Some 87 tourist resorts exist in the Maldives
and more than 500,000 tourists visit the country each year. Unfortunately, much of this
revenue does not trickle down to the common
people in the Maldives, the majority of whom
live in poverty.
The Maldives’ first inhabitants were Buddhist until Islam was introduced in 1153.
The country next was influenced by the Portuguese (1558) and Dutch (1654) empires.
Today, the country is predominately Sunni
Muslim.
Ruled by a sultan from the 12th century until the late 1800’s, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. The country received
its independence from Britain in 1965 and the
monarchy was replaced with a republic in
NM
YA
THE MALDIVES
AR
tion vowed change. They pledged expanded
political freedoms and a more representative
political system for the Maldivians.
The government legalized political parties
in 2005 and a new constitution was drafted
and ratified in 2008. That same year, the Maldives held its first multi-candidate, multiparty presidential elections. Nasheed, a political activist who had previously been jailed
by Gayoom’s regime, defeated Gayoom in a
runoff.
Nasheed’s presidency had been relatively
quiet until now. In February of this year, however, Nasheed fired a top judge, accusing him
The Maldives’ first democratically elected
of blocking human rights and corruption caspresident, Mohamed Nasheed, recently was
es against opposition figures. That spawned
forced from power after he arrested the counseveral weeks of street protests. Nasheed,
try’s top judge. Nasheed’s supporters have
who claims to have resigned the
called the ouster a coup d’état
presidency at gunpoint, handed
backed by the previous presiThe Maldive Islands
power over to Vice President
dent, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Mohammed Waheed Hassan
Some authorities, however, are
Manik.
denying that charge.
CHINA
Waheed now appears to be
The Maldives (maul-DEVES),
linked with Gayoom, appointor Maldive Islands, is an island
BHUTAN
ing top positions to men linked
country consisting of a group of
PAKISTAN
to the former president, includatolls and other tiny islands in
NEPAL
Delhi
ing the judge who was ousted by
the Indian Ocean. Located south
Nasheed.
of India’s Lakshadweep islands,
BANGLADESH
Allahabad
Though the Maldives does
the Maldives are about 435 miles
not play a huge role on the
(700 km) southwest of Sri Lanka.
Kolkata
global stage, the country has
Twenty-six atolls and 1,190
M
been prominent in global climate
coral islets make up the MalINDIA
change discussions on the U.N.
dives, but only about 200 are
Human Rights Council. Also,
inhabited. The total land area is
the Maldives government has
only 116 square miles (300 sq.
Mumbai
B a y of B e n ga l
encouraged regional cooperation
km), about 1.7 times the size of
between India and Pakistan.
Washington, D.C. Nearly 400,000
Ar abian
In this tropical paradise, tourpeople reside in the Maldives,
Sea
ists are kept insulated from the
dominated mostly by South Inlives of normal Maldivians, makdians, Sinhalese and Arabs.
Bangalore
0
200 mi
ing it unlikely non-residents
The Maldives holds the re0
200 km
would experience the unrest. To
cord for being the flattest counlimit outsiders’ impact on tratry on earth, with a maximum
ditional Muslim communities,
natural ground level of only 7.5
SRI
they are only allowed to stop
feet (2.3 m). With 80 percent of
LANKA
THE MALDIVES
over on inhabited islands (other
the country lying 3.3 feet (1 m)
than the capital island, Malé) for
or less above sea level, global
brief visits.
warming and sea level rise are a
While the political crisis in the
substantial concern to the MalMale
Maldives appears to be quiet for
dives’ population. In fact, during
now, its affects on tourism may
the last century, sea levels have
INDIAN
be felt if there are protests on
risen about eight inches (20 cm)
OCEAN
the streets. In this island country
threatening the very existence of
© 2012
Geography in the News 3/9/12
M. Shears
where many live in poverty, the
the Maldives.
loss of tourism could be devasFishing remains the primary
tating.
1968.
occupation for most Maldivians and the govAnd that is Geography in the News™. March
The Maldives did not hold true democratic
ernment gives special priority to the develop9, 2012. #1136.
elections until much later, however. Instead,
ment of the fisheries sector. Tourism, though,
Gayoom, elected to six successive terms by
is mainly responsible for fostering the overall
Co-authors are Neal
single-party referendums, controlled the isgrowth of the country’s modern economy.
Lineback,
Appalachian
lands’ national politics for 30 years. When
As the Maldives’ largest economic activity,
State University Professor
Maldivians became disenchanted with the
tourism contributes 28 percent of the gross
Emeritus of Geography,
government and began rioting in the capital,
domestic product (GDP) and more than 60
and Geographer Mandy
Malé, in 2003, Gayoom and his administrapercent of the foreign exchange receipts.
Lineback
Gritzner.
University News Director
Sources: GITN #913, “Terrorism Reaches the Maldives,” Nov. 30, 2007;
Jane Nicholson serves as
technical editor.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mv.html;
and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16950214