Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2008) - Maldives (2007)

Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2008) z Maldives (2007)

	Turks and Caicos Islands (2008)	Maldives (2007)

Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of the UK)	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
Age structure	0-14 years: 31.3% (male 3,466/female 3,345) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 7,398/female 6,690) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 394/female 453) (2007 est.)	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.)
Agriculture - products	corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish	coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Airports	8 (2007)	5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)	total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Area	total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	2.5 times the size of Washington, DC	about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background	The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.	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.
Birth rate	21.48 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	34.2 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget	revenues: $47 million expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)	revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants) expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)
Capital	name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October	name: Male geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate	tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry	tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Coastline	389 km	644 km
Constitution	Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006)	adopted 1 January 1998
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI	conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Death rate	4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external	$NA	$482 million (2006 est.)
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK	-
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	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	none (overseas territory of the UK)	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
Disputes - international	have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder	none
Economic aid - recipient	$4.1 million (1997)	$66.83 million (2005)
Economy - overview	The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.	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.
Electricity - consumption	10.76 million kWh (2005)	157.1 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production	11.57 million kWh (2005)	169 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Environment - current issues	limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater	depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
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	black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%	South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used	rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002)
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005) head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003); note - the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor	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%
Exports	0 bbl/day (2004)	NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities	lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells	fish
Exports - partners	US, UK (2006)	Thailand 33.1%, UK 14.3%, Sri Lanka 11.9%, Japan 10.3%, France 6.9%, Algeria 6.1% (2006)
Fiscal year	calendar year	calendar year
Flag description	blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus	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 - composition by sector	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%	agriculture: 16% industry: 7% services: 77% (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	4.9% (2000 est.)	18% (2006 est.)
Geographic coordinates	21 45 N, 71 35 W	3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography - note	about 40 islands (eight inhabited)	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
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe	-
Imports	83.55 bbl/day (2004)	NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities	food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials	petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
Imports - partners	US, UK (2006)	Singapore 23.2%, UAE 15.8%, India 11.1%, Malaysia 7.9%, Thailand 6.9%, Sri Lanka 5.7% (2006)
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK)	26 July 1965 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	-0.9% (2004 est.)
Industries	tourism, offshore financial services	tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Infant mortality rate	total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)	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.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	4% (1995)	6% (2005 est.)
International organization participation	Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU	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
Irrigated land	NA	NA
Judicial branch	Supreme Court; Court of Appeal	High Court
Labor force	4,848 (1990 est.)	101,300 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation	note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services	agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1995)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2005)	arable land: 13.33% permanent crops: 30% other: 56.67% (2005)
Languages	English (official)	Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Legal system	based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas	based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch	unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2	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
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 74.95 years male: 72.69 years female: 77.32 years (2007 est.)	total population: 64.76 years male: 63.41 years female: 66.19 years (2007 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.)	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.3% male: 96.2% female: 96.4% (2000 census)
Location	Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti	Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Asia
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2007)	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	defense is the responsibility of the UK	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)
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	Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)	Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Nationality	noun: none adjective: none	noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian
Natural hazards	frequent hurricanes	low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Natural resources	spiny lobster, conch	fish
Net migration rate	9.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
People - note	destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US	-
Political parties and leaders	People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]	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
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	various unregistered political parties
Population	21,746 (July 2007 est.)	369,031 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	21% (2004)
Population growth rate	2.722% (2007 est.)	2.732% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)	AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions	Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)	Sunni Muslim
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.036 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.106 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.073 male(s)/female (2007 est.)	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.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	21 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)	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)
Telephones - main lines in use	5,700 (2002)	32,500 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular	1,700 (1999)	262,600 (2006)
Television broadcast stations	0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)	1 (2006)
Terrain	low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps	flat, with white sandy beaches
Total fertility rate	3.02 children born/woman (2007 est.)	4.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate	10% (1997 est.)	NEGL% (2003 est.)

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