Dahl Web Site

ISLAND DIRECTORY

Maldives     [62]
(Independent in 1965 from United Kingdom)
ISO COUNTRY CODE: MV
LAND AREA: 298 sq. km     SEA AREA: 999702 sq. km
NUMBER OF ISLANDS BY SIZE (sq. km):
>17,000 >10,000 >1,000 >100 >10 >1 <1 Unknown TOTAL
0 0 0 0 9 39 1089 0 1137

DEMOGRAPHY
  POPULATION: 256157 (1996)
  DENSITY: 860 persons/sq. km    GROWTH RATE: 3%/year
  POP 1960: 0.1 million; GROWTH RATE 1960: 2.7%/yr
  EST. POP 2000: 0.3 million,  POP AGR/FISH/MINING: 22%
  URBAN POP: 26% (1995), versus 11% (1960), Annual Growth: 2.7%
  LIFE EXPECTANCY: 70.6 years,  ADULT LITERACY: 98.0%
  INFANT MORTALITY: 30 per/1000 (1996), versus 77 (1960)
  HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX: 0.611

ECONOMY
  GNP: US$0.1 billion, Annual GNP Growth Rate 1980-1993: 3.7%
  GNP/Capita: $820,  Annual Growth Rate GNP/Capita: 7.2%
  GDP/Capita: $796  GDP/Capita PPP: $2200
  GDP/Capita: 1960 $0, 1970 $0, 1980 $0, 1990 $543
  OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE: $55 million  ODA%GNP: 22.1%
  ODA/Capita: $220

ENVIRONMENT (see also individual islands)
  FOREST AREA: 3.3% of land area, 0.0 ha/capita
  ARABLE LAND: 10.0% of land area
NATURE CONSERVATION INTEREST: 

Plants 583 species, including 5 endemics;                               
Butterflies 67 species; Reptiles 6; Amphibians 3;                       
Birds 200 species, including 6 endemic, many threatened;                
Native mammals 2, with one endemic and threatened.                      
Marine fauna very diverse with 1100 known species, and an estimated     
total of 1500 species, but very few endemic species.                    
Marine animals of special conservation interest include:                
 Black coral, stony corals;                                             
 Triton shells, Trochus shells, pearl oysters;                          
 Lobster, eels, bait fish, parrot fish, puffer fish, bigeye scad;       
 Skates and rays, turtles, dolphins, whales.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
  ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION: 187 kw-hr/capita, versus 9 kw-hr/cap (1970)
  SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION (1990-92): 99 kg/cap/year

INSTITUTIONS
GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: 

Ministry of Planning, Human Resources and Environment (MPHRE),          
  Male', Republic of Maldives

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION: 
Law No. 4/93

ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS: 
National Commission for Protection of the Environment

REFERENCES: 
Statistical Yearbook of Maldives 1983 and 1997;                         
Fifth National Development Plan 1997

Last updated 19/05/98

Islands of Maldives
Addu (Maldives)
Ari (Maldives)
Fadippolu (Maldives)
Felidu (Maldives)
Foa Mulaku (Maldives)
Haddunmathi (Maldives)
Horsburgh (Maldives)
Huvadu (Maldives)
Kelai (Maldives)
Kolhumadulu (Maldives)
Maalosmadulu, North (Maldives)
Maalosmadulu, South (Maldives)
Makunudhu (Maldives)
Male' (Maldives)
Miladunmadulu (Maldives)
Mulaku (Maldives)
Nilande, North (Maldives)
Nilande, South (Maldives)
Thiladunmathi (Maldives)

Return to Island Directory Home Page

NOTE: For an explanation of each field, click on the colon (:)
Page last updated: 09/05/10