with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while
the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the
legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia
was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil
companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting
marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue
over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land
reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the
Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold
public hearings in response to the memorials and countermemorials
filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra
Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; ICJ
awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and
Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty
of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute;
separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern
provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia
to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to
Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia
agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater
seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration and renounce any
territorial claims on land; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca
Strait
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 15,174 (Indonesia); 21,544 (Burma)
(2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser
extent, a source and transit country for women and children
trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and
men, women, and children for forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a
destination country for men, women, and children who migrate
willingly from South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are
subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian
employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation,
and industrial sectors; to a lesser extent, some Malaysian women,
primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for commercial
sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia improved from Tier 3 to
the Tier 2 Watch List for 2008 when it enacted comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation in July 2007; however, it did not take
action against exploitative employers or labor traffickers in 2007;
the government has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties;
heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand
remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for
domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Maldives (South Asia)
Introduction ::Maldives
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. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands'
political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by
single-party referendums. 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 was sluggish, however, and
many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless,
political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a
constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new
constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The
first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate,
multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in
a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been
jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing
the new president include strengthening democracy and combating
poverty and drug abuse.
Geography ::Maldives
Location:
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest
of India
Geographic coordinates:
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 298 sq km
country comparison to the world: 209
land: 298 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
644 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:
flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
0.03 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%)
per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)
Natural hazards:
tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level
rise
Environment - current issues:
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
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
People ::Maldives
Population:
396,334 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 45,038/female 43,291)
15-64 years: 73.8% (male 180,874/female 111,703)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,711/female 7,717) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.7 years
male: 26.5 years
female: 24.3 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.168% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Birth rate:
14.55 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Death rate:
3.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Net migration rate:
-12.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Urbanization:
urban population: 38% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.62 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.44 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.53 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 77
male: 32.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
country comparison to the world: 94
male: 71.78 years
female: 76.28 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),
English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 15
Government ::Maldives
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 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
Independence:
26 July 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
new constitution ratified 7 August 2008
Legal system:
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily
in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohamed "Anni" NASHEED (since 11 November
2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11
November 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Mohamed "Anni" NASHEED (since 11
November 2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since
11 November 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution, the president is elected by
direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a
second term); election last held 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be
held in 2013)
election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote
- NASHEED 54.25%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.75%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or People's Majlis (77 seats; members
elected by direct vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Majlis
in February 2009 passed legislation that incresed the number of
seats to 77 from 50
elections: last held 9 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote - DRP 36.8%, MDP 32.9 %, PA 9.2%,
DQP 2.6% AP 1.3%, independents 17.1%; seats by party - DRP 28, MDP
25, PA 7, DQP 2, AP 1, independents 13; note - one seat unfilled
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president
with approval of voting members of the People's Council; High Court;
Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial
Service Commission
Political parties and leaders:
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi
Quamee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]; 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]; People's Alliance or PA [Abdullah YAMEEN];
Republican (Jumhooree) Party [Gasim IBRAHIM]; Social Liberal Party
or SLP [Ibrahim ISMAIL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various unregistered political parties
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, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Abdul
Ghafoor MOHAMED
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to
Sri Lanka, Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE, Jr., is accredited to
Maldives and makes periodic visits
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
Economy ::Maldives
Economy - overview:
Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP and
more than 60% of 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 4.6% in 2005. A rebound
in tourism, post-tsunami reconstruction, and development of new
resorts helped the economy recover quickly, with GDP growth
registering 18% in 2006. Growth slowed in 2007-08, but remained
above 5% per year. The trade deficit expanded sharply as a result of
high oil prices and imports of construction material. Government
spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries have
created a large budget deficit and inflation has picked up sharply,
reaching nearly 13% in October 2008 due to high oil and food prices.
Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance,
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 1 meter or less above sea level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.723 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$1.628 billion (2007 est.)
$1.519 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.261 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
7.2% (2007 est.)
18% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$4,500 (2007 est.)
$4,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 17%
services: 76% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
136,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 172
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 18%
services: 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
14.4% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Population below poverty line:
21% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $762 million (including foreign grants)
expenditures: $884 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.8% (October 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
13% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 22
12.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 60
13% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$475.2 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
$344.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$487.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
$434.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.548 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 97
$1.08 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.9% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - production:
205 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Electricity - consumption:
190.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - imports:
5,406 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Current account balance:
-$638 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
-$472 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$113 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$167 million (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish
Exports - partners:
Thailand 34.4%, UK 13.8%, France 12.2%, Italy 9%, Sri Lanka 8.5%
(2008)
Imports:
$1.276 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$930 million (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and
capital goods
Imports - partners:
Singapore 27.2%, UAE 16.9%, Malaysia 9.7%, India 7.7%, Thailand
4.9%, Sri Lanka 4.6%, Germany 4.1% (2008)
Debt - external:
$477 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$482 million (2006 est.)
Exchange rates:
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 12.8 (2008), 12.8 (2007), 12.8 (2006),
12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004)
Communications ::Maldives
Telephones - main lines in use:
50,396 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telephones - mobile cellular:
450,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 158
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone services have improved; each island
now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile cellular
networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership that exceeds 100
per 100 persons
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) (2009)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2006)
Internet country code:
.mv
Internet hosts:
1,732 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151
Internet users:
71,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
Transportation ::Maldives
Airports:
5 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 180
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 88 km
country comparison to the world: 213
paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on
Laamu
note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 29
country comparison to the world: 86
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 23, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated
cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Tuvalu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Male
Military ::Maldives
Military branches:
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Rapid Reaction Force,
Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 89,505
females age 16-49: 85,745 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 138,746
females age 16-49: 82,247 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,576
female: 3,942 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Military - note:
the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and
with little serviceable equipment, 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
(2008)
Transnational Issues ::Maldives
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1,000-10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2007)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Mali (Africa)
Introduction ::Mali
Background:
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in
1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few
months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed
Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a
military coup - led by the current president Amadou TOURE - enabling
Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the
continent. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic
presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping
with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in
2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE, who was subsequently elected
to a second term in 2007. The elections were widely judged to be
free and fair.
Geography ::Mali
Location:
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,240,192 sq km
country comparison to the world: 24
land: 1,220,190 sq km
water: 20,002 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid,
and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in
south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources:
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite,
hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited
Land use:
arable land: 3.76%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 96.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,360 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
100 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%)
per capita: 484 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring
droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of
potable water; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
People ::Mali
Population:
12,666,987 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48.3% (male 3,089,406/female 3,023,341)
15-64 years: 48.7% (male 3,065,167/female 3,101,914)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 151,718/female 235,441) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.8 years
male: 15.5 years
female: 16.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.765% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Birth rate:
49.15 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Death rate:
15.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Net migration rate:
-5.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Urbanization:
urban population: 32% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)