 |
| ScubaMaldives Coral Reef |
 |
|
Resources Overview
The Maldives are a spectacular chain of 22 coral atolls which run for some 800 kilometers north to south in the Central Indian Ocean. These include the largest surface-level atolls in the world: the area of Thiladhunmathi and Miladhunmadulu Atolls (with two names, but a single atoll structure) is some 3 680 square kilometers, while Huvadhoo Atoll in the south is over 3 200 square kilometers. (The Great Chagos Bank to the south occupies an even greater area, but is now largely submerged.)
More than any other nation outside the Western Pacific, the Maldives is dependant on coral reefs for the maintenance of their land area, food, export earnings and foreign currency from tourism revenues. The Maldivian people have been estimated to have among the highest levels of per-capita fish consumption of any nation, at 125 kilos per person per year. The majority of this consumption is of tuna and other pelagic species, while the majority of export fisheries are also centered on tuna. Some reef fish are taken for local consumption, but the most important reef fishery is the capture of live bait for the offshore tuna fishery. Fish exports for the live fish markets of East and Southeast Asia have also been significant through the late 1990s, and this is having an impact on grouper stocks.
Undoubtedly the greatest concern for this entire nation is the impact of climate change. Coral bleaching and mortality have already caused significant problems: in the future such events will be exacerbated by sea-level rise, and may be further compounded by reduced calcification rates on surviving corals.
|
Geography
Area: 298 sq. km. (115 sq. mi.), over 1,900 islands; twice the size of Washington, DC.
Cities: Capital--Malé (pop. 70,000).
Terrain: Flat islands.
Climate: Hot and humid. |
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Maldivian(s).
Population: (276,000).
Population growth rate: 2.3%.
Ethnic groups: South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs.
Religion: Sunni Islam.
Languages: Dhivehi (official); many government officials speak English. Education: Years compulsory--none. Attendance--primary 99%; secondary 51%. Literacy--96%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--55/1,000. Life expectancy--62 yrs.
Work force: Fishing--20%; manufacturing--15%; tourism--11%; agriculture--5%; |
Economy
GDP (2000): $435.4 million.
GDP growth rate: 7.6%.
Per capita GDP: About $1,400.
Inflation (2000): -1.1%.
Percentages of GDP (1999): Distribution--17%; tourism--18%; fishing--10%; construction--11%; government--10%; agriculture--6%; manufacturing--7%; other--21%.
Trade (2000): Exports--$76 million: fish products, garments. Major markets--Taiwan, Germany, U.S., U.K., Sri Lanka. Imports--$388 million: oil, textiles and yarn, rice, cigarette, cement, engines for boats, televisions, aircraft parts, prefabricated buildings, vegetables. Major suppliers--Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, E.U., India, UAE. |
Profile
The Maldivian economy is based on tourism and fishing. Of Maldives' 1,900 islands, only 198 are inhabited. The population is scattered throughout the country, and the greatest concentration is on the capital island, Male. Limitations on potable water and arable land constrain expansion.
Development has been centered upon the tourism industry and its complementary service sectors, transport, distribution, real estate, construction, and government. Taxes on the tourist industry have been plowed into infrastructure and used to improve technology in the agricultural sector.
|
History
Maldives comprises some 1,900 islands in the Indian Ocean. The earliest settlers were probably from southern India. Indo-European speakers followed them from Sri Lanka in the fourth and fifth centuries BC. In the 12th century AD, sailors from East Africa and Arab countries came to the islands. Today, the Maldivian ethnic identity is a blend of these cultures, reinforced by religion and language.
Originally Buddhists, Maldivians were converted to Sunni Islam in the mid-12th century. Islam is the official religion of the entire population. Strict adherence to Islamic precepts and close community relationships have helped keep crime low and under control.
The official and common language is Dhivehi, an Indo-European language related to Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka. The writing system is from right to left. English is used widely in commerce and increasingly as the medium of instruction in government schools.
Some social stratification exits on the islands. It is not rigid, since rank is based on varied factors, including occupation, wealth, Islamic virtue, and family ties. Members of the social elite are concentrated in Male.
The early history of the Maldives is obscure. According to Maldivian legend, a Sinhalese prince named Koimale was stranded with his bride--daughter of the king of Sri Lanka--in a Maldivian lagoon and stayed on to rule as the first sultan. |
| Information provided by CIA Worldfactbook, US Department of State, Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN). ReefBase: Oliver, J. and M. Noordeloos. Editors. 2002, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center, |
|
| |
|
