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Maldives (/ mˈ ɔːldi vz/, US: / m ː ˈ ɔːlda vz/; Dhivehi: ɪ ިިިިި ރިިިިިި , romanized: Dhivehi Raajje, Dhivehi pronunciaton: [ i ehi ad̪ ʋ ɾ ːd͡ʒd͡ʒ e]), ofcially the Republic of Maldives ( ިިިިިިިިިިި ރ ިިިިިިި ރ ިިިިިި , Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, Dhivehi pronunciaton: [ i ehi ad̪ ʋ ɾ ːd͡ʒd͡ʒ ː e ge d͡ʒumhu ijja ]), is an archipelagic state in South Asia, ːɾ ː situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres (470 miles; 400 nautcal miles) from the Asian contnent's mainland. Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi) including the sea, land area of all the islands comprises 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states and the smallest Asian country as well as one of the smallest Muslim-majority countries by land area and, with around 557,751 inhabitants, the 2nd least populous country in Asia. Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditonally called the "King's Island" where the ancient royal dynastes ruled for its central locaton.[13] The Maldivian Archipelago is located on the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean; this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep.[14] With an average ground-level elevaton of 1 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level,[15] and a highest natural point of only 2 metres (7 ft 10 in), it is the world's lowest-lying country. (Note that some sources state the highest point, Mount Villingili, as 5 metres or 17 feet) [15] In the 12th century Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago, which was consolidated as a sultanate, developing strong commercial and cultural tes with Asia and Africa. From the mid-16th century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers, with Maldives becoming a Britsh protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidental republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's Majlis. The ensuing decades have seen politcal instability, efforts at democratc reform,[16] and environmental challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels.[17] Maldives became a founding member of the South Asian Associaton for Regional Cooperaton (SAARC). It is also a member of the United Natons, the Commonwealth of Natons, the Organisaton of Islamic Cooperaton, and the Non-Aligned Movement. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper-middle income economy.[18] Fishing has historically been the dominant economic actvity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. The Maldives rates "high" on the Human Development Index,[19] with per capita income significantly higher than other SAARC natons.[20] Maldives was a member of the Commonwealth of Natons from July 1982 untl withdrawing from the organisaton in October 2016 in protest of allegatons by other natons of its human rights abuses and failing democracy. Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functoning democratc processes and popular support.[21] Etymology See also: Names of the Maldives According to legends, the first settlers of Maldives were people known as Dheyvis.[22] The first Kingdom of the Maldives was known as Dheeva Maari. During the 3rd century BCE visit of emissaries, it was noted that the Maldives was known as Dheeva Mahal.[23] During c. 1100 – 1166, Maldives was also referred to as Diva Kudha and the Laccadive archipelago which was a part of Maldives was then referred to as Diva Kanbar by the scholar and polymath al-Biruni (973–1048).[24] The name Maldives may also derive from Sanskrit ިިިި mālā (garland) and ިިިިި dvīpa (island),[25] or ިިިިިިިިި Maala Divaina ("Necklace Islands") in Sinhala.[26] The Maldivian people are called Dhivehin. The word Dheeb/Deeb
(archaic Dhivehi, related to Sanskrit ިިިިި , dvīpa) means "island", and Dhives (Dhivehin) means "islanders" (i., Maldivians).[27] In Tamil, "Garland of Islands" can be translated as Maalai Theevu (ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ).[28] The ancient Sri Lankan chronicle Mahawamsa refers to an island called Mahiladiva ("Island of Women", ިިިިިިިި ) in Pali, which is probably[according to whom?] a mistranslaton of the same Sanskrit word meaning "garland". Jan Hogendorn, Grossman Professor of Economics at Colby College, theorized that the name Maldives derives from the Sanskrit mālādvīpa (ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ), meaning "garland of islands".[25] In Malayalam, "Garland of Islands" can be translated as Maladweepu (ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ).[citaton needed] In Kannada, "Garland of Islands" can be translated as Maaledweepa (ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ި ).[citaton needed] None of these names are mentoned in any literature,[citaton needed] but classical Sanskrit texts datng back to the Vedic period menton the "Hundred Thousand Islands" (Lakshadweepa), a generic name which would include not only the Maldives, but also the Laccadives, Aminidivi Islands, Minicoy, and the Chagos island groups.[29][non-primary source needed] Medieval Arab travellers such as Ibn Battuta called the islands Ma al Dībīyāt (ḥ محل ديبية) from the Arabic word ma al ("palace"),ḥ which must be how the Berber traveller interpreted the local name, having been through Muslim North India, where Perso-Arabic words were introduced to the local vocabulary.[30] This is the name currently inscribed on the scroll in the Maldives state emblem.[31] The classical Persian/Arabic name for Maldives is Dibajat.