Want to learn a little more about the countries of the world? Impress your friends with your knowledge by learning these fun facts about the Maldives!
1. The Maldives is a large collection of islands.
Officially the Republic of Maldives, 1,190 beautiful coral islands make up this small country.
2. How big are the Maldives in total?
Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives stretch over 35,000 square miles (90,000 square kilometres).
3. It’s mostly H2O out here.
99% of the nation of the Maldives is ocean water – sounds like paradise to us!
4. The Maldives have an interesting history regarding the Commonwealth.
The Maldives originally joined the Commonwealth in 1982, withdrew its membership in 2016 (over its human rights record) and rejoined 1st February 2020 – an hour after the UK left the European Union.
5. The population here is fairly sparse!
The Maldives has a total population of 523,787 (2022). The capital, Male, has a population of just 142,909.
6. People living on the islands can expect long, fruitful lives.
The average life span is a sunny 78.63 years (2018).
7. The Maldives care about global warming.
We think it’s great that to raise awareness about climate change, the Maldives held an underwater cabinet meeting in 2009 – it was the first one to be held in the world.
8. It’s paradise for aquatic animal lovers.
The islands are a great place to head if you love dolphins and whales – at any given time of the year, there are 10 to 12 different species of dolphins and whales that live amongst the Maldives’ coral reefs. Oh how we wish we were a dolphin right now…
9. How low can you go?
The Maldives ground level is averaged at 1.5 metres (4 feet 11 inches), making it the lowest country in the world!
10. Want a stress-free holiday?
It’s one of the safest travel destinations on the planet.
11. The weeks line up differently in the Maldives.
Friday and Saturday are the two days of the weekend in the Maldives.
12. Don’t do this if you dine out in the Maldives!
You needn’t (and probably shouldn’t) leave a tip as tipping is frowned upon! Instead, a 10% service charge is automatically added to everything. Nice and simple.
13. Maldives marriages don’t seem to last long!
For some reason, the Maldivian divorce rate is rather high – by that we mean it has the highest divorce rate in the world! The current rate of divorce is 10.97 divorces per 1,000 marriages. The islands can’t be that romantic, after all!
14. What do you spend in the Maldives?
The currency of Maldives is called Maldivian Rufiyaa.
15. The Maldives have strong industries.
The two major industries that support the Maldivian economy are tourism and fishery.
16. The Maldives are largely independent.
Apart from a brief 15 years in the 16th Century when Portugal occupied it, the Maldives has been an independent state all through its history.
17. People have lived in the Maldives for centuries.
According to historians, the Maldives as a whole have been populated as early as the 4th century BC. It is speculated that the early migrants were from places such as Arabia, East Africa and the Indian subcontinent, among other places.
18. Booze is banned!
As an Islamic nation, alcohol is forbidden in the Maldives. Luckily for Western tourists, hotels are exempt from this law.
19. It’s easy to call these far-flung islands.
To call your friends in the Maldives you’ll need the international dialling code +960.
We don’t know about you, but that’s left us wanting to pack our bags and jet off, tomorrow!
FAQs about The Maldives
Is it safe to visit the Maldives?
Yes, the Maldives generally benefit from having a very low crime rate.
What is illegal in the Maldives?
All kinds of things - but they are particularly stringent against any kind of ammunition being brought into the country.
What is ‘Boduberu’?
Boduberu is the most popular traditional music of the Maldives. It has a long history, first recorded in the 11th century in East Africa. Accompanied usually by a vocalist, percussionists begin with slow tempo, leading to a frenzied climax.
Do you know any fun facts about the Maldives? Share them in the comments below!
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