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Maldives

Overview

'The Island Kingdom'

For a long time, the Republic of the Maldives was one of the best-kept secrets in the world; a beautiful string of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean, a paradise for watersports enthusiasts and sunseekers alike. Now the tourism potential of the country has developed significantly: the islands have become an increasingly popular long-haul destination.

However, the Maldives is somewhat divided between being an idyllic tourist destination, and being a country with indigenous peoplewho rarely intermix with the tourists. The Dhivehin, as the islanders are called, are a mixed people of Aryan, Negroid, Sinhalese, Dravidian and Arab descent. The mix reveals their history: the islands were under Muslim control from the 12th century, then Portuguese rule from 1518, a dependency of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1645, then a British Protectorate with an elected sultan as head of state in 1887. The islands achieved full independence as a Sultanatein 1965. Three years later, the Republic of the Maldive Islands established Ibrahim Nasir as president, who was succeeded by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1978, who has been the dominant figure in the islands’ politics since then.

General Information

Area
298 sq km (115 sq miles).

Population
338,000 (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
1,134 per sq km.

Capital
Malé. Population: 70,000 (2005).

Government
Republic since 1965. Gained independence from the UK in 1965.

Language
The national language is Dhivehi. English is widely used as a business language in government offices and the commercial sector. Other languages are widely used within tourist areas.

Religion
The indigenous population is almost entirely Sunni Muslim.