Country background

The Republic of Maldives is formed by a group of atolls located in the Indian Ocean, about seven hundred kilometers southwest of Sri Lanka. Malé is the Capital and largest city situated on a 2.5 sq km island. The country is the smallest country in Asia. A major concern is the impact of erosion and global warming on its low-lying land, as 80 per cent of the country is only one meter or less above sea level.

The Maldives has a population of 314,000 (2010) with an average life expectancy of 71.3 years (2010). It is a middle-income country with an estimated real per capita GDP of US$2,830 in 2009. Tourism is the most important economic activity, accounting for 24.6 per cent of GDP in 2009. Most staple foods are imported. Real GDP growth averaged over 5.8 per cent per year for the last decade. Unemployment is high: the unemployment rate rose from about 10 per cent in 2000 to around 14 per cent in 2006, and is particularly severe amongst youths: 40 per cent of young women and 20 per cent of young men. It is further estimated that at least 10.5 per cent of the youth population are neither in employment nor in education.
    
Read more about the Public Employment Sector.

Social security schemes and programs by branch