Location: Southwest of Sri Lanka, across the equator. (Geographic Location: 3 15 N, 73 00 E)
Geography: 1,190 coral islands, forming an archipelago of 26 major atolls. Stretches 820 kilometers north to south and 120 kilometers east to west. 202 are inhabited, 89 are exclusive resort islands.
Climate: Generally warm and humid. Sun shines all year through. Average temperature around 28 – 31 degrees Celsius.
What to wear: Dress is generally casual. T-shirts and cotton clothing are most suitable. In Male’, the capital island and other inhabited islands it is recommended that women wear modest clothing without baring too much.
Population: About 300,000 according to 2006 census. Origin of the Maldivians are lost in antiquity, but history reveals that the islands have been populated for over 3,000 years ago.
Culture: A proud history and rich culture evolved from the first settlers who were from various parts of the world traveling the seas in ancient times. The Maldives has been a melting pot of different cultures as people from different parts of the world came here and settled down. Some of the local music and dance for instance resemble African influences, with hand-beating of drums and songs in a language that is not known to any but certainly represents that of East African countries.
Language: Dhivehi is the language spoken in all parts of the Maldives. English is widely spoken by Maldivians. In the resorts, a variety of languages are spoken by the staff including English, German, French, Italian and Japanese.
Economy: The Maldives economy has been growing at an annual average of 10% for the past two decades. Tourism is the main industry, contributing close to 20% of the GDP
Currency: The Maldivian currency is the Rufiyaa and Laaree. The exchange rate for US Dollar at the time of writing is MRf.12.85 for the dollar. One Rufiyaa is equivalent to 100 laarees. Commonly used credit cards are American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners Club, JCB and Euro Card.
Education: The functional literacy rate is 98%. Educational standards are among the highest in the region and schools follow the British system of education.
Health: Health care facilities are improving almost on a daily basis. The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’ is the biggest hospital in the country providing sophisticated medical care. A decompression chamber is within easy reach of most resorts in case of a diving emergency.
Local Time: GMT + 5 hours – subject to daylight saving.
Business Hours: From Sunday to Thursday 0830 – 1600 in the government sector and from 0800 - 1700 in the private sector.
Communication: Up-to-date technology and international satellite and submarine fiber optic links allow Maldives to have a sophisticated communications system including fast internet.
Electricity: The electric system is 230-240 Volts -AC
Fast Facts
A quick read into these facts can help you survive your travel to the Maldives, well its not hard being here!