[32][33] The Dutch referred to the islands as the Maldivische Eilanden (pronounced [m l divisɑ ˈ ə ˈʔɛ ɑil nd (n)]),[34] while the ə Britsh anglicised the local name for the islands first to the "Maldive Islands" and later to "Maldives".[34] In a conversatonal book published in 1563, Garcia da Orta writes: "I must tell you that I have heard it said that the natves do not call it Maldiva but Nalediva. In the Malabar language, nale means four and diva island. So that in that language, the word signifies 'four islands', while we, corruptng the name, call it Maldiva."[35] History Main artcle: History of the Maldives Ancient history and settlement Main artcle: History of the Maldives § Early Age In the 6th–5th century BCE, the Maldives already had their kingdoms. [23] The country has an established history of over 2,500 years according to historical evidence and legends.[36] Early settlers in the Maldives were probably Gujarats who reached and settled Sri Lanka about 500 BCE. Evidence of cultural influence from North India can be deduced from the methods of boatbuilding and silver punch-marked coins[37] The Mahāva ṃsa (300 BCE) has records of people from Sri Lanka emigratng to the Maldives.[22] Assuming that cowrie shells come from the Maldives, historians believe that there may have been people living in the Maldives during the Indus Valley civilisaton (3300–1300 BCE).[38] A number of artefacts show the presence of Hinduism in the country before the Islamic period.[23] According to the book Kitāb fi āthār Mīdhu al-qādimah ( كتاب في آثار ميذو القديمة) (On the Ancient Ruins of Meedhoo), written in the 17th century in Arabic by Allama Ahmed Shihabuddine (Allama Shihab al-Din) of Meedhoo in Addu Atoll, the first settlers of the Maldives were people known as Dheyvis.[22] They came from the Kalibanga in India.[22] The tme of their arrival is unknown but it was before Emperor Asoka's kingdom in 269– BCE. Shihabuddin's story tallies remarkably well with the recorded history of South Asia and that of the copperplate document of the Maldives known as Loamaafaanu.[22] The Maapanansa,[23] the copper plates on which recorded the history of the first Kings of Maldives from the Solar Dynasty, were lost quite early on. A 4th-century notce written by Ammianus Marcellinus (362 CE) speaks of gifts sent to the Roman emperor Julian by a deputaton from the naton of Divi. The name Divi is very similar to Dheyvi who were the first settlers of Maldives.[23] The ancient history of Maldives is told in copperplates, ancient
was known as well at the tme.[45] Even when Ibn Battuta visited the islands, the governor of the island[which?] at that tme was Abd Aziz Al Mogadishawi, a Somali[46] Somalis have a legend which claims Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari as a natve of Barbera, a significant trading port on the northwestern coast of Somalia.[47] Barbara or Barbaroi (Berbers), as the ancestors of the Somalis were referred to by medieval Arab and ancient Greek geographers, respectvely.[48][49][50] This is also seen when Ibn Battuta visited Mogadishu, he mentons that the Sultan at that tme, "Abu Bakr ibn Shaikh Omar", was a Berber (Somali). According to scholars, Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari was Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn, a famous natve Somali scholar[51] known for establishing the Walashma dynasty of the Horn of Africa.[52] After his conversion of the populaton of Dogor (now known as Aw Barkhadle), a town in Somalia, he is also credited to have been responsible for spreading Islam in the Maldivian islands, establishing the Hukuru Miskiy, and convertng the Maldivian populaton to Islam.[53][54] Ibn Battuta states the Maldivian king was converted by Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari (Blessed Father of Somalia).[55] Others have it he may have been from the Persian town of Tabriz.[56] The first reference to an Iranian origin dates to an 18th-century Persian text.[57] His venerated tomb now stands on the grounds of Medhu Ziyaaraiy, across the street from the Friday Mosque, or Hukuru Miskiy, in Malé. Built in 1656, this is the oldest mosque in the Maldives. Following the Islamic concept that before Islam there was the tme of Jahiliya (ignorance), in the history books used by Maldivians the introducton of Islam at the end of the 12th century is considered the cornerstone of the country's history. Nonetheless, the cultural influence of Buddhism remains, a reality directly experienced by Ibn Battuta during his nine months there sometme between 1341 and 1345, serving as a chief judge and marrying into the royal family of Omar I.[58] For he became embroiled in local politcs and left when his strict judgments in the laissez-faire island kingdom began to chafe with its rulers. In partcular, he was dismayed at the local women going about with no clothing above the waist—a violaton of Middle Eastern Islamic standards of modesty—and the locals taking no notce when he complained.[59] Compared to the other areas of South Asia, the conversion of the Maldives to Islam happened relatvely late. Arab traders had converted populatons in the Malabar Coast since the 7th century, and Muhammad Bin Qāsim had converted large swathes of Sindh to Islam at about the same tme. The Maldives remained a Buddhist kingdom for another 500 years after the conversion of Malabar Coast and Sindh—perhaps as the southwesternmost Buddhist country. Arabic became the prime language of administraton (instead of Persian and Urdu), and the Maliki school of jurisprudence was introduced, both hintng at direct contact with the core of the Arab world. [citaton needed] Middle Eastern seafarers had just begun to take over the Indian Ocean trade routes in the 10th century and found the Maldives to be an important link in those routes as the first landfall for traders from Basra sailing to Southeast Asia. Trade involved mainly cowrie shells—widely used as a form of currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast—and coir fibre. The Bengal Sultanate, where cowrie shells were used as legal tender, was one of the principal trading partners of the Maldives. The Bengal–Maldives cowry shell trade was the largest shell currency trade network in history.