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Compare Christmas Island (2002) - Maldives (2004)

Compare Christmas Island (2002) z Maldives (2004)

 Christmas Island (2002)Maldives (2004)
 Christmas IslandMaldives
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 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
Age structure 0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA%
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.)
Agriculture - products NA coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Airports 1 (2001) 5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
total: 2


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 300 sq km


land: 300 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They 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 island's 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.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 36.06 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)


expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (2002 est.)
Capital The Settlement Male
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Coastline 80 km 644 km
Constitution NA adopted January 1998
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives


conventional short form: Maldives


local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa


local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) rufiyaa (MVR)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $NA $281 million (2003 est.)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF


chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA NA (1995)
Economy - overview Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003. 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.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 108.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh 117 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: NA%


hydro: NA%


nuclear: NA%


other: NA%
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Environment - current issues NA depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international 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
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997) rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.2421 (2001), 11.77 (2000), 11.77 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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%
Exports $NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphate fish, clothing
Exports - partners Australia, NZ US 32.1%, Thailand 17%, Sri Lanka 13.4%, Japan 10.7%, UK 9.8%, Indonesia 4.5% (2003)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 20%


industry: 18%


services: 62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 2.3% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean 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
Highways total: 140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 110 km (1999)
total: NA km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports $NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners principally Australia Singapore 24.8%, Sri Lanka 13.8%, India 10.2%, Malaysia 7.6%, UAE 7.6%, Thailand 5.1% (2003)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.4% (1996 est.)
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Infant mortality rate NA deaths/1,000 live births total: 58.32 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 57.43 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 59.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 1% (2002 est.)
International organization participation none AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court High Court
Labor force NA 88,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
arable land: 13.33%


permanent crops: 16.67%


other: 70% (2001)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)


elections: last held NA December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2002)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
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
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 63.68 years


male: 62.41 years


female: 65.01 years (2004 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.2%


male: 97.1%


female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Map references Southeast Asia Asia
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 12 NM


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) 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 (2004 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - National Security Service: comprising Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element; Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $43.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 8.6% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 81,221 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 45,142 (2004 est.)
National holiday NA Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: Maldivian(s)


adjective: Maldivian
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Natural resources phosphate, beaches fish
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders none although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders none none
Population 474 (July 2002 est.) 339,330 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA
Population growth rate -9% (2002 est.) 2.86% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Gan, Male
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 1,000 (1997) -
Railways 24 km to serve phosphate mines -
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) Sunni Muslim
Sex ratio NA 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.)
Suffrage - 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 28,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 41,900 (2002)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (1997)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau flat, with white sandy beaches
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 5.14 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NEGL% (2003 est.)
Waterways none -
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