Official name

Republic of Maldives

Form of state

Presidential republic

The executive

The president is elected by direct popular vote; a cabinet is appointed by the president and approved by parliament

Head of state

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (president)

National legislature

Unicameral parliament with 87 members. Legislators are elected by a simple majority in single-seat constituencies, and serve five-year terms

Legal system

Each inhabited island has a magistrate's court. There is also a network of other courts with varying specific responsibilities (such as a family court; juvenile court, etc.), as well as a High Court. The country's top judicial body is the Supreme Court

National elections

The last presidential election was in September 2018 and the next is due in September 2023; the last parliamentary election was in April 2019; the next is due in April 2024

National government

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) controls both the presidency and the legislature

Main political parties

The MDP and the opposition Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), led by the former president, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom; the third-largest party, the Jumhooree Party, is allied with the current government

Key ministers

President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

Vice-president: Faisal Naseem

Defence: Mariya Ahmed Didi

Home affairs: Sheikh Imran Abdulla

Finance and treasury: Ibrahim Ameer

Foreign affairs: Abdulla Shahid

Central bank governor

Ali Hashim