d islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts);
archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes
in Indian Ocean

Maldives People

Population: 310,764 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.63% (male 72,920; female 68,895)

15-64 years: 51.37% (male 81,506; female 78,149)

65 years and over: 3% (male 4,806; female 4,488) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.01% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 38.15 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 8.09 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: 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: 1.07 male(s)/female

total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 63.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.56 years

male: 61.39 years

female: 63.8 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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: 93.2%

male: 93.3%

female: 93% (1995 est.)

Maldives Government

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: Male

Administrative divisions: 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

Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution: adopted January 1998

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