Maldives

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National name: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

Current government officials

Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi (official); English spoken by most government officials

Ethnicity/race: South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Religion: Islam (Sunni)

National Holiday: Independence Day, July 26

Literacy rate: 93.8% (2006 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2011 est.): $2.754 billion; per capita $8,400. Real growth rate: 6.5%. Inflation: 6%. Unemployment: 14.5% (2010 est.). Arable land: 13%. Agriculture: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish. Labor force: 110,000 (2010); agriculture 11%, industry 23%, services 65% (2006). Industries: tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining. Natural resource: fish. Exports: $163 million (2009 est.). Imports: $967 million (2009 est.) Major trading partners: Thailand, Sri Lanka, France, Tanzania, UK, Singapore, UAE, India, Malaysia (2010).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 48,000 (2010); mobile cellular: 494,400 (2010). Broadcast media: state-owned radio and television monopoly until recently; state-owned TV operates 2 channels; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based station; there are 5 privately-owned radio broadcast stations operating (2009). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3,054 (2011). Internet users: 86,400 (2009).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 88 km. Ports and harbors: Malé. Airports: 5 (2010).

International disputes: none.

Major sources and definitions