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Compare Maldives (2008) - Faroe Islands (2008)

Compare Maldives (2008) z Faroe Islands (2008)

 Maldives (2008)Faroe Islands (2008)
 MaldivesFaroe Islands
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 (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 34 municipalities
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: 20.6% (male 4,882/female 4,904)


15-64 years: 65.3% (male 16,353/female 14,668)


65 years and over: 14.1% (male 3,041/female 3,663) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Airports 5 (2007) 1 (2007)
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


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
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: 1,399 sq km


land: 1,399 sq km


water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC eight times 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 slow to come to fruition. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. A constituent assembly - termed the "special majlis" - has pledged to complete the drafting of a new constitution by the end of 2007 and first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system are slated for November 2008. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago. The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self government was attained in 1948.
Birth rate 34.2 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 14.12 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)


expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)
revenues: $588 million


expenditures: $623 million (2005)
Capital name: Male


geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E


time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
name: Torshavn


geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Coastline 644 km 1,117 km
Constitution adopted 1 January 1998 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
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: Faroe Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Foroyar
Death rate 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $482 million (2006 est.) $64 million (1999)
Dependency status - part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
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 (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)


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


telephone: [1] (212) 599-6194


FAX: [1] (212) 599-6195
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Disputes - international none because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
Economic aid - recipient $66.83 million (2005) $105 million; note - annual subsidy from Denmark (2005)
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 the economy recover quickly. The trade deficit has expanded sharply as a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material. Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing and increasing employment are the major challenges 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. The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy vulnerable to price swings. Since 2003 the Faroese economy has picked up as a result of higher prices for fish and for housing. Unemployment is minimal and government finances are relatively sound. Oil finds close to the Islands give hope for economically recoverable deposits, which could eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (about 15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.
Electricity - consumption 157.1 million kWh (2005) 269.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 169 million kWh (2005) 290 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 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
party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution
Ethnic groups South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs Scandinavian
Exchange rates rufiyaa per US dollar - NA (2007), 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003) Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)
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 MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004)


cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister


elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)


election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
Exports 1,517 bbl/day (2004) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities fish fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners Thailand 33.1%, UK 14.3%, Sri Lanka 11.9%, Japan 10.3%, France 6.9%, Algeria 6.1% (2006) Denmark 31%, UK 27.4%, Norway 10.3%, Nigeria 9.5%, Netherlands 5.6% (2006)
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 white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 16%


industry: 7%


services: 77% (2006 est.)
agriculture: 27%


industry: 11%


services: 62% (1999)
GDP - real growth rate 5.5% (2007 est.) 2.4% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 3 15 N, 73 00 E 62 00 N, 7 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 archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports 6,390 bbl/day (2004) 4,580 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt (1999)
Imports - partners Singapore 23.2%, UAE 15.8%, India 11.1%, Malaysia 7.9%, Thailand 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.6% (2006) Denmark 52.6%, Norway 20.7%, Iceland 6.1%, Sweden 4.3% (2006)
Independence 26 July 1965 (from UK) none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Industrial production growth rate -0.9% (2004 est.) 8% (1999 est.)
Industries tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
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: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2005 est.) 1.8% (2005)
International organization participation ADB, 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 Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU
Irrigated land NA 0 sq km
Judicial branch High Court none
Labor force 101,300 (2004) 24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 22%


industry: 18%


services: 60% (1995)
agriculture: 33%


industry: 33%


services: 34% (October 2000)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 13.33%


permanent crops: 30%


other: 56.67% (2005)
arable land: 2.14%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.86% (2005)
Languages Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Legal system based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply
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 Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012)


election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 21%, Social Democratic Party 19.4%, Republican Party 23.3%, People's Party 20.1%, Center Party 8.4%, Self-Government Party 7.2%, other 0.6%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Union Party 7, Social Democratic Party 6, People's Party 7, Center Party 3, Independence Party 2


note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 13 November 2007 (next to be held no later than November 2011); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 64.76 years


male: 63.41 years


female: 66.19 years (2007 est.)
total population: 79.49 years


male: 76.06 years


female: 82.93 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 96.3%


male: 96.2%


female: 96.4% (2000 census)
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%


note: probably 100%, the same as Denmark proper
Location Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Map references Asia Europe
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
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)
total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 92,454 GRT/63,291 DWT


by type: cargo 10, container 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1


foreign-owned: 8 (Iceland 4, Norway 4) (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 Denmark
Military branches Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Quick Reaction Force, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2007) no regular military forces
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.5% (2005 est.) NA
National holiday Independence Day, 26 July (1965) Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July
Nationality noun: Maldivian(s)


adjective: Maldivian
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)


adjective: Faroese
Natural hazards low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise NA
Natural resources fish fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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 Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Jorgen NICLASEN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders various unregistered political parties NA
Population 369,031 (July 2007 est.) 47,511 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 21% (2004) NA%
Population growth rate 2.732% (2007 est.) 0.543% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Religions Sunni Muslim Evangelical Lutheran
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.)
at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 0.996 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.115 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female


total population: 1.045 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal 18 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 rapidly expanding subscribership


domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service


international: country code - 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities


domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed


international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
Telephones - main lines in use 32,500 (2006) 23,000 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 262,600 (2006) 50,000 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2006) 3 (plus 43 repeaters) (September 1995)
Terrain flat, with white sandy beaches rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Total fertility rate 4.78 children born/woman (2007 est.) 2.15 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate NEGL% (2003 est.) 2.1% (2006)
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