Administrative divisions of the Maldives

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Each administrative atoll is marked, along with the thaana letter used to identify the atoll. Natural atolls are labelled in light blue. Full view of the map Administrative divisions of the Maldives.png
Each administrative atoll is marked, along with the thaana letter used to identify the atoll. Natural atolls are labelled in light blue. Full view of the map

The Administrative Divisions of the Maldives refers to the various units of government that provide local government services in the Maldives. According to the Decentralization Act 2010, the administrative divisions of the Maldives would consist of atolls, islands, and cities; each administered by their own local council, under the basic terms of home rule. Geographically, the Maldives are formed by a number of natural atolls plus a few islands and isolated reefs which form a pattern from North to South. Administratively, there are currently 189 islands, 18 atolls and 4 cities in the Maldives.

Background

During the Gayyoom presidency

During the presidency of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, the administrative divisions consisted of 20 administrative atolls, all controlled by the central government in Malé.

During the Nasheed presidency

Seven Provinces

In 2008, in an attempt of decentralization, the Nasheed government divided the country into seven provinces. According to this system, the bill submitted by the government to decentralize the country was passed with the support of opposition-majority parliament, with their amendments to the bill. The final bill passed in 2010 by the parliament and ratified by the president saw the country's decentralisation as 21 constituencies.

The seven provinces were the following, followed by the atolls grouped within:

The seven provinces closely correspond to the historic divisions of Uthuru Boduthiladhunmathi. Dhekunu Boduthiladhunmathi, Uthuru Medhu-Raajje, Medhu-Raajje, Dhekunu Medhu-Raajje, Huvadhu (Suvadive, Suvaidu or Suvadiva) [1] [2] [3] [4] and Addumulah.

Decentralization

On 15 October 2010, the government released a finalized list of the administrative constituencies established under the Decentralization Act. It listed 189 administrative constituencies. Out of these constituencies:

  • 4 constituencies were declared "cities", as according to the criteria for determining cities in this act. These constituencies were Male', Fuvahmulah, Kulhudhuffushi and Seenu Atoll. After a referendum among the people, Seenu Atoll was renamed "Addu City". Each city would be served by a city council.
  • 189 constituencies were declared "islands", as according to the criteria for determining islands in this act. These islands are grouped together into 17 atolls. Each atoll shall be served by an atoll council (which will be located on the capital island of the respective atoll), under which each island has its own island council.

Therefore, the final organization of the administrative divisions are as below:

  • 17 atolls
  • 4 cities
  • 189 islands
National Offices

Although the earlier provincial decentralization was rejected by Parliament, President Nasheed reinstated the concept through "National Administrations". The National Administrations of Maldives were in the same divisions as the earlier provinces, and the previous province offices were reinstated as the office of that National Administration, to which the atoll councils reported to accordingly. The National Administrations acted as an extension of the central government in Male' for the convenience of dealing with regional affairs. The National Administrations operated under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The seven National Administrations were:-

  • Upper North National Administration
  • North National Administration
  • North Central National Administration
  • Central National Administration
  • South Central National Administration
  • Upper South National Administration
  • South National Administration

Each administration was headed by a state minister assigned by the president.

All 7 National Offices were abolished by the Waheed administration on 24 April 2012. [5]

Local Council Election 2011

On 5 February 2011, the country's first ever Local council elections were held to elect 188 island councils, 19 atoll councils and 2 city councils. The island of Felivaru, in Lhaviyani Atoll did not participate in the election, since being a newly declared inhabited island, did not have any person registered as a citizen of the island. As of May 2013, the island council election for Felivaru has yet to take place.

Divisions

The first-level divisions are cities and atolls.

City

A city is an inhabited area with a population of 10,000+. The criteria also includes a certain level of economic development and facilities available. A city has a "city council" which governs over the affairs of the city, and keeps communication with the central government. A city will not be included within an administrative atoll. A city has further subdivisions called "wards" or "districts". A city council will also govern over any uninhabited islands or resort islands within its designated area. There are four cities in Maldives. They are Male', Addu, Fuvahmulah and Kulhudhuffushi.

Atoll

The administrative definition of an "atoll" differs from the actual meaning of the word 'atoll'. While naturally, an "atoll" refers to a ring of islands, an "atoll" in the administrative sense, refers to a group of "island" class constituencies, not necessarily within the requirements of a natural atoll. While the majority of administrative atolls are indeed natural atolls, there are exceptions. Each administrative atoll has an "atoll council" which monitors the work of the "island councils" in the atoll, and keep communications with the central government. An atoll council also governs all uninhabited islands and resort islands in their area. There are 18 atolls in Maldives.

