Maldives
Facts
Area:
Total: 186 sq miles
Land: 186 sq miles
Water: 0 sq miles
Climate:
Tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 ft
Highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 7.9 ft
Population:
359,008
Ethnic Groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
Conventional short form: Maldives
Local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:
Republic
Capital:
Male
Independence:
26 July 1965 (from UK)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,900 (2002 est.)
Currency:
Rufiyaa (MVR)
Time Zone:
GMT +5 hours
Country Dialing Code:
+960
Electricity:
230V 50HzHz