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Background: The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM - currently in his sixth term in office - has dominated the islands' political scene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government have pledged to embark upon democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
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Common Name: Maldives
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Local Official Name: Dhivehi Raajje
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Abbreviated Name: Republic of Maldives
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Official Name: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
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Official Script Name: Maldives
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Local Common Name: Maldives
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Former Name: Maldives
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM
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Government Type: Republic
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Independence: 1965 July 26 (from UK)
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Constitution: 1998 January (adopted)
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National Holiday: Independence Day, 26 July
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International Organization Participation: AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Administrative Divisions: 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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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage: 21 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
Chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
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%
Legislative Branch:
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 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50
Judicial Branch:
High Court
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Party Leaders: political parties were allowed to register in June 2005; the first entrants are: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar NASEER]; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]
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International Disputes: NA
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Maldives: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
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Continent: Asia
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Land Area Total: 300 sq km
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Region: Indian Ocean |
Land Area Land: 300 sq km
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Capitol City: Male
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current: +5
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Latitude: 003 15 N
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 073 00 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 644 km
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Arable Land: 13.33 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 30.00 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 2 m
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Location: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Indian Ocean
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Largest City in Maldives: Male
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Male Largest City Population: 72,000
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Threatened Species: 11
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Environmental Issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
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Environmental Agreements: 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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Irrigated Land: 0
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: fish
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Geographical Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches
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Comparative Area of Maldives: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
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Maldives's Geography: 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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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Maldives.
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General Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
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Natural Hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
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Economic Overview: 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. In late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million. Over the past decade, real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year. As a result of the tsunami, the GDP contracted by about 5.5% in 2005.
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GDP: $1,250,000,000 USD
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Currency: rufiyaa
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GDP per Capita: $3,900 USD
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Currency Code: MVR
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GDP Growth Rate: -5.50 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% MVR
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Currency Exchange Rate History: rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 20.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 18.00 %
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GDP of Services: 62.00 % |
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Inflation Rate: 5.60 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 0.00 %
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Tourism: 430,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $265,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $362,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 135,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 125,600,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 4,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $316,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
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Primary Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
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Industrial Growth Rate: -0.90 %
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Import Amount in USD: $56,700,000 USD - petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
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Import Partners: Singapore 24.1%, UAE 15.7%, India 11.3%, Malaysia 7.2%, Sri Lanka 5.7%, UK 4.5%
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Export Amount in USD: $123,000,000 USD - fish, clothing
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Export Partners: Japan 22.8%, Thailand 22.7%, Sri Lanka 16.4%, UK 12.6%, Singapore 5.8%, Germany 4.8%, France 4.3%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 88,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 3 |
Number of People with Radios: 35,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 1 |
Number of People with Televisions: 10,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 31,500 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 113,200 |
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Internet Service Providers: 1,343 |
Internet Users: 19,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .mv |
Newspapers: 12 |
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Two Letter Country Code: MV |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 960 |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
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Telephone Systems: 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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Highways: 88 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 2 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 1 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 304,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 1.20 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,149 GRT/87,220 DWT
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1)
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Ports and Harbors: Male
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Population: 359,008 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 34.81 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 1,068.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 7.06 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 2.72% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 4.90 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 80,113 |
Population Female 0-14: 75,763 |
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Population Male 15-64: 98,040 |
Population Female 15-64: 94,029 |
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Population Male 65+: 5,477 |
Population Female 65+: 5,586 |
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Population 0-14: 43.40% |
Literacy Rate: 97.20% |
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Population 15-64: 53.70% |
Literacy rate of Males: 97.10% |
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Population 65+: 3.10% |
Literacy rate of Females: 97.30% |
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Population that is Male: 52.50
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Population that is Female: 47.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 64.41 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 54.89 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 63.08 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 65.80 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.10%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 0.00
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Nationality: MALDIVIAN
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Ethnic Groups: South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
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Primary Language: Maldivian Dhivehi
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Other Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
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Primary Religion: Sunni Muslim
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Other Religions: Sunni Muslim
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Branches: National Security Service: Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element, Coast Guard
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years
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Manpower Available: 141,003 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 111,141 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 0 People per year
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Expenditures: $45,070,000 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 5.50
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Maldives Spa and Resort Directory
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Maldives Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Maldives Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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Maldives City Information Game Earn Real Money
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