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Compare Maldives (2007) - Christmas Island (2004)

Compare Maldives (2007) z Christmas Island (2004)

 Maldives (2007)Christmas Island (2004)
 MaldivesChristmas Island
Administrative divisions 19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale* (Male), Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.9% (male 81,383/female 76,984)


15-64 years: 54% (male 101,699/female 97,518)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,619/female 5,828) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish NA
Airports 5 (2007) 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
-
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 pledged to embark upon democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress has been slow, however, and many promised reforms have been delayed indefinitely. 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 34.2 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)


expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)
revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Capital name: Male


geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E


time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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 80 km
Constitution adopted 1 January 1998 NA
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
Currency - Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $482 million (2006 est.) NA
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 Mohamed LATHEEF


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


telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195


FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $66.83 million (2005) NA
Economy - overview Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% 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 the second leading sector. 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 7% of GDP. 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. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami, the GDP contracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-tsunami reconstruction, and development of new resorts helped boost GDP by about 18 percent in 2006. The trade deficit has expanded sharply as a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material. Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing is the major challenge facing the government. Over the longer term 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. 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 mid-2004
Electricity - consumption 157.1 million kWh (2005) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) -
Electricity - production 169 million kWh (2005) NA kWh
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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


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 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
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)


cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president nominated by the Majlis; 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 in 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 bbl/day NA
Exports - commodities fish phosphate
Exports - partners Thailand 33.1%, UK 14.3%, Sri Lanka 11.9%, Japan 10.3%, France 6.9%, Algeria 6.1% (2006) 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 - purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 16%


industry: 7%


services: 77% (2006 est.)
agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate 18% (2006 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: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports NA bbl/day NA
Imports - commodities petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods consumer goods
Imports - partners Singapore 23.2%, UAE 15.8%, India 11.1%, Malaysia 7.9%, Thailand 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.7% (2006) principally Australia
Independence 26 July 1965 (from UK) none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate -0.9% (2004 est.) NA
Industries tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate total: 53.25 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 52.4 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 54.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: NA


male: NA


female: NA (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2005 est.) NA
International organization participation AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO none
Irrigated land NA NA sq km
Judicial branch High Court Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 101,300 (2004) 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: 30%


other: 56.67% (2005)
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 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held in 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 NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 64.76 years


male: 63.41 years


female: 66.19 years (2007 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


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


total population: 96.3%


male: 96.2%


female: 96.4% (2000 census)
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: 22 ships (1000 GRT or over) 85,935 GRT/114,054 DWT


by type: cargo 17, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2


foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1)


registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Tuvalu 1) (2007)
-
Military - note Maldives has no regular armed forces; the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) includes ground forces, the Coast Guard, and a small, undermanned air element; with its small size and with little servable equipment, the MNDF is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2007) defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Quick Reaction Force, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2007) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.5% (2005 est.) -
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 (2007 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
People - note - The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census
Political parties and leaders 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]; note - political parties were allowed to register in June 2005 none
Political pressure groups and leaders various unregistered political parties none
Population 369,031 (July 2007 est.) 396 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line 21% (2004) NA
Population growth rate 2.732% (2007 est.) -9% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors - 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: 1.057 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.043 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.964 male(s)/female


total population: 1.046 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
NA (2004 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: telephone services have improved; each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile cellular networks with expanding subscribership


domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts 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: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 32,500 (2006) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 262,600 (2006) NA
Television broadcast stations 1 (2006) NA
Terrain flat, with white sandy beaches steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate 4.78 children born/woman (2007 est.) NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NEGL% (2003 est.) NA
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