Discover Fascinating Maldives Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Maldives.
Maldives
Background
The Maldives is an amazing archipelago with a rich history! ๐ It has been a sultanate since the 12th century, which means it was ruled by sultans. In 1887, the islands became a British protectorate, which is like being under the care of another country. Then, in 1965, just three years after gaining independence, the Maldives turned into a republic. How cool is that? ๐
Year Maldives became a Sultanate
1150
Year Maldives became a British protectorate
1887
Year Maldives gained independence
1965
Exports - commodities
๐ The Maldives is known for its diverse exports! In 2022, the country proudly exported several key commodities including aircraft โ๏ธ, fish ๐, natural gas ๐จ, scrap iron ๐ญ, and refined petroleum โฝ. These goods play an essential role in boosting the economy and showcasing the natural resources of this beautiful island nation! ๐ด
Key Export Commodities
aircraft, fish, natural gas, scrap iron, refined petroleum
Exports - partners
The Maldives has a vibrant export market, with its main partners highlighted below! ๐
- India leads the way, making up 71% of all exports! ๐ฎ๐ณ
- Next up is Thailand, contributing 12%. ๐น๐ญ
- Germany comes in third with a 3% share. ๐ฉ๐ช
- Oman and the UK each account for 2%. ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ง
Check out how much each partner contributes to the Maldives' exports! ๐๏ธ
Percentage of Exports to India
71%
Percentage of Exports to Thailand
12%
Percentage of Exports to Germany
3%
Percentage of Exports to Oman
2%
Percentage of Exports to the UK
2%
Export Partners of the Maldives (2022)
Capital
The capital of the Maldives is Male! ๐ It's a bustling city that's full of vibrant culture and beautiful sights. Male is not just the political hub of the Maldives, but also a center of commerce and education. Isn't it cool to explore a city that's surrounded by the sparkling blue ocean? ๐โจ
Imports - commodities
โจ Maldives imports a variety of important commodities that help keep the country buzzing! Hereโs a fun look at some of the top imports in 2022:
- Refined Petroleum: ๐ง This fuel keeps everything running smoothly in the Maldives, from transportation to power generation.
- Ships: ๐ข Boats are essential for the Maldives, an island nation, making it easier to travel between islands and support trade.
- Aircraft: โ๏ธ Important for tourism and connectivity, aircraft are a key aspect of the Maldives' economy.
- Plastic Products: ๐ฅค From containers to everyday items, plastic products play a significant role in daily life.
- Broadcasting Equipment: ๐บ This helps the Maldives stay connected with the world through media.
These imports are crucial for everyday life in the Maldives and for maintaining its vibrant economy! ๐
Top Import Commodities in 2022
Refined Petroleum, Ships, Aircraft, Plastic Products, Broadcasting Equipment
Climate
The Maldives enjoys a tropical climate that is always hot and humid! ๐๐ง This beautiful paradise experiences two main seasons: the northeast monsoon from November to March and the southwest monsoon from June to August. ๐ง๏ธ Which season sounds more exciting to you?
Executive branch
๐ Let's talk about the Executive Branch of the Maldives! Did you know that the President is both the chief of state and the head of government? ๐ค Since 17 November 2023, the Maldives has been led by President Mohamed MUIZZU. With such an important role, he gets to make big decisions for the country! ๐ฒ๐ป
Current President
Mohamed MUIZZU
Date of Assumption
17 November 2023
Legislative branch
The Maldives has a unicameral legislative system known as the People's Assembly! ๐๏ธ This assembly is made up of 93 seats, making it the heart of the country's legislative process. Each member plays a crucial role in shaping the laws that govern the Maldives. Let's dive into some fun facts about this important branch of government!
Total Seats in People's Assembly
93 seats
Natural resources
๐ The Maldives is famous for its abundant fish resources! ๐ The stunning seas that surround these beautiful islands are not only home to vibrant marine life but also play a vital role in the countryโs economy and diet. Fishing is a big part of the Maldivian culture, and local communities rely on these underwater treasures for sustenance and livelihood. Letโs dive into the details of this valuable resource! ๐
Economic overview
๐ด The Maldives is an upper middle-income economy located in the beautiful Indian Ocean. Its major industries, including tourism, fishing, and shipping, shine brightly in the vibrant island economy. However, challenges lie ahead: high public debt and systemic corruption cast shadows on this paradise. ๐ค๐ The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, crippling these key industries and leading to ongoing deflation. ๐ It's sad to see that poverty has tripled since the pandemic began, affecting many lives across the islands.
