.4% (2019 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
29.3 (2019 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 129
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.8% (2019 est.)
highest 10%: 23.3% (2019 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.08% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.08% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.09% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $1.407 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $1.548 billion (2021 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
63.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 68
Taxes and other revenues
19.45% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: 90
Current account balance
-$1.401 billion (2023 est.)
-$1.004 billion (2022 est.)
-$453.449 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 150
Exports
$4.892 billion (2023 est.)
$5.096 billion (2022 est.)
$3.985 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 141
Exports - partners
India 71%, Thailand 12%, Germany 3%, Oman 2%, UK 2% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
aircraft, fish, natural gas, scrap iron, refined petroleum (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$4.975 billion (2023 est.)
$4.899 billion (2022 est.)
$3.482 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 152
Imports - partners
India 16%, China 16%, UAE 10%, Oman 9%, Malaysia 6% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, plastic products, broadcasting equipment (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$590.523 million (2023 est.)
$832.094 million (2022 est.)
$805.808 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 146
Debt - external
$3.233 billion (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 85
Exchange rates
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
15.387 (2023 est.)
15.387 (2022 est.)
15.373 (2021 est.)
15.381 (2020 est.)
15.382 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 566,000 kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 821.397 million kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 25.867 million kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 29; consumption 164; installed generating capacity 149
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
imports: 1 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
2.247 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.247 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 157
Energy consumption per capita
56.264 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: 89
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 13,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 184
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 715,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 170
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: with its economy so heavily dependent on tourism, the Maldives has suffered heavy economic as well as health casualties during the pandemic; the country had a relatively short period of lock down and was willing to welcome visitors back as early as July 2020; but the effective shutdown of international air travel for most of the year resulted in the bottom falling out of the Maldives’ tourism industry, taking GDP down 32% in the process; the economy fared better in 2021, with a return to growth, yet it may still be a few years before the country’s key industries can return to the same level of prosperity that they previously enjoyed; the country’s high number of tourists and expatriate workers has inflated the penetration rate for mobile services, making it one of the highest in the world; that rate crashed in 2020 as demand for SIM cards (primarily prepaid) dried up; however, the number of contract subscribers increased as locals took advantage of competitive pricing offers from operators; with commercial 5G services already launched and fiber networks rapidly expanding around the country, the Maldives is primed to deliver world-class telecommunications services to its domestic and international customers (2021)
domestic: fixed-line is at nearly 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscriptions stands at nearly 135 per 100 persons (2021)
international: country code - 960; landing points for Dhiraagu Cable Network, NaSCOM, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Networks and WARF submarine cables providing connections to 8 points in Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)
Broadcast media
state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations and 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code
.mv
Internet users
percent of population: 86% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 63,685 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 139
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 36
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,147,247 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.75 million (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
8Q
Airports
19 (2024)
comparison ranking: 140
Roadways
total: 93 km
paved: 93 km (2018) - 60 km in Malée; 16 km on Addu Atolis; 17 km on Laamu
note: island roads are mainly compacted coral
comparison ranking: total 216
Merchant marine
total: 82 (2023)
by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 20, other 32
comparison ranking: total 98
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Male
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): the MNDF has combined force structure with seven services divided into Combat and Maneuver Forces (Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Fire and Rescue Service) and Support Services (Service Corps, Defense Intelligence Service, Medical Corps, Adjutant General's Corps); there is also a separate Special Forces command and a Special Protection Service (2024)
note: the Maldives Police Service is responsible for internal security and reports to the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology
Military expenditures
not available
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 3-4,000 personnel (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Defense Force has a limited inventory consisting of a mix of mostly secondhand or donated equipment from suppliers such as Germany, India, Japan, and the UK; in 2024, the Maldives received surveillance drones from Turkey (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-28 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2023)
Military - note
the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) is responsible for defending and safeguarding the Maldives' territorial integrity, economic exclusion zone, and people; it is also responsible for disaster relief, and if requested, assisting the Maldives Police Service in maintaining internal security and law and order; the MNDF is organized into four area commands and a functional Special Forces command; the head of the MNDF reports to the Minister of Defense (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the Maldives did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/maldives/
Illicit drugs
NA
