Facts - The Maldives - Geography & Climate - History Religion & culture - People & Language -
- Transportation - Communication - Male' the Capital City -

Islanders
The population of the Maldives is a little bit more than 270.000, 1/3 of whom live in the capital Malé. There are about 30,000 expatriate workers living in the Maldives. The major portion of the expatriate workforce is made up of Sri Lankans, Indians and Bangladeshis, but a number of Europeans also work here mainly in the tourism sector.

Maldivians are mainly of the Indo-Aryan stock with Arabic and African influences due to their geographical location.

Nearly 50% of the population is under 15 years, an astonishing percentage, but easy to believe when one walks down the main roads of Malé. Just before the beginning of schools thousands of children in white uniforms swarm the streets eager to go to school.

Maldivians are a friendly, hospitable and peace loving people, at the same time reserved and in control of their emotions.

Women
Women have equal access to education and jobs and they play a vital role in island communities and in their families. Women‘s contribution to the national development effort is significant. They hold key positions in the civil service and the private sector.

A married woman keeps her maiden name, can do business and acquire property in her name.
A specific government ministry, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs is designated to oversee the development of women in the country.

Marriage and divorce
Marriage is usually a simple affair, but recently the trend has been towards western-style wedding receptions with often up to 400/500 guests invited to the party. The divorce rate is very high and it is not rare to meet people who have been married twice or thrice.

Maldivians live in extended families and a newly married couple usually moves into a room in the girl or boy’s house, a necessity in Malé due to the shortage of housing.