Maldives - People
No one knows who the first Maldivians
were. However, the Maldives being on the sea routes to Malacca and China, people
from different parts of the world came across this small island nation which
provided sanctity from the rough seas and peace from the tough world. The
features of Maldivians range from the Mongoloid to Arabic, African and Asian.
Having been dependent on the sea for food and survival since time immemorial,
the people of the islands are self-sufficient and lead a simple life of peace
and co-existence. The small island communities are tight-knit and friendship
prevails strongly among them.
The current population of the country
is 263,189. Over 50 percent of the country's population are youth, and 36
percent are students. 98 percent of the whole population are functionally
literate.
The people of the Maldives
are sincerely friendly, their smiles are genuinely warm. The accelerating
economic growth rate is driving the people to explore new horizons in
development. Changes are happening, and the people are moving ahead in the
world. However, the simple, self-sufficient and contented life style of the
Maldivian islanders still remain as appealing as since when the first mariners
began to settle down.
Updated:
September 16, 2006
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