Country profile: Maldives
Facts and statistics on Maldives including history, population, politics, geography, economy, religion and climate
Potted history of the country: A sultanate under Dutch and later British protection, independence was declared in 1965; following a referendum three years later the Maldives became a republic. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s regime dominated a one-party political scene for 30 years until civil unrest forced democratic reforms. Gayoom was swept from power in the country’s first multi-party presidential election in 2008.
Political pressure points: Global warming and rising sea levels are a significant threat; the new president has even broached buying a new homeland as an insurance policy. Other issues include population growth, overcrowding - compounded by a lack of land suitable for urban development - and improving living standards for a local population marginalised by the tourist industry.
Population mix: Maldivians are thought to be of mixed descent, deriving from South Indians (Dravidians), Sinhalese and Arabs
Religious makeup: Not available
Main languages: Dhivehi
Living national icons: Ahmed Abbas (cartoonist), Naifaru Dhohokko (musician) Shifana Ali (athlete)
Landscape and climate: White sandy beaches, crystal clear water and tropical weather conditions make this chain of 1,192 small coral islands a tourist magnet. Spread across the Indian Ocean in 26 atolls, the islands are on average just 1.5 metres above sea level and are extremely vulnerable to coastal erosion.
Highest point: Part of Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 metres
Area covered by water: Less than one square mile
Healthcare and disease: Life expectancy is higher than average for south-east Asia and enormous progress has been made in cutting the mortality rate for under-fives. Even so, the island’s riches are thinly spread, with only 59% of the population having access to sanitation.
Average life expectancy (m/f): 72/73
Average number of children per mother: 2.6
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births: 120
Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 30
HIV/Aids rate: 0.06%
Doctors per 1,000 head of population: 0.92
Adult literacy rate: 97.0% (m 97%/f 97.1%)
Economic outlook: Tourism has pushed the islands’ GDP higher than their neighbours but leaves them susceptible to economic shock or a natural disaster. The fishing industry also makes a vital contribution to the economy. A lack of arable land means staple foods have to be imported.
Main industries: Tourism, fishing, agriculture and transport services
Key crops/livestock: Coconuts
Key exports: Fish
GDP: £473m (161st)
GDP per head: £1,576
Unemployment rate: 14.4%
Proportion of global carbon emissions: 0.01%
Most popular tourist attractions: Diving alongside whale sharks and manta rays; Huskuru Miskiiy, a 17th-century mosque.
Local recommendation: To peek beyond the resort walls and get a sense of everyday life, visit Male, the capital. At one time this was discouraged lest tourists interfere with the locals’ traditional Islamic lifestyle.
National dish: Garudhiya (tuna boiled in salted water)
Foreign tourist visitors per year: 675,889
Media freedom index (ranked out of 173): 104
Did you know … Maldives is the smallest Muslim nation in the world and the smallest Asian country in terms of population.
National anthem:
In national unity do we salute our nation
In the national language do we offer our prayers
And salute our nation
· Information correct on date of first publication, Wednesday 22 April 2009.
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