{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. The islands became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005.</p> <p>In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the \"Special Majlis\" - finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM in August 2008. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the GAYOOM regime. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests in response to his ordering the arrest of a top judge, NASHEED purportedly resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. A government-appointed Commission of National Inquiry concluded there was no evidence of a coup, but NASHEED contends that police and military personnel forced him to resign. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. As president, YAMEEN weakened democratic institutions, curtailed civil liberties, jailed his political opponents, restricted the press, and exerted control over the judiciary to strengthen his hold on power and limit dissent. In September 2018, YAMEEN lost his reelection bid to Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH, a parliamentarian of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who had the support of a coalition of four parties that came together to defeat YAMEEN and restore democratic norms to Maldives. In April 2019, SOLIH's MDP won 65 of 87 seats in parliament. YAMEEN was arrested and jailed in December 2022 on corruption charges; however, he remains his party's candidate to challenge SOLIH in the presidential election, scheduled for 9 September 2023. </p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "3 15 N, 73 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Asia"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "298 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "298 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "644 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "note": "measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "flat coral atolls, with white sandy beaches; sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Indian Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "2 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "fish"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "23.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 10% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 10% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 3.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "73.7% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "0 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "389,568 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Maldivian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Maldivian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Sunni Muslim (official)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "22.25% (male 44,185/female 42,495)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "71.97% (male 146,154/female 134,233)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "5.78% (2023 est.) (male 9,866/female 12,635)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "35.6"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "29.5"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "6.2"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "16.2 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "29.5 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "29.2 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "30 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "-0.17% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "15.33 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-12.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "42% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "177,000 MALE (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.09 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.78 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "23.2 years (2016/17 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "57 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "25.02 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "28 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "21.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "77.19 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "74.84 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "79.66 years (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.7 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.83 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "18.8% (2016/17)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 99% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 99.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "11.4% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "2.05 physicians/1,000 population (2019)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "4.3 beds/1,000 population"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 99.1% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 99.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "8.6% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "25.2% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "44.4% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "6% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "14.8% (2016/17)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "71.9% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "0%"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "2.2%"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "2.2% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "5.8% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "97.9%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "97.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "98.4% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "12 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "14 years (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "17.7%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "19.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12.6% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "rising sea levels threaten land; depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "23.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 10% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 10% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 3.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "73.7% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "42% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "7.63 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "1.44 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "0.14 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "211,506 tons (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Maldives"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Maldives"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Dhivehi Raajje"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "archipelago apparently named after the main island (and capital) of Male; the word \"Maldives\" means \"the islands (dives) of Male\"; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word \"maladvipa\" meaning \"garland of islands\"; Dhivehi Raajje in Dhivehi means \"Kingdom of the Dhivehi people\""
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Male"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "4 10 N, 73 30 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "derived from the Sanskrit word \"mahaalay\" meaning \"big house\""
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "21 administrative atolls (atholhuthah, singular - atholhu); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi)"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "26 July 1965 (from the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 26 July (1965)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum; amended 2015"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "Islamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Maldives"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "unknown"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Ibrahim \"Ibu\" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President&nbsp;Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President Ibrahim \"Ibu\" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by Parliament"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 September 2018 (next to be held on 9 September 2023)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em>2018:</em> Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH elected president (in single round); Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 58.3%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 41.7%"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Parliament or People's Majlis (87 seats - includes 2 seats added by the Elections Commission in late 2018; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 6 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote - MDP 44.7%, JP 10.8%, PPM 8.7%, PNC 6.4%, MDA 2.8%, other 5.6%, independent 21%; seats by party - MDP 65, JP 5, PPM 5, PNC 3, MDA 2, independent 7; composition - men 83, women 4, percent of women 4.6%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "<p>Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]<br>Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP [Abdulla JABIR]<br>Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed Shiyam MOHAMED]<br>Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]<br>Maldives Labor and Social Democratic Party or MLSDP [Ahmed SHIHAM]<br>Maldives Third Way Democrats or MTD [Ahmed ADEEB]<br>Maumoon/Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Ahmed Faris MAUMOON]<br>National Democratic Congress [Yousuf Maaniu]<br>People's National Congress or PNC [Abdul Raheem ABDULLA]<br>Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom, founder]<br>Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM]</p> (2020)"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "<p>Maldives has no embassy in the US, but its Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed (since 12 December 2022), is accredited to the US and serves as ambassador</p>"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "801 Second Avenue, Suite 202E, New York, NY 10017"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (212) 599-6194; [1] (212) 599-6195"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (212) 661-6405"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>info@maldivesmission.com<br><br>http://www.maldivesmission.com/"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US is in the process of opening an embassy in Maldives; as of March 2022, there is no US Ambassador to Maldives; until late 2021, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka was also accredited to the Maldives"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Gaumee Salaam\" (National Salute)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of \"Auld Lang Syne\""