[60] The other essental product of the Maldives was coir, the fibre of the dried coconut husk, resistant to saltwater. It sttched together and rigged the dhows that plied the Indian Ocean. Maldivian coir was exported to Sindh, China, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf. Colonial period Portuguese presence in the Maldives was established in 1558, by order of Constantno of Braganza, Viceroy of Portuguese India. 16th-century Portuguese illustraton from the Códice Casanatense, depictng workers 18th-century map by Pierre Morter from the Netherlands,
depictng with detail the islands of the Maldives In 1558, the Portuguese established a small garrison with a Viador (Viyazoaru), or overseer of a factory (trading post) in the Maldives, which they administered from their main colony in Goa. Their attempts to impose Christanity provoked a local revolt led by Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A'u am, his twoẓ brothers and Dhuvaafaru Dhandahele, who fifteen years later drove the Portuguese out of Maldives. This event is now commemorated as Natonal Day. In the mid-17th century, the Dutch, who had replaced the Portuguese as the dominant power in Ceylon, established hegemony over Maldivian affairs without involving themselves directly in local matters, which were governed according to centuries-old Islamic customs. The Britsh expelled the Dutch from Ceylon in 1796 and included the Maldives as a Britsh Protectorate. The status of Maldives as a Britsh protectorate was ofcially recorded in an 1887 agreement in which the sultan Muhammad Mueenuddeen II accepted Britsh influence over Maldivian external relatons and defence while retaining home rule, which contnued to be regulated by Muslim traditonal insttutons in exchange for an annual tribute. The status of the islands was akin to other Britsh protectorates in the Indian Ocean region, including Zanzibar and the Trucial States. 17th-century Portuguese drawing of the fortress of Maldives and the archipelago. In Antonio Bocarro book of fortress (1632)[61] In the Britsh period, the Sultan's powers were taken over by the Chief Minister, much to the chagrin of the Britsh Governor-General who contnued to deal with the ineffectual Sultan. Consequently, Britain encouraged the development of a consttutonal monarchy, and the first Consttuton was proclaimed in 1932. However, the new arrangements favoured neither the ageing Sultan nor the wily Chief Minister, but rather a young crop of Britsh-educated reformists. As a result, angry mobs were instgated against the Consttuton which was publicly torn up. The Maldives remained a Britsh crown protectorate untl 1953 when the sultanate was suspended and the First Republic was declared under the short-lived presidency of Muhammad Amin Didi. While serving as prime minister during the 1940s, Didi natonalized the fish export industry. As president, he is remembered as a reformer of the educaton system and an advocate of women's rights. Conservatves in Malé ousted his government, and during a riot over food shortages, Didi was beaten by a mob and died on a nearby island. An RAF Short Sunderland moored in the lagoon at Addu Atoll, during WWII Beginning in the 1950s, the politcal history in the Maldives was largely influenced by the Britsh military presence on the islands. In 1954, the restoraton of the sultanate perpetuated the rule of the past. Two years later, the United Kingdom obtained permission to reestablish its wartme RAF Gan airfield in the southernmost Addu Atoll, employing hundreds of locals. In 1957, however, the new prime minister, Ibrahim Nasir, called for a review of the agreement. Nasir was challenged in 1959 by a local secessionist movement in the three southernmost atolls that benefited economically from the Britsh presence on Gan. This group cut tes with the Maldives government and formed an independent state, the United Suvadive Republic with Abdullah Afeef as president and Hithadhoo as its capital. One year later the Suvadive republic was scrapped after Nasir sent gunboats from Malé with government police, and Abdulla Afif went into exile. Meanwhile, in 1960 the Maldives allowed the United Kingdom to contnue to use both the Gan and the Hithadhoo facilites for thirty years, with the payment of £750,000 from 1960 to 1965 for Maldives' economic development. The base was closed in 1976 as part of the larger Britsh withdrawal of permanently-statoned forces 'East of Suez'. [62] Independence and republic Flag of the Sultan of the Maldives When the Britsh became increasingly unable to contnue their colonial hold on Asia and were losing their colonies to the indigenous populatons who wanted freedom, on 26 July 1965 an agreement was signed
