Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
President: Mohamed Nasheed
Population
287,733
394,451
Life Expectancy
74.520 years
74.690 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Male
Largest city
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Male (population: 84,972)
Human Development Index
0.889
0.749
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
$8,800 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
96.3%
Corruption Perception Index
7
2.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
12%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
14.500%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
Political System
parliamentary democracy
republic
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
26 July 1965 (from UK)
Religions
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Sunni Muslim
Languages
English
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
fish
External Debt
$668,000,000 $
$943,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Area
430 km sq
298 km sq
Coastline
97 km
644 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
