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Maldives in a nutshell |
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Name:
Capital:
Government:
Official language:
Area:
Location:
Highest point:
Important river:
Population:
Population density:
Life expectancy:
Illiterate rate:
Religions:
GDP:
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Republic of Maldives
Malé (0.1 mln inhabitants)
Präsidialrepublik
Dhivehi
289 km2 / 115 sq mi.
The Maldives encompass a territory featuring 1190 islands dispersed on 24 atolls in the Indian Ocean. They stretch 820 km / 500 mi in north-south direction close to the Equator.
Villingili (Addu atoll), 2 m / 6.5 ft. The Maldives is the flattest nation in the world.
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0.4 mln (2008). One fourth of the population lives in the Capital.
1105 inhabitants/km2. This is one of the highest popluation densities in the world. Particularly Malé is home of 100 000 people squeezed on 3 km2 / 300 acres. For camparison: in Switzerland 170 people share one km2.
72 years
1%
100% Muslims
USD 3040 per capita (2007), almost twice that of Sri Lanka.
The traditional economy on the islands was dominated by fishery. Since the first hotel opened its doors in 1972 tourism became a booming source of revenue. The fast growth, however, causes hyperinflation of up to 48%. Many Maldivians become impoverished and emigrate to Sri Lanka where life is still cheaper.
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