resort islands were forced to close because of tsunami damage. The total damage was estmated at more than US$400 million, or some 62% of the GDP.[67] 102 Maldivians and 6 foreigners reportedly died in the tsunami.[64] The destructve impact of the waves on the low-lying islands was mitgated by the fact there was no contnental shelf or land mass upon which the waves could gain height. The tallest waves were reported to be 14 feet (4 m) high.[68] During the later part of Maumoon's rule, independent politcal movements emerged in the Maldives, which challenged the then-ruling Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party, MPP) and demanded democratc reform. The dissident journalist and actvist Mohamed Nasheed founded the Maldivian Democratc Party (MDP) in 2003 and pressured Maumoon into allowing gradual politcal reforms.[69] In 2008, a new consttuton was approved and the first direct presidental electons occurred, which were won by Nasheed in the second round. His administraton faced many challenges, including the huge debt left by the previous government, the economic downturn following the 2004 tsunami, overspending by means of overprintng of local currency (the rufiyaa), unemployment, corrupton, and increasing drug use.[70][unreliable source?] Taxaton on goods was imposed for the first tme in the country, and import dutes were reduced on many goods and services. Universal health insurance (Aasandha) and social welfare benefits were given to those aged 65 years or older, single parents, and those with special needs.[64] Social and politcal unrest grew in late 2011, following oppositon campaigns in the name of protectng Islam. Nasheed controversially resigned from ofce after large number of police and army mutnied in February 2012. Nasheed's vice president, Mohammed Waheed Hassan, was sworn in as president.[71] Nasheed was later arrested,[72] convicted of terrorism, and sentenced to 13 years. The trial was widely seen as flawed and politcal. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detenton called for Nasheed's immediate release.[73] The electons in late 2013 were highly contested. Former president Nasheed won the most votes in the first round, but the Supreme Court annulled it despite the positve assessment of internatonal electon observers. In the re-run vote Abdulla Yameen, half-brother of the former president Maumoon, assumed the presidency.[69] Yameen survived an assassinaton attempt in late 2015.[74] Vice president Ahmed Adeeb was later arrested together with 17 supporters for "public order offences" and the government insttuted a broader crackdown against his accomplices. A state of emergency was later declared ahead of a planned ant-government rally,[75] and the people's Majlis accelerated the removal of Adeeb.[76][77] In the 2018 electons, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the most votes, and was sworn in as the Maldives' new president in November 2018. Adeeb was freed by courts in Male in July 2019 after his convicton on charges of terrorism and corrupton was overruled, but was placed under a travel ban after the state prosecutor appealed the order in a corrupton and money laundering case. Adeeb escaped in a tugboat to seek asylum in India. It is understood that the Indian Coast Guard escorted the tugboat to the Internatonal Maritme Boundary Line (IMBL) and he was then "transferred" to a Maldivian Coast Guard ship, where ofcials took him into custody.[78] Former president Abdulla Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison in November 2019 for money laundering. The High Court upheld the jail sentence in January 2021.[79] However, Supreme Court overturned Yameen's convicton in November 2021.[80] Geography Main artcle: Geography of the Maldives Maalhosmadulu Atoll seen from space. Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll and Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll can be seen in this picture. Dark clouds bringing heavy rain, common in the rainy season. The Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, that stretch along a length of 871 kilometres (541 miles) north to south, 130 kilometres (81 miles) east to west,
spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), of which only 298 km2 (115 sq mi) is dry land, making this one of the world's most dispersed countries. It lies between lattudes 1°S and 8°N, and longitudes 72° and 74°E. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometres (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigaton from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administratve purposes, the Maldivian government organised these atolls into 21 administratve divisions. The largest island of Maldives is that of Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives. In Addu Atoll, the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef (collectvely called Link Road) and the total length of the road is 14 km (9 mi). Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with maximum and average natural ground levels of only 2 metres (7 ft 10 in) and 1 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, respectvely. In areas where constructon exists, however, this has been increased to several metres. More than 80 per cent of the country's land is composed of coral islands which rise less than one metre above sea level.[81] As a result, the Maldives are at high risk of being submerged due to rising sea levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that, at current rates, sea-level rise would be high enough to make the Maldives uninhabitable by 2100.[82][83] Climate A beach of Bathala island The Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) under the Köppen climate classificaton, which is affected by the large landmass of South Asia to the north. Because the Maldives has the lowest elevaton of any country in the world, the temperature is constantly hot and often humid. The presence of this landmass causes differental heatng of land and water. These factors set off a rush of moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean over South Asia, resultng in the southwest monsoon. Two seasons dominate Maldives' weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeastern monsoon and the rainy season associated with the southwest monsoon which brings strong winds and storms.