Maldives

Maldives Background

The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.

Maldives Information

• Population: 339,330 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian
• Location:: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
• Religions:: Sunni Muslim
• Ethnic Groups:: South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 300 sq km
• Coast Line: 644 km
• Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
• Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches
• Maritime Claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 13.33% permanent crops: 16.67% other: 70% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
• Natural Resources: fish
• Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Gan, Male
• Airports: 5 (2003 est.)