conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

MV

republic

Male

19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and
1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu,
Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu,
Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani,
Thaa, Vaavu

26 July 1965 (from UK)

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

adopted January 1998

based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common
law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

21 years of age; universal

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%

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

High Court

although political parties are not
banned, none exist

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

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

the US does not have an embassy
in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives
and makes periodic visits there

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