[84] The shift from the dry northeast monsoon to the moist southwest monsoon occurs during April and May. During this period, the southwest winds contribute to the formaton of the southwest monsoon, which reaches Maldives at the beginning of June and lasts untl the end of November. However, the weather patterns of Maldives do not always conform to the monsoon patterns of South Asia. The annual rainfall averages 254 centmetres (100 in) in the north and 381 centmetres (150 in) in the south. [85][84] The monsoonal influence is greater in the north of the Maldives than in the south, more influenced by the equatorial currents. The average high temperature is 31 degrees Celsius and the average low temperature is 26 degrees Celsius.[84] Climate data for Malé (1981–2010) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C (°F) 30 (86) 30 (87) 31 (88) 31 (88) 31 (88) 30 (87) 30 (86) 30 (86) 30 (86) 30 (86) 30 (86) 30 (86) 30 (87) Daily mean °C (°F) 28 (82) 28 (82) 28 (84) 29 (84) 28 (83) 28 (82) 28 (82) 28 (82) 27 (82) 27 (82) 27 (81) 27 (82) 28 (82) Average low °C (°F) 25 (78) 25 (78) 26 (79) 26 (80) 26 (79) 26 (78) 25 (78) 25 (77) 25 (77) 25 (77) 25 (77) 25 (77) 25 (78) Average rainfall mm (inches) 114 (4) 38 (1) 73 (2) 122 (4) 218 (8) 167 (6) 149 (5) 175. (6) 199 (7) 194 (7) 231 (9) 216 (8) 1,901 (74) Average precipitaton days (≥ 1 mm) 6 3 5 9 15 13 12 13 15
sweetlips, reef sharks, groupers, eels, snappers, bannerfish, batfish, humphead wrasse, spotted eagle rays, scorpionfish, lobsters, nudibranches, angelfish, butterflyfish, squirrelfish, soldierfish, glassfish, surgeonfish, unicornfish, triggerfish, Napoleon wrasse, and barracuda. [102][103] These coral reefs are home to a variety of marine ecosystems that vary from planktonic organisms to whale sharks. Sponges have gained importance as five species have displayed ant-tumor and ant-cancer propertes.[104] In 1998, sea-temperature warming of as much as 5 °C (9 °F) due to a single El Niño phenomenon event caused coral bleaching, killing two-thirds of the naton's coral reefs.[105] In an effort to induce the regrowth of the reefs, scientsts placed electrified cones anywhere from 20–60 feet (6–18 m) below the surface to provide a substrate for larval coral attachment. In 2004, scientsts witnessed corals regeneratng. Corals began to eject pink-orange eggs and sperm. The growth of these electrified corals was five tmes faster than untreated corals.[105] Scientst Azeez Hakim stated: before 1998, we never thought that this reef would die. We had always taken for granted that these animals would be there, that this reef would be there forever. El Niño gave us a wake-up call that these things are not going to be there forever. Not only this, but they also act as a natural barrier against tropical storms, floods and tsunamis. Seaweeds grow on the skeletons of dead coral. — [102] Again, in 2016, the coral reefs of the Maldives experienced a severe bleaching incident. Up to 95% of coral around some islands have died, and, even after six months, 100% of young coral transplants died. The surface water temperatures reached an all-tme high in 2016, at 31 degrees Celsius in May.[106] Recent scientfic studies suggest that the faunistc compositon can vary greatly between neighbour atolls, especially in terms of benthic fauna. Differences in terms of fishing pressure (including poaching) could be the cause.[107] Government Main artcle: Politcs of the Maldives Republic Square in Malé Maldives is a presidental consttutonal republic, with extensive influence of the president as head of government and head of state. The president heads the executve branch, and appoints the cabinet which is approved by the People's Majlis (Parliament). He leads the armed forces. The current president as of 19 October 2021 is Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. President and Members of the unicameral Majlis serve five-year terms, with the total number of members determined by atoll populatons. At the 2014 electon, 77 members were elected. The People's Majlis, located in Malé, houses members from all over the country.[3] The republican consttuton came into force in 1968 and was amended in 1970, 1972, and 1975. On 27 November 1997 it was replaced by another Consttuton assented to by then-President Maumoon. This Consttuton came into force on 1 January 1998. The current Consttuton of Maldives was ratfied by President Maumoon on 7 August 2008, and came into effect immediately, replacing and repealing the consttuton of 1998. This new consttuton includes a judiciary run by an independent commission, and independent commissions to oversee electons and fight corrupton. It also reduces the executve powers vested under the president and strengthens the parliament. All state that the president is head of state, head of government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Maldives. In 2018, the then ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM-Y)'s tensions with oppositon partes and subsequent crackdown was termed as an "assault on democracy" by the UN Human Rights chief.[108] The former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh addressing the People's Majlis in 2011 In April 2019 parliamentary electon The Maldivian Democratc Party (MDP) of president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won a landslide victory. It took 65 of 87 seats of the parliament.[109] This was the first tme a single party was able to get such a high number of seats in the parliament in Maldivian history.[110] Order of Nishanizzuddeen is the Maldives' highest honour to a person.[111]