Income Level
Upper Middle-Income
Industries
Tourism, Fishing, Shipping
Effect of COVID-19 on Poverty
Poverty has tripled since the pandemic began
Government type
The Maldives is known for its presidential republic government! ๐ฒ๐ป๐คฉ This means that the President is not only the head of state but also the head of government. In this system, the President has significant power to lead the country and make important decisions. The citizens have the opportunity to elect their President, making it a representative democracy! ๐ณ๏ธโจ
Ethnic groups
The Maldives is a fascinating country with a rich tapestry of ethnic groups! ๐ Their population is a homogeneous mix of several groups, including Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African. This vibrant blend has evolved over time due to the historical shifts in marine trade routes. ๐ฅ๏ธโจ This unique mixture showcases the diverse influences that have shaped Maldivian culture and heritage over the years.
Ethnic Groups in Maldives
Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, African
Dominant Ethnic Composition
Homogeneous mixture
Religions
In the beautiful Maldives, the predominant faith practiced is Sunni Islam, which is also the official religion of the country. This means that almost everyone in the Maldives embraces Islam! ๐โจ It's a key part of daily life, culture, and traditions in this stunning island nation.
Official Religion
Sunni Islam
Languages
In the beautiful Maldives, there are two primary languages spoken! ๐ The official language is Dhivehi, which has a special connection with Sinhala and uses a unique script that comes from Arabic. ๐ Additionally, English is widely spoken, especially by most government officials. This makes it easier for tourists and locals to communicate! ๐ฃ๏ธโจ
Official Language
Dhivehi
Language Spoken by Government Officials
English
Imports - partners
๐ The Maldives imports goods from several important partners! Here's how the imports break down by country based on the percentage of total imports in 2022:
- India: 16% ๐ฎ๐ณ
- China: 16% ๐จ๐ณ
- UAE: 10% ๐ฆ๐ช
- Oman: 9% ๐ด๐ฒ
- Malaysia: 6% ๐ฒ๐พ
As you can see, India and China are the biggest sources of imports for Maldives, with each contributing 16% of the total imports! ๐
Largest Import Partner
India and China (16%)
Second Largest Import Partner
UAE (10%)
Maldives Import Partners (2022)
Population
โจ The Maldives has a total population of 388,858 people! ๐ด This beautiful island nation is home to a diverse and vibrant community, making it a fascinating place to explore and learn about. ๐
Total Population
388,858
Area
๐ The Maldives is a stunning island nation, but do you know how big it is? The total area of the Maldives is 298 square kilometers! That's really small when you think about it! ๐โจ
Interestingly enough, all of this area is landโthere's no water area at all! It's all about the beautiful islands and the clear blue sea. ๐๏ธ๐ฆ
Total Area
298 sq km
Water Area
0 sq km
Land Area
298 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ The Real GDP (purchasing power parity) of the beautiful Maldives shows how the economy has been growing over the years! Let's take a look at the estimates:
- 2023: $11.651 billion
- 2022: $11.206 billion
- 2021: $9.838 billion
As we can see, the economy is on the rise! ๐๐ฐ
GDP in 2023
11.651 billion USD
GDP in 2022
11.206 billion USD
GDP in 2021
9.838 billion USD
Real GDP Growth in the Maldives (PPP)
Real GDP per capita
๐ด The Maldives is a picturesque island nation known for its stunning beaches and vibrant marine life! ๐ Let's take a look at how its economy is doing, especially in terms of Real GDP per capita, which tells us how much money, on average, each person in the country has to spend.
Here's the estimated Real GDP per capita for the Maldives over the past few years:
- 2021: $18,900
- 2022: $21,400
- 2023: $22,400
Isn't it exciting to see that the GDP per capita has been steadily increasing? This growth means that people in the Maldives are getting wealthier! ๐
GDP Growth from 2021 to 2023
29.0%
Increase in GDP from 2021 to 2023
3400 USD
Real GDP per Capita in the Maldives (2021-2023)
Imports
๐ฆ Maldives Imports ๐ฆ
Maldives has been seeing some interesting changes in its imports over the years! Let's take a look at the import figures for the last three years:
- In 2020, the imports were $2.449 billion.
- In 2021, they grew to $3.484 billion.
- By 2022, the imports increased even more to $4.904 billion!
This shows a steady rise in imports which could indicate a growing economy and more demand for goods from abroad. ๐๐ฐ
Total Import Growth (2020-2022)
100.02%
Imports of Maldives Over Three Years
Exports
๐ The Maldives has seen some exciting growth in exports over the past few years! Here's a snapshot of how their export numbers have changed: ๐ค
- 2020: $1.787 billion
- 2021: $3.985 billion
- 2022: $5.096 billion
This upward trend shows that the Maldives is steadily increasing its export value. ๐๐น
Total export value in 2022
$5.096 billion
Total export value in 2021
$3.985 billion
Total export value in 2020
$1.787 billion
Maldives Exports Over Years
Population growth rate
๐ด The Maldives, a stunning island paradise, is experiencing a slight decline in its population growth rate. ๐ For 2024, the estimated growth rate is -0.2%. This means that more people are leaving the Islands than coming in, which is an interesting trend to watch for such a tropical destination! ๐
Estimated Population Growth Rate for 2024
-0.2%