Compare Maldives (2005) - Christmas Island (2005)

Compare Maldives (2005) z Christmas Island (2005)

	Maldives (2005)	Christmas Island (2005)

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 (territory of Australia)
Age structure	0-14 years: 43.9% (male 78,794/female 74,505) 15-64 years: 53% (male 94,488/female 90,624) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,339/female 5,356) (2005 est.)	0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Agriculture - products	coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish	NA
Airports	5 (2004 est.)	1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)	-
Area	total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC	about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
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.	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.
Birth rate	35.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)	NA
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	The Settlement
Climate	tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)	tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April
Coastline	644 km	138.9 km
Constitution	adopted 1 January 1998	Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958)
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: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Death rate	7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)	NA
Debt - external	$281 million (2003 est.)	-
Dependency status	-	territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
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 (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195	none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international	none	none
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. In late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million.	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, projected to begin operations in the near future
Electricity - consumption	115.7 million kWh (2002)	-
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2002)	-
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2002)	-
Electricity - production	124.4 million kWh (2002)	-
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues	depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching	NA
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	South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs	Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates	rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000)	Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
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%	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports	NA	NA
Exports - commodities	fish, clothing	phosphate
Exports - partners	US 26.5%, Thailand 23.5%, Sri Lanka 12.3%, Japan 11.7%, UK 9.8%, Germany 4.9% (2004)	Australia, NZ
Fiscal year	calendar year	1 July - 30 June
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	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
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 20% industry: 18% services: 62% (2000 est.)	agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)	-
GDP - real growth rate	2.3% (2002 est.)	NA
Geographic coordinates	3 15 N, 73 00 E	10 30 S, 105 40 E
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	located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Highways	total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km	total: 240 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA	-
Imports	NA	NA
Imports - commodities	petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, intermediate and capital goods	consumer goods
Imports - partners	Singapore 24.9%, Sri Lanka 10.6%, UAE 10.3%, India 10.2%, Malaysia 7.6%, Bahrain 5.4% (2004)	principally Australia
Independence	26 July 1965 (from UK)	none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate	4.4% (1996 est.)	-
Industries	fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining	tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate	total: 56.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 57.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)	total: NA male: NA female: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	1% (2002 est.)	-
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
Irrigated land	NA sq km	NA sq km
Judicial branch	High Court	Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force	88,000 (2000)	NA
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)	NA
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 13.33% permanent crops: 16.67% other: 70% (2001)	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
Languages	Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials	English (official), Chinese, Malay
Legal system	based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction	under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
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	unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 64.06 years male: 62.76 years female: 65.42 years (2005 est.)	total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.2% male: 97.1% female: 97.3% (2003 est.)	NA
Location	Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India	Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references	Asia	Southeast Asia
Maritime claims	measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 57,118 GRT/72,831 DWT by type: cargo 12, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (2005)	-
Military - note	-	defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches	National Security Service includes Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element, Coast Guard	-
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$41.1 million (2004)	-
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	5.5% (2004)	-
National holiday	Independence Day, 26 July (1965)	Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality	noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian	noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Natural hazards	low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise	the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources	fish	phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)	NA
People - note	-	the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census
Political parties and leaders	although political parties are not banned, none exist	none
Political pressure groups and leaders	none	none
Population	349,106 (July 2005 est.)	361 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA	-
Population growth rate	2.82% (2005 est.)	0% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	Male	Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)	AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Religions	Sunni Muslim	Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
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 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)	NA
Suffrage	21 years of age; universal	-
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: service provided by the Australian network domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005 international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use	28,700 (2002)	NA
Telephones - mobile cellular	41,900 (2002)	NA
Television broadcast stations	1 (1997)	NA
Terrain	flat, with white sandy beaches	steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate	5.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)	NA
Unemployment rate	NEGL% (2003 est.)	-

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