Law See also: Judiciary of the Maldives and Law enforcement in the Maldives According to the Consttuton of Maldives, "the judges are independent, and subject only to the Consttuton and the law. When deciding matters on which the Consttuton or the law is silent, judges must consider Islamic Shari'ah". Islam is the ofcial religion of the Maldives and open practce of any other religion is forbidden.[112] The 2008 consttuton says that the republic "is based on the principles of Islam" and that "no law contrary to any principle of Islam can be applied". Non-Muslims are prohibited from becoming citzens.[113] The requirement to adhere to a partcular religion and prohibiton of public worship following other religions is contrary to Artcle 18 of the Universal Declaraton of Human Rights and Artcle 18 of the Internatonal Covenant on Civil and Politcal Rights to which Maldives has recently become party[114] and was addressed in Maldives' reservaton in adhering to the Covenant claiming that "The applicaton of the principles set out in Artcle 18 of the Covenant shall be without prejudice to the Consttuton of the Republic of the Maldives."[115] A new penal code came into effect on 16 July 2015, replacing the 1968 law, the first modern, comprehensive penal code to incorporate the major tenets and principles of Islamic law.[116][117] Same-sex relatons are illegal in the Maldives, although tourist resorts typically operate as exceptons to this law.[118][119][120] Foreign relatons Main artcle: Foreign relatons of the Maldives Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hosts Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid Since 1996, the Maldives has been the ofcial progress monitor of the Indian Ocean Commission. In 2002, the Maldives began to express interest in the commission but as of 2008 had not applied for membership. Maldives' interest relates to its identty as a small island state, especially economic development and environmental preservaton, and its desire for closer relatons with France, a main actor in the IOC region. The Maldives is a founding member of the South Asian Associaton for Regional Cooperaton (SAARC). The republic joined the Commonwealth in 1982, some 17 years after gaining independence from the United Kingdom. In October 2016, Maldives announced its withdrawal from the Commonwealth[121] in protest at allegatons of human rights abuse and failing democracy.[122] The Maldives enjoys close tes with Commonwealth members Seychelles and Mauritus. The Maldives and Comoros are also both members of the Organisaton of Islamic Cooperaton. Following his electon as president in 2018, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his Cabinet decided that the Maldives would apply to rejoin the Commonwealth,[123] with readmission occurring on 1 February 2020.[124] As a result of sanctons imposed upon the Russian oligarchs by much of the global community in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many of them sought refuge for their mega-yachts in the Maldives due to the absence of an extraditon treaty with the United States and other countries.[125] Military Main artcle: Maldives Natonal Defence Force Fire & Rescue Service boats The Maldives Natonal Defence Force is the combined security organisaton responsible for defending the security and sovereignty of the Maldives, having the primary task of being responsible for attending to all internal and external security needs of the Maldives, including the protecton of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the maintenance of peace and security. The MNDF component branches are the Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Special Forces, Service Corps, Defence Intelligence Service, Military Police, Corps of Engineers, Special Protecton Group, Medical Corps, Adjutant General's Corps, Coast Guard Aviaton Squadron, and the Fire and Rescue Service. The Maldives has an arrangement with India allowing cooperaton on radar coverage. As a water-bound naton, much of its security concerns lie at sea. Almost 99% of the country is covered by sea and the remaining 1% land is scattered over an area of 800 km (497 mi) × 120 km (75 mi), with the
tourism sector which would play a significant role in the naton's development was at its infant stage. Agriculture and manufacturing contnue to play lesser roles in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultvable land and the shortage of domestc labour. Tourism Main artcles: Tourism in the Maldives, Diving in the Maldives, and List of mosques in the Maldives Filitheyo island beach with tall palm trees and blue fresh lagoons The Maldives remained largely unknown to tourists untl the early 1970s. Only 189 islands are home to its 447,137 inhabitants.[133] The other islands are used entrely for economic purposes, of which tourism and agriculture are the most dominant. Tourism accounts for 28% of the GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import dutes and tourism-related taxes. The development of tourism fostered the overall growth of the country's economy. It created direct and indirect employment and income generaton opportunites in other related industries. The first tourist resorts were opened in 1972 with Bandos Island Resort and Kurumba Village (the current name is Kurumba Maldives),[134] which transformed the Maldives economy. The resort island of Landaa Giraavaru (Baa atoll) According to the Ministry of Tourism, the emergence of tourism in 1972 transformed the economy, moving rapidly from dependence on fisheries to tourism. In just three and a half decades, the industry became the main source of income. Tourism was also the country's biggest foreign currency earner and the single largest contributor to the GDP. As of 2008, 89 resorts in the Maldives offered over 17,000 beds and hosted over 600,000 tourists annually.