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Compare Virgin Islands (2002) - Maldives (2002)

Compare Virgin Islands (2002) z Maldives (2002)

 Virgin Islands (2002)Maldives (2002)
 Virgin IslandsMaldives
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas 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: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443)


65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 45.3% (male 74,493; female 70,394)


15-64 years: 51.7% (male 84,548; female 81,092)


65 years and over: 3% (male 4,944; female 4,694) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Airports 2 (2001) 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
total: 2


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total: 300 sq km


land: 300 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. 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 15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 37.41 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
revenues: $166 million (excluding foreign grants)


expenditures: $192 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million
Capital Charlotte Amalie Male
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Coastline 188 km 644 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 adopted January 1998
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives


conventional short form: Maldives


local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa


local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Currency US dollar (USD) rufiyaa (MVR)
Death rate 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $NA $237 million (2000 est.)
Dependency status organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of 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
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York; permanent representative is Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $NA
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment. 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 948.6 million kWh (1999) 102.3 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (1999) 110 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups black 80%, white 15%, other 5%


note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Exchange rates the US dollar is used rufiyaa per US dollar - 11.770 (fixed rate since 1995)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de Jongh 24.4%
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; 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 $88 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products fish, clothing
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico US, UK, Sri Lanka, Japan
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel 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 - $1.8 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 20%


industry: 18%


services: 62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,870 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 7% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography - note important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean 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
Highways total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
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%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $NA $372 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Canada
Independence - 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.4% (1996 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Infant mortality rate 9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 61.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) High Court
Labor force 48,356 67,000 (1995) (1995)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995) (1995)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
arable land: 3.33%


permanent crops: 6.67%


other: 90% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Legal system based on US laws based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
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: 78.43 years


male: 74.55 years


female: 82.53 years (2002 est.)
total population: 62.93 years


male: 61.72 years


female: 64.2 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 93.2%


male: 93.3%


female: 93% (1995 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Asia
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,532 GRT/71,298 DWT


ships by type: cargo 13, short-sea passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - National Security Service
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $34.5 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 8.6% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 74,893 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 41,672 (2002 est.)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun: Maldivian(s)


adjective: Maldivian
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf fish
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 123,498 (July 2002 est.) 320,165 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.04% (2002 est.) 2.95% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Gan, Male
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 107,000 (1997) 35,000 (1999)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Sunni Muslim
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 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: 1.05 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
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 62,000 (1997) 21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) 1,290 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 1 (1997)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land flat, with white sandy beaches
Total fertility rate 2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.) 5.38 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) NEGL%
Waterways none none
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