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