[135] In 2019, over 1 million visitors came to the islands.[136] The number of resorts increased from 2 to 92 between 1972 and 2007. As of 2007, over 8,380,000 tourists had visited Maldives.[137] The country has six heritage Maldivian coral mosques listed as UNESCO tentatve sites.[138] Visitors See also: Maldives § Transportaton, and Visa policy of Maldives Visitors to the Maldives do not need to apply for a visa pre-arrival, regardless of their country of origin, provided they have a valid passport, proof of onward travel, and the money to be self- sufcient while in the country.[139] Most visitors arrive at Velana Internatonal Airport, on Hulhulé Island, adjacent to the capital Malé. The airport is served by flights to and from India, Sri Lanka, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Istanbul, and major airports in South- East Asia, as well as charters from Europe. Gan Airport, on the southern atoll of Addu, also serves an internatonal flight to Milan several tmes a week. Britsh Airways offers direct flights to the Maldives from Heathrow Airport.[140] Fishing industry Main artcle: Fishing industry in the Maldives This secton needs additonal citatons for verificaton. Please help improve this artcle by adding citatons to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) A mechanised traditonal inter-island dhoni stripped of its sails For many centuries the Maldivian economy was entrely dependent on fishing and other marine products. Fishing remains the main occupaton of the people and the government gives priority to the fisheries sector. The mechanisaton of the traditonal fishing boat called dhoni in 1974 was a major milestone in the development of the fisheries industry. A fish canning plant was installed on Felivaru in 1977, as a joint venture with a Japanese firm. In 1979, a Fisheries Advisory Board was set up with the mandate of advising the government on policy guidelines for the overall development of the fisheries sector. Manpower development programmes began in the early 1980s, and fisheries educaton was incorporated into the school curriculum. Fish aggregatng devices and navigatonal aids were located at various strategic points. Moreover, the opening up of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Maldives for fisheries has further enhanced the growth of the fisheries sector. As of 2010,
fisheries contributed over 15% of the country's GDP and engaged about 30% of the country's workforce. Fisheries were also the second-largest foreign exchange earner after tourism. Demographics Main artcle: Demographics of Maldives This secton needs additonal citatons for verificaton. Please help improve this artcle by adding citatons to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Malé, the capital of the Maldives Year Populaton[141][9] 1911 72,237 1966 100,883 2000 270,101 2020 est. 557,426 The largest ethnic group is Dhivehin, i. the Maldivians, natve to the historic region of the Maldive Islands comprising today's Republic of Maldives and the island of Minicoy in Union territory of Lakshadweep, India. They share the same culture and speak the Dhivehi language. They are principally an Indo-Aryan people, having traces of Middle Eastern, South Asian, Austronesian and African genes in the populaton. In the past, there was also a small Tamil populaton known as the Giraavaru people. This group has now been almost completely absorbed into the larger Maldivian society but were once natve to the island of Giraavaru (Kaafu Atoll).[citaton needed] This island was evacuated in 1968 due to heavy erosion of the island. Some social stratficaton exists on the islands. It is not rigid, since rank is based on varied factors, including occupaton, wealth, Islamic virtue, and family tes. Instead of a complex caste system, there was merely a distncton between noble (bēfulhu) and common people in the Maldives. Members of the social elite are concentrated in Malé. Life expectancy in the Maldives The populaton doubled by 1978, and the populaton growth rate peaked at 3% in 1985. At the 2006 census, the populaton had reached 298,968,[142] although the census in 2000 showed that the populaton growth rate had declined to 1%. Life expectancy at birth stood at 46 years in 1978, and later rose to 72. Infant mortality has declined from 12% in 1977 to 1% today, and adult literacy reached 99%. Combined school enrollment reached the high 90s. The populaton was projected to have reached 317,280 in 2010.[143] The 2014 Populaton and Housing Census listed the total populaton in Maldives as 437,535: 339,761 resident Maldivians and 97,774 resident foreigners, approximately 16% of the total populaton. However, it is believed that foreigners have been undercounted.[9][144] As of May 2021, there were 281,000 expatriate workers, an estmated 63,000 of whom are undocumented in the Maldives: 3,506 Chinese, 5, Nepalese, 15,670 Sri Lankans, 28,840 Indians, and (the largest group of foreigners working in the country) 112,588 Bangladeshis.