Island

The administrative definition of an "island" differs from the actual meaning of the word 'island'. While naturally, an "island" refers to a land-mass surrounded by water, an "island" in the administrative sense, refers to a specified inhabited area within an administrative atoll, which is governed over by an "island council". While the majority of "island" class constituencies are indeed natural islands. There are 189 such islands, each with its own island council. (Except for Felivaru, Lhaviyani Atoll)

Codes and Names of the Administrative Divisions

Every first-level administrative division of the Maldives have the following:

  1. An official name, for example Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi (meaning Thiladhunmathi North).
    This corresponds to the geographical Maldivian name of the Atoll.
  2. A Maldivian code letter, for example: Haa Alifu. When there are two letters, the second stands either for "North" (Alifu) or for "South" (Dhaalu). Alifu means Uthuruburi, and Dhaalu means Dhekunuburi.
    This code was adopted for convenience. It began in order to facilitate radio communication between the atolls and the central administration. As there are certain islands in different atolls that have the same name, for administrative purposes this code is quoted before the name of the island: for example, Baa Funadhoo, Kaafu Funadhoo, Gaafu-Alifu Funadhoo. This code denomination has been very much misused by foreigners and tourists who do not understand the proper use of these names, and the true Maldivian names have often been ignored in publications for tourists. Maldivians may use the letter code name in colloquial conversation, but in serious geographic, historical or cultural writings, the true geographical name always takes precedence.
  1. A Latin code letter, for example: (A).
    The Latin code letter is normally used in boat registration plates. The letter stands for the atoll and the number for the island.

Each atoll has a capital island. All islands of every atoll have their own official name. All cities have an official name, and names for their subdivisions. They also have a Latin code letter assigned to them.

Traditionally, Maldivians call the atolls ending in '-madulu' or '-mathi' by their name without adding the word 'Atoll' at the end. For example, it is correct to write simply Kolhumadulu, without adding the word 'Atholhu' or 'Atoll'. This is also the case in the atoll known as Faadhippolhu as well as the small detached atoll of Fuvahmulah.

First-level administrative Divisions of Maldives

Atolls

ISO 3166-2:MV Latin LetterCode Abbr.Local letterCode NameOfficial NameCapitalPopulation
(2022 census) [6]
MV-07AHAހއ Haa Alif Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi Didhdhoo 14,623
MV-24CShށ Shaviyani Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi Funadhoo 13,698
MV-25DNނ Noonu Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi Manadhoo 12,503
MV-13ERރ Raa Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi U'ngoofaaru 17,581
MV-20FBބ Baa Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi Eydhafushi 10,631
MV-03GLhޅ Lhaviyani Faadhippolhu Naifaru 8,992
MV-26HKކ Kaafu Malé Atholhu Thulusdhoo 17,749
MV-02UAAއއ Alif Alif Ari Atholhu Uthuruburi Rasdhoo 8,017
MV-00IADhއދ Alif Dhaal Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi Mahibadhoo 10,540
MV-04JVވ Vaavu Felidhu Atholhu Felidhoo 1,995
MV-12KMމ Meemu Mulak Atholhu Muli 5,490
MV-14LFފ Faafu Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi Nilandhoo 4,869
MV-17MDhދ Dhaalu Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi Kudahuvadhoo 6,637
MV-08NThތ Thaa Kolhumadulu Veymandoo 10,260
MV-05OLލ Laamu Haddhunmathi Fonadhoo 14,699
MV-27PGAގއ Gaafu Alif Huvadhu Atholhu Uthuruburi Villingili 9,190
MV-28QGDhގދ Gaafu Dhaalu Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi Thinadhoo 12,758

Cities

ISO 3166-2:MV Latin LetterCode Abbr.Local letterCode NameOfficial NameCapitalPopulation
(2022 census) [7]
MV-MLET-- Malé Malé City Malé211,908
MV-29RGnޏ Gnaviyani Fuvahmulah City Fuvahmulah 9,177
MV-01SSސ Seenu/Addu Addu City Hithadhoo 25,062
MV-23BHDhހދ Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi City Kulhudhuffushi 10,131

See also

Related Research Articles

The politics of the Maldives take place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the Head of Government. Executive power is exercised by the government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the Cabinet; like many presidential democracies, each member of the cabinet need to be approved by the Parliament. The President, along with their pick for vice president, is directly elected by the denizens to a five-year term by a secret ballot. Once in office, they could be re-elected to a second 5-year term, which is the limit allowed by the Constitution. The current President of the Maldives is Mohamed Muizzu, when his predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih lost the 2023 Maldivian presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huvadhu Atoll</span> Atoll in the Indian Ocean

Huvadhu, Suvadive, Suvaidu or Suvadiva is the atoll with the most islands in the world. The atoll is located in the Indian Ocean. It is south of the Suvadiva Channel in the Republic of Maldives with a total area of 3,152 km2, of which 38.5 km2 is dry land. The atoll contains 255 islands.

