Straddling the equator in the Indian Ocean, the Republic of Maldives is an archipelago of islands stretching over 820 kms north-south and 128 kms east-west. The 1,190 small islands that make up the Maldives are clustered into 26 natural atolls, which for administrative purposes are grouped into 20.  Each atoll is a ring of breakwater coral reef, studded with islands and pierced by a few narrow ocean channels.  Only 202 islands are inhabited, and another 80 islands have been developed into tourist resorts.

These tiny, low-lying islands have an average elevation of just a few feet above sea level and have white sandy beaches, tall coconut palms and crystal-clear lagoons. Land surfaces vary from tiny sandbanks and coral patches to real "coral islands," with few being more than 1 km long.

Climate

The country has a warm tropical climate, with average daily temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius all year round.   The rainy southwest monsoon begins during April and continues until October, while the generally fine northeast monsoon prevails from December to March.

Population

The population of 294,000 is scattered throughout the country, but Male', the capital island, houses a population of 100,000 in an area of only 2 sq km.  This makes it one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Language and Religion

The local and official language is Dhivehi, a language which is placed in the Indro-Indian group of languages and truly unique to the Maldives. With the wide dispersion in population, vocabulary and pronunciation across the atolls do differ, and the southern dialects are quite distinct.  The Maldivian script is Thaana, adopted in the 16th Century and is written from left to right.  English also is widely spoken and used in education, business and international communication. 

All Maldivians are Sunni Muslims, and religion has been and continues to be an integral part of everyday life since 1153 when the Maldives embraced Islam.  The law is based on the Islamic Shari’a and even the main events and festivals of the Maldives also follow the Muslim calendar.

Government

The Maldives is a democratic republic, with a President leading the Government with the support of the cabinet of Ministers. The main legislative body is the People's Majlis, or Parliament, composed of 50 elected by citizens of the country.

Economy

The Maldivian economy is predominantly based on tourism, which accounts for almost 20% of GDP, and fisheries and trade follow close behind.  

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History

Economy