Maldives

The Maldives, formally referred to as the Republic of Maldives, is a nation and archipelagic state situated in South Asia inside the Indian Ocean, having a population of 515,132 as per the 2022 census. The Maldives is located southwest of Sri Lanka and India, approximately 750 kilometers from the Asian mainland. This nation consists of a series of 26 atolls extending down the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.

The Maldives, the smallest country in Asia, encompasses around 90,000 square kilometers, including maritime territory, with a land area of 298 square kilometers. It is among the most geographically dispersed sovereign entities globally and the smallest Muslim nation by land area. Malé, the capital and most populous city, is historically referred to as the “King’s Island,” serving as the major hub for past royal lineages. The Maldivian Archipelago is located on the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, an extensive underwater mountain range in the Indian Ocean, creating a terrestrial ecoregion alongside the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep. The Maldives has an average height of 1.5 meters above sea level, rendering it the lowest-lying country globally, with its highest natural point at merely 2.4 meters.

The Maldives possesses a profound history, having been occupied for more than 2,500 years. Recorded interactions with the external world commenced in 947 AD when Arab explorers began to visit the islands. In the 12th century, Islam permeated the Maldivian Archipelago, facilitated by the influence of Arab and Persian merchants in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives rapidly established itself as a sultanate, forging robust commercial and cultural connections with Asia and Africa. Beginning in the mid-16th century, European colonial powers exerted growing influence over the region, culminating in the Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. The Maldives attained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965 and instituted a presidential republic in 1968 with an elected People’s Majlis. The subsequent decades have experienced political instability, attempts at democratic reform, and environmental concerns due to climate change and rising sea levels. The Maldives was a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The Maldives is a participant in various international organizations, such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. The World Bank categorizes the Maldives as possessing an upper-middle-income economy. The Maldives is a Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Historically, fishing has been the predominant economic activity and continues to be the greatest sector, succeeded by the swiftly expanding tourism industry. The Maldives ranks “high” on the Human Development Index, with per capita income markedly above that of other SAARC countries. The Maldives was a member of the Commonwealth of Nations from July 1982 until its withdrawal in October 2016, in protest of charges regarding human rights violations and a decline in democratic governance. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after providing evidence of operational democratic systems and public endorsement.

The Maldives include 1,192 coral islands organized into a double chain of 26 atolls, extending 871 kilometers from north to south and 130 kilometers from east to west, covering around 90,000 square kilometers, of which merely 298 square kilometers of terrestrial land. The atolls consist of living coral reefs and sandbars, positioned on a submerged ridge that ascends steeply from the depths of the Indian Ocean. At the southern extremity of this natural coral barrier, two navigable channels facilitate secure maritime transit across the Indian Ocean within the territorial waters of the Maldives. The Maldivian government has categorized these atolls into 21 administrative divisions for organizational purposes. Gan, the largest island of the Maldives, is part of Laamu Atoll. The westernmost islands of Addu Atoll are interconnected by a 14-kilometer road system over the reef, known as Link Road.

The Maldives is the lowest nation globally, with maximum and average natural ground elevations of merely 2.4 meters and 1.5 meters above sea level, respectively. In construction zones, this has been augmented to several meters. Over 80 percent of the nation’s territory consists of coral islands that ascend to less than one meter above sea level. The Maldives faces the imminent threat of submersion due to escalating sea levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has cautioned that, at prevailing rates, sea-level rise will render the Maldives uninhabitable by 2100.

The Maldives exhibits a tropical monsoon climate, shaped by the extensive landmass of South Asia to the north. The temperature remains consistently high and frequently humid owing to the Maldives’ low altitude. The South Asian landmass induces differential heating of land and ocean, triggering a surge of moisture-laden air from the Indian Ocean over South Asia, culminating in the southwest monsoon. The Maldives experiences two predominant seasons: the dry season linked to the winter northeastern monsoon and the wet season associated with the southwest monsoon, characterized by intense winds and storms. The transition from the arid northeast monsoon to the humid southwest monsoon transpires in April and May, with the southwest monsoon arriving in the Maldives at the onset of June and persisting until the conclusion of November. The annual precipitation averages 254 millimeters in the northern region and 381 centimeters in the southern region.

The Maldives was predominantly unfamiliar to tourists until the early 1970s. Merely 200 islands are inhabited, whereas the remaining islands are exclusively utilized for economic activities, predominantly tourism and agricultural. Tourism constitutes 28% of the GDP and exceeds 60% of the Maldives’ foreign exchange earnings. More than 90% of governmental tax revenue is derived from import charges and taxes associated with tourism. The advancement of tourism has stimulated the comprehensive expansion of the nation’s economy, generating both direct and indirect job and revenue opportunities in associated sectors. The inaugural tourist resorts commenced operations in 1972, revolutionizing the Maldives’ economy. By 2019, more than 1.7 million tourists visited the islands.

Six heritage Maldivian coral mosques are designated as UNESCO tentative sites in the Maldives. Travelers to the Maldives are exempt from obtaining a visa prior to arrival, contingent upon possessing a valid passport, evidence of onward travel, and the capacity for self-sufficiency during their stay. The majority of travelers come at Velana International Airport, located on Hulhulé Island, next to the capital, Malé. The airport accommodates flights from numerous international locations, including India, Sri Lanka, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Dhaka, Istanbul, and prominent airports in Southeast Asia and Europe. Gan Airport, located on the southern atoll of Addu, accommodates international aircraft.

The culture of the Maldives is shaped by the diverse ethnic groups that have inhabited the islands throughout history. Since the 12th century, the Maldives has seen impacts from Arabia in its language and culture, attributable to the conversion to Islam and its strategic position as a crossroads in the central Indian Ocean. The Maldives has maintained the highest national divorce rate globally for several decades, due to a mix of liberal Islamic divorce regulations and the comparatively tenuous marriage relationships prevalent among non- and semi-sedentary populations.