Maldives
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CountryMaldives
Flag
Capitalname: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 31 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Population369,031 (July 2007 est.)
GMT+5
LocationSouthern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

see map
Areatotal: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Ethnic groupsSouth Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
ReligionsSunni Muslim
LanguagesMaldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Government typerepublic
National holidayIndependence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitutionadopted 1 January 1998
Legal systembased on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
BackgroundThe Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM - currently in his sixth term in office - has dominated the islands' political scene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress has been slow, however, and many promised reforms have been delayed indefinitely. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
Internet
country code
.mv
LAST UPDATED ON 17 JUNE 2007