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Compare Nepal (2003) - Maldives (2001)

Compare Nepal (2003) z Maldives (2001)

 Nepal (2003)Maldives (2001)
 NepalMaldives
Administrative divisions 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti 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: 39.7% (male 5,424,396; female 5,080,171)


15-64 years: 56.7% (male 7,692,134; female 7,320,059)


65 years and over: 3.6% (male 468,697; female 484,112) (2003 est.)
0-14 years:
45.63% (male 72,920; female 68,895)

15-64 years:
51.37% (male 81,506; female 78,149)

65 years and over:
3% (male 4,806; female 4,488) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Airports 45 (2002) 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 9


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2002)
total:
2

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 36


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 28 (2002)
total:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total: 140,800 sq km


land: 136,800 sq km


water: 4,000 sq km
total:
300 sq km

land:
300 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Arkansas about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime. In 2001, the Crown Prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. The country is now governed by the king and his appointed cabinet, which has negotiated a cease-fire with the Maoist insurgents, until elections can be held at some unspecified future date. The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
Birth rate 32.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 38.15 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $665 million


expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 99/00 est.)
revenues:
$166 million (excluding foreign grants)

expenditures:
$192 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1999 est.)
Capital Kathmandu Male
Climate varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 644 km
Constitution 9 November 1990 adopted January 1998
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal


conventional short form: Nepal
conventional long form:
Republic of Maldives

conventional short form:
Maldives

local long form:
Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

local short form:
Dhivehi Raajje
Currency Nepalese rupee (NPR) rufiyaa (MVR)
Death rate 9.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.09 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.55 billion (FY 00/01) $237 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. MALINOWSKI


embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [977] (1) 411179


FAX: [977] (1) 419963
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 chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Jai Pratap RANA


chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550


FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534


consulate(s) general: New York
Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Disputes - international joint border commission continues to work on small disputed sections of boundary with India; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents none
Economic aid - recipient $424 million (FY 00/01) $NA
Economy - overview Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with 42% of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Textile and carpet production, accounting for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in recent years, contracted in 2001-02 due to the overall slowdown in the world economy and pressures by Maoist insurgents on factory owners and workers. Security concerns in the wake of the Maoist conflict and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US have led to a decrease in tourism, another key source of foreign exchange. Since 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms, e.g., by reducing business licenses and registration requirements to simplify investment procedures, reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of growth. 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. Almost 400,000 tourists visited the islands in 1998. 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 minor 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 1.764 billion kWh (2001) 93.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 95 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 227 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.755 billion kWh (2001) 101 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 8.5%


hydro: 91.5%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m


highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999)
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Environment - current issues deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
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 Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others (1995) South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Exchange rates Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 77.88 (2002), 74.95 (2001), 71.09 (2000), 68.24 (1999), 65.98 (1998) rufiyaa per US dollar - 11.770 (fixed rate since 1995)
Executive branch chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to the throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew, King DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah)


head of government: Prime Minister Surya Bahadur THAPA (since 4 June 2003); note - Prime Minister CHAND resigned 30 May 2003


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch


note: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting at the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of most of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, is believed to have been responsible for the shootings before fatally wounding himself; immediately following the shootings and while still clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died three days later and was succeeded by his uncle
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:
appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis

elections:
president nominated by the Majlis and then that 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 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)

election results:
President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%
Exports NA (2001) $88 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain fish, clothing
Exports - partners India 47.5%, US 27.6%, Germany 7.5% (2002) US, UK, Sri Lanka, Japan
Fiscal year 16 July - 15 July calendar year
Flag description red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun 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 - $37.32 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $594 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 40%


industry: 20%


services: 40% (2002 est.)
agriculture:
20%

industry:
18%

services:
62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -0.6% (2002 est.) 7.6% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 28 00 N, 84 00 E 3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography - note landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the world's tallest - on the border with China 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Highways total: 13,223 km


paved: 4,073 km


unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)
total:
NA km

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West -
Imports NA (2001) $372 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners India 21.2%, China 13%, UAE 11.1%, Singapore 8.5%, Hong Kong 5.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.9%, Kuwait 4.1% (2002) Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Canada
Independence 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah) 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 8.7% (FY 99/00) 4.4% (1996 est.)
Industries tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Infant mortality rate total: 70.57 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 68.95 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 72.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
63.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2001 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 6 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 11,350 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council) High Court
Labor force 10 million


note: severe lack of skilled labor (1996 est.)
67,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 81%, services 16%, industry 3% agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Land boundaries total: 2,926 km


border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 20.27%


permanent crops: 0.49%


other: 79.24% (1998 est.)
arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
3%

other:
84% (1993 est.)
Languages Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many in government and business also speak English (1995) Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Legal system based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999 (next election NA)


note: Nepal's Parliament was dissolved on 22 May 2002


election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%; seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1
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 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2004)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 42
Life expectancy at birth total population: 59 years


male: 59.36 years


female: 58.63 years (2003 est.)
total population:
62.56 years

male:
61.39 years

female:
63.8 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 45.2%


male: 62.7%


female: 27.6% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
93.2%

male:
93.3%

female:
93% (1995 est.)
Location Southern Asia, between China and India Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Map references Asia Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,604 GRT/81,451 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 16, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service), Nepalese Police Force National Security Service
Military expenditures - dollar figure $57.22 million (FY02) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.1% (FY02) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 6,674,014 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
71,856 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 3,467,511 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
40,006 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 17 years of age (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 303,222 (2003 est.) -
National holiday Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946) Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Nationality noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)


adjective: Nepalese
noun:
Maldivian(s)

adjective:
Maldivian
Natural hazards severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Natural resources quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore fish
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Surya Bahadur THAPA, chairman]; National People's Front (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [Chitra Bahadur, chairman]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL, acting party president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president; Sushil KOIRALA, general secretary]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [Lila Mani POKHAREL, general secretary] although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL also known as Prahanda, chairman; and chief negotiator, Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist]; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups none
Population 26,469,569 (July 2003 est.) 310,764 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 42% (1995-96) NA%
Population growth rate 2.26% (2003 est.) 3.01% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Gan, Male
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 35,000 (1999)
Railways total: 59 km


narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
0 km
Religions Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2%


note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)
Sunni Muslim
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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:
1.07 male(s)/female

total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephone network


domestic: NA


international: radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
general assessment:
minimal domestic and international facilities

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

international:
satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 236,816 (January 2000) 21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 1,290 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998) 1 (1997)
Terrain Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north flat, with white sandy beaches
Total fertility rate 4.39 children born/woman (2003 est.) 5.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 47% (2001 est.) NEGL%
Waterways none none
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