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Compare Maldives (2004) - Western Sahara (2001)

Compare Maldives (2004) z Western Sahara (2001)

 Maldives (2004)Western Sahara (2001)
 MaldivesWestern Sahara
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 none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure 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.)
0-14 years:
NA%

15-64 years:
NA%

65 years and over:
NA%
Agriculture - products coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Airports 5 (2003 est.) 11 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total:
8

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total: 300 sq km


land: 300 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
266,000 sq km

land:
266,000 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC about the size of Colorado
Background 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. Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire; a referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed and is not expected to occur until at least 2002.
Birth rate 36.06 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Budget revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)


expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (2002 est.)
revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Male none
Climate tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline 644 km 1,110 km
Constitution adopted January 1998 -
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Maldives


conventional short form: Maldives


local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa


local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Western Sahara

former:
Spanish Sahara
Currency rufiyaa (MVR) Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Death rate 7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Debt - external $281 million (2003 est.) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there none
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF


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


telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
none
Disputes - international none claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991
Economic aid - recipient NA (1995) $NA
Economy - 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. Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and lacking sufficient rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level.
Electricity - consumption 108.8 million kWh (2001) 83.7 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 117 million kWh (2001) 90 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
lowest point:
Sebjet Tah -55 m

highest point:
unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching sparse water and lack of arable land
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
party to:
none of the selected agreements

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs Arab, Berber
Exchange rates rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.2421 (2001), 11.77 (2000), 11.77 (1999) Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 10.590 (January 2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996)
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%
none
Exports NA (2001) $NA
Exports - commodities fish, clothing phosphates 62%
Exports - partners US 32.1%, Thailand 17%, Sri Lanka 13.4%, Japan 10.7%, UK 9.8%, Indonesia 4.5% (2003) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description 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 - $1.25 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 20%


industry: 18%


services: 62% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
40%-45% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 2.3% (2002 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 3 15 N, 73 00 E 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Geography - note 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 -
Heliports - 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total: NA km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km
total:
6,200 km

paved:
1,350 km

unpaved:
4,850 km (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports NA (2001) $NA
Imports - commodities consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners Singapore 24.8%, Sri Lanka 13.8%, India 10.2%, Malaysia 7.6%, UAE 7.6%, Thailand 5.1% (2003) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Independence 26 July 1965 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate 4.4% (1996 est.) NA%
Industries fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 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) 1% (2002 est.) NA%
International organization participation 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 none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch High Court -
Labor force 88,000 (2000) 12,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995) animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Land boundaries 0 km total:
2,046 km

border countries:
Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use arable land: 13.33%


permanent crops: 16.67%


other: 70% (2001)
arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
19%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
81%
Languages Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Legal system based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction -
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
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 63.68 years


male: 62.41 years


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


total population: 97.2%


male: 97.1%


female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
definition:
NA

total population:
NA%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references Asia Africa
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Merchant marine 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 branches National Security Service: comprising Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element; Coast Guard NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure $43.1 million (2003) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 8.6% (2003) NA%
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 Independence Day, 26 July (1965) -
Nationality noun: Maldivian(s)


adjective: Maldivian
noun:
Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)

adjective:
Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources fish phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Political parties and leaders although political parties are not banned, none exist -
Political pressure groups and leaders none none
Population 339,330 (July 2004 est.) 250,559 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate 2.86% (2004 est.) -
Ports and harbors Gan, Male Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 56,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Sunni Muslim Muslim
Sex ratio 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 none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign has yet to be completed
Telephone system 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)
general assessment:
sparse and limited system

domestic:
NA

international:
tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use 28,700 (2002) about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular 41,900 (2002) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) NA
Terrain flat, with white sandy beaches mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate 5.14 children born/woman (2004 est.) -
Unemployment rate NEGL% (2003 est.) NA%
Waterways - none
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