branch: 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: 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%

Legislative branch: 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

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not
banned, none exist

Political pressure groups and leaders: none

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Maldives does not have an
embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in
New York

Diplomatic representation from 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

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

Maldives Economy

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 s