Area : 90,000 sq.kms (1,190 islands)
Status: Republic
Population: 238,368 (1993)
Capital : Male’
Languages : Dhivehi, English
Temperature : 30.4 Max & 25.4 Min (Celcius)
Average Annual Rainfall : 1948.2 mm
Currency : Maldivian Rufiyaa (1 US$ = Rf 11.72)
Location
South west of Sri Lanka on the equator.
Geography
Coral reef archipelago of 26 major atoll formations, 1190 islands, where 199 islands are inhabited and 74 are exclusively developed as tourist resorts; measuring 820 kilometres north to south and 120 kilometres east to west at its greatest width.
People
In 1995 the population of the Republic of Maldives was estimated at 244,644. The origins of the Maldivians are lost in antiquity although it is known that the country has been populated for over 3,000 years according to archaeological evidence that link the country to the Indus Valley civilization. About 800 years ago the Buddhist kings of the Maldives converted to Islam through the influence of Arab traders on the Silk Route. It became a British protectorate from the turn of the century until 1965. However, there never was a significant colonial presence or influence on the unique society which evolved in grand isolation for thousands of years.
Language
The language of the Maldives is of Indo-Aryan origin and used as the official language of the country. English is widely spoken. Italian and German are spoken by many Maldivians who work in the tourism industry.
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