atters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive 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 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% cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis head
of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

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, 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

Economy Maldives

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 ini