Addu City is a city in Maldives that consists of the inhabited islands of Addu Atoll, the southernmost atoll of the archipelago. Addu City is the second-largest urban area in Maldives, in terms of population, and is one of the two urban areas to get the status of "city" other than the capital city, Malé, and Fuvahmulah. Addu City has 6 districts. They are Hithadhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo. These divisions are naturally islands, but are well connected. In addition, Addu Atoll has other uninhabited islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haa Dhaalu Atoll</span> Atoll of the Maldives

Haa Dhaalu Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division officially known as South Thiladhunmathi Atoll in the Maldives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noonu Atoll</span> Atoll of the Maldives

Noonu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives corresponding to the southern section of Miladhunmadulu Atoll. The capital is Manadhoo. Total population of Noonu Atoll is around 10,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaafu Alifu Atoll</span> Atoll of the Maldives

Gaafu Alifu is an administrative division of the Maldives created on February 8, 1962, when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts. Gaafu Alifu corresponds to the northeastern section of this large natural atoll north of the line extending between the channels of Footukandu and Vaarulu Kandu. The capital of this district is Vilingili.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll</span> Administrative district of the Maldives

Gaafu Dhaalu is an administrative district of the Maldives formed by the southwestern section of Huvadhu Atoll. It was created on February 8, 1962, when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts. Gaafu Dhaalu corresponds to the Southwestern section of this large natural atoll, south of the line extending between the channels of Footukandu and Vaarulu Kandu. The capital of this region is Thinadhoo (Thenadhoo). There are 153 islands in this district, 10 of which are inhabited. This district is located about 340 kilometers south of the capital Malé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gnaviyani Atoll</span> Atoll of the Maldives

Gnaviyani Atoll is one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives corresponding to the natural atoll, Fuvahmulah. Surfacewise this is the smallest administrative unit in the Maldives, situated on the Equatorial Channel between Huvadhu Atoll and Addu Atoll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuvahmulah</span> Inhabited island in Gnaviyani Atoll, Maldives

Fuvahmulah is an island (atoll) in the Maldives. It is under Maldives' administrative division of Gnaviyani Atoll. The island is the second southernmost administrative atoll, located to the south of Huvadhu Atoll and to the north of Seenu Atoll. It's also the third most populous island after Malé and Addu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gadhdhoo</span> Inhabited island in Maldives

Gadhdhoo, is the second most populated island in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. It has its own dialect of Dhivehi which is considerably different from northern and mid-Maldivian speech.

Rathafandhoo is an inhabited island of the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thinadhoo (Huvadhu Atoll)</span> Inhabited island in Maldives

Thinadhoo City is the capital of Gaafu Dhaalu region in the atoll of Huvadhu and the proposed capital for the Upper South Province of the Maldives. It has its own dialect of Dhivehi which is considerably different from northern speech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naifaru</span> Inhabited island in Maldives

Naifaru is an island in the Maldives 200 km (120 mi) north of the capital, Malé. It is the capital and most populous island of Lhaviyani Atoll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Suvadive Republic</span> Country within the Maldives

The United Suvadive Republic was a short-lived breakaway state from the Sultanate of Maldives between 1958 and 1963, consisting of the three southern atolls of the Maldive archipelago: Addu Atoll, Huvadhu Atoll and Fuvahmulah. The first president of the new nation was Abdulla Afeef Didi. The secession occurred in the context of the struggle of the Maldives’ emergence as a modern nation. The United Suvadive Republic inherited a Westminster system of governance cloned from Britain along with other institutional structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Maldives</span> Overview of and topical guide to Maldives

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Maldives:

There are broad channels between the Atolls of the Maldives known locally as 'kandu'. The deepness and broadness of the channels vary from channel to channel.

References

  1. "Thaajudheen Chronicles". Thaajudheen Chronicles.
  2. Romero-Frias, Xavier. "Symbols of the Suvadive State" (PDF). Symbols of the Suvadive State.
  3. Hecker, Hellmuth (27 July 2021). "Verfassung Und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America". "DIE REPUBLIK IM INDISCHEN OZEAN: Verfassungsentwicklung und Rechtsstellung der Malediven." Verfassung und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 2 (4): 425–435. JSTOR   43107982 via JSTOR. Suvadiva (oder Huwadu) und Addu sind die beiden südlichsten Atolle der Malediven
  4. Hecker, Hellmuth (1969). "Verfassung Und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America". DIE REPUBLIK IM INDISCHEN OZEAN: Verfassungsentwicklung und Rechtsstellung der Malediven. 2 (4): 425–435. JSTOR   43107982. Suvadiva (oder Huwadu)
  5. "President abolishes National Offices and National Office Units". Haveeru Daily . 24 April 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  6. "Table P2: Resident population by place of enumeration and administrative division and intercensal growth rate, 2022 & 2014" (PDF). 2022 Maldives Census. Maldives Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  7. "Table P5: Resident Population by island and sex, 2022" (PDF). 2022 Maldives Census. Maldives Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 5 September 2024.