Economy - overview:
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
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 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
88,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NEGL%
Budget:
revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
117 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
108.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Exports:
$110 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, clothing
Exports - partners:
US 51.7%, Sri Lanka 16.2%, Thailand 9.3%, Japan 7.6%, UK 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$395 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Singapore 25.6%, Sri Lanka 15%, UAE 14.5%, India 6.6%, Malaysia
5.7%, Thailand 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$281 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code:
MVR
Exchange rates:
rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000),
11.77 (1999), 11.77 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year