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; major tourism, fishing, and shipping industries; high public debt; systemic corruption; crippled by COVID-19; ongoing deflation; poverty has tripled since pandemic began"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$9.785 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$6.903 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$10.38 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "41.75% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-33.49% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "7.1% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$18,800 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$13,400 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$20,600 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$4.505 billion (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "0.54% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": {
        "text": "-1.37% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "0.22% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "CCC (2020)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "B3 (2020)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "3% (2015 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "16% (2015 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "81% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "(2016 est.) NA"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "(2016 est.) NA"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "(2016 est.) NA"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "(2016 est.) NA"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "93.6% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "89% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "papayas, vegetables, roots/tubers nes, nuts, fruit, other meat, tomatoes, coconuts, bananas, maize"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "4.51% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "229,300 (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "7.7%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "22.8%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "69.5% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "6.08% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "6.33% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "5.34% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "17.7%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "19.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12.6% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "8.2% (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019": {
        "text": "29.3 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "1.2%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "33.3% (FY09/10)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$993 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$1.797 billion (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-10.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "63.9% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "61.7% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "26.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$457.562 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "-$1.327 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "-$1.49 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$3.95 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$1.787 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$3.742 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Thailand 24%, United States 13%, China 12%, France 11%, Germany 11%, Italy 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "skipjack and stripe-bellied bonito, fish fillets, propane, tuna, butane, scrap iron (2021)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$3.501 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$2.449 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$4.09 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "United Arab Emirates 24%, China 16%, Singapore 14%, India 11%, Malaysia 6%, Thailand 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, fruits, furniture, broadcasting equipment, lumber (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": {
        "text": "$805,808,200 (31 December 2021 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": {
        "text": "$984,930,700 (31 December 2020 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": {
        "text": "$753,496,300 (31 December 2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$848.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 31 December 2015": {
        "text": "$696.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "15.373 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "15.381 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "15.382 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "15.391 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "15.387 (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "545,000 kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "586.5 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "21 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "99.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "15,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "10,840 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "2.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "2.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "59.69 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "14,005 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "3 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "706,043 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "135 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "with its economy so heavily dependent on tourism, the Maldives has suffered heavy economic as well as health casualties during the pandemic; the country had a relatively short period of lock down and was willing to welcome visitors back as early as July 2020; but the effective shutdown of international air travel for most of the year resulted in the bottom falling out of the Maldives&rsquo; tourism industry, taking GDP down 32% in the process; the economy fared better in 2021, with a return to growth, yet it may still be a few years before the country&rsquo;s key industries can return to the same level of prosperity that they previously enjoyed; the country&rsquo;s high number of tourists and expatriate workers has inflated the penetration rate for mobile services, making it one of the highest in the world; that rate crashed in 2020 as demand for SIM cards (primarily prepaid) dried up; however, the number of contract subscribers increased as locals took advantage of competitive pricing offers from operators; everything now rests on a fast return to normality, with tourists helping to boost the nation&rsquo;s coffers as well as buying up those prepaid SIM cards; with commercial 5G services already launched and fiber networks rapidly expanding around the country, the Maldives is primed to deliver world-class telecommunications services to its domestic and international customers (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line is at nearly 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscriptions stands at nearly 135 per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 960; landing points for Dhiraagu Cable Network, NaSCOM, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Networks and WARF submarine cables providing connections to 8 points in Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka;&nbsp;satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently;&nbsp;4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations and 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".mv"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "447,200 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "86% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "63,685 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "12 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "3 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "36"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1,147,247 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "7.75 million (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "8Q"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "9 (2021)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "text": "7",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)"
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "text": "2",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "93 km (2018)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "93 km (2018) - 60 km in Malée; 16 km on Addu Atolis; 17 km on Laamu"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> island roads are mainly compacted coral"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "80"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 30, oil tanker 20, other 30 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Male"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "the Republic of Maldives has no distinct army, navy, or air force but a single security unit called the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) comprised of ground forces, an air element, a coast guard, a presidential security division, and a special protection group (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Maldives Police Service is responsible for internal security and reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs; the MNDF is responsible for counterterrorism"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "text": "not available"
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 2,500 personnel (2022)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "India has provided most of the equipment in the MNDF's inventory (2023)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-28 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2022)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the MNDF is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service and ensure security in the country's exclusive economic zone (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Terrorism": {
    "Terrorist group(s)": {
      "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>none identified</p>"
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "NA"
    }
  }
}