[145][146][147] Other immigrants include Filipinos in the Maldives as well as various Western foreign workers. Religion See also: Islam in Maldives After the long Buddhist period of Maldivian history,[148] Muslim traders introduced Islam. Maldivians converted to Islam by the mid-12th century. The islands have had a long history of Sufic orders, as can be seen in the history of the country such as the building of tombs. They were used untl as recently as the 1980s for seeking the help of buried saints. They can be seen next to some old mosques and are considered a part of Maldives's cultural heritage. Other aspects of tassawuf, such as ritualised dhikr ceremonies called Maulūdu (Mawlid)— the liturgy of which included recitatons and certain supplicatons in a melodic tone—existed untl very recent tmes. These Maulūdu festvals were held in ornate tents specially built for the occasion. At present Islam is the ofcial religion of the entre populaton, as adherence to it is required for citzenship. According to Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta, the person responsible for this conversion was a Sunni Muslim visitor named Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al- Barbari, sailing from Morocco. He is also referred to as Tabrizugefaanu. His venerated tomb now stands on the grounds of Medhu Ziyaaraiy, across the street from the Friday Mosque, or Hukuru Miskiy, in Malé. Built in 1656, this is the country's oldest mosque. Languages See
and Maldivian Air Taxi, but these merged in 2013 under the name TMA. The seaplane fleet is entrely made up of DHC-6 Twin Otters. There is also another airline, Flyme, which operates using ATR planes to domestc airports, principally Villa-Maamigili, Dharavandhoo and some others. Manta Air begins its first scheduled seaplane service. Its seaplane fleet is made up of DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. In additon to the seaplane service, Manta Air utlizes ATR 72– aircraft to operate domestc flights to Dhaalu Airport, Dharavandhoo Airport and Kooddoo Airport from the main Velana Internatonal Airport.[155] Depending on the distance of the destnaton island from the airport, resorts organise speedboat transfers or seaplane flights directly to the resort island jetty for their guests. Several daily flights operate from Velana Internatonal Airport to the 18 domestc and internatonal airports in the country. Scheduled ferries also operate from Malé to many of the atolls. The traditonal Maldivian boat is called a dhoni. Speedboats and seaplanes tend to be more expensive, while travel by dhoni, although slower, is relatvely cheaper and convenient. Educaton Main artcle: Educaton in the Maldives The Maldives Natonal University is one of the country's three insttutons of higher educaton. In 1973, the Allied Health Services Training Centre (the forerunner of the Faculty of Health Sciences) was established by the Ministry of Health. The Vocatonal Training Centre was established in 1974, providing training for mechanical and electrical trades. In 1984, the Insttute for Teacher Educaton was created and the School of Hotel and Catering Services was established in 1987 to provide trained personnel for the tourist industry. In 1991, the Insttute of Management and Administraton was created to train staff for public and private services. In 1998, the Maldives College of Higher Educaton was founded. The Insttute of Shar'ah and Law was founded in January 1999. In 2000 the college launched its first-degree programme, Bachelor of Arts. On 17 January 2011 the Maldives Natonal University Act was passed by the President of the Maldives; The Maldives Natonal University was named on 15 February 2011. In 2015 under a Presidental decree the College of Islamic Studies was changed into the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM).[156] See also List of Maldives-related topics Outline of Maldives Maldives Sign Language Maldives Inland Revenue Authority References Levinson, David (1947). Ethnic groups worldwide: a ready reference handbook. Oryx Publishers. ISBN 978-1-57356-019-1. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2020. Maloney, Clarence. "Maldives People". Internatonal Insttute for Asian Studies. Archived from the original on 29 January 2002. Retrieved 22 June 2008. "Maldives Enthnography". Maldives-ethnography. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2010. "President". The President's Ofce – Republic of Maldives. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021. "Vice President". The President's Ofce – Republic of Maldives. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021. "19th Parliament Speaker". People's Majlis. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021. "President appoints Chief Justce and Supreme Court Justce". presidency.gov. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Field Listng: Area". CIA World Factbook. CIA World Factbook. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2016. "Maldives Populaton Projectons 2014–2054". statstcsmaldives.gov. Natonal Bureau of Statstcs. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020. "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". IMF. "Gini Index coefcient". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 16 July 2021. "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). United Natons Development Programme. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022. "Male | Geography, Facts, & Points of Interest". Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2020. World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001).
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Maldives - Summary
Course: Introduction to International Relations (govt1621)
University: University of Sydney
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