21 Phenomenal Maldives Facts You Would've Never Guessed

Can you guess which country in the world is represented by a coconut tree?

If you thought that it must be the Maldives, then you are absolutely right! The Maldives is the flattest country and the smallest country in the world and is also an archipelagic country.

The Maldives is a collection of nearly 1,200 coral islands! The Maldives is renowned for its incredible water-based biodiversity, white sandy beaches, and brilliant coral reefs.

There are over 1,200 islands in the Maldives, consisting of 200 inhabited islands and approximately 1,190 uninhabited ones. There is an average of 2.87 people per sq km in the Maldives. The islands in this flattest country are widely spread out across the Indian Ocean.

Most of them are found along one long strip that runs in the North-South direction. This country consists of a limestone base with coral on top which is what makes up most of the islands found here.

The Maldives doesn't have an official language, but the majority of Maldivians speak Maldivian, which is known as Dhivehi, however, English is widely spoken. Maldivians are incredibly tolerant of different cultures and religions, with the Maldives being home to many different religions including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity.

The Maldives is home to many different religions, but Islam is the predominant one, making it an Islamic country.

The Maldives has a very high literacy rate with 88% of adults being able to read and write. With almost no illiterate population, Maldives has a much higher national index than many developed nations!

The Maldives rank 103 according to the Human Development Index (HDI), which is a compound statistic utilized for ranking countries as per their level of human development.

Do you want to know more? Continue reading to learn more about this picturesque, paradise which is represented by a coconut tree!

Maldives History

Maldivians like to keep records of important events in their history, so Maldivians have a rich oral tradition. Maldivian parents will often tell their kids stories about Maldives' history to ensure the children don't forget the Maldives' culture.

Here are some of the most fascinating historical facts about this archipelagic country, located in the Indian subcontinent of Asia, known as the Maldives.

The Maldives is estimated to have formed 68 million years ago as a hotspot that gave rise to India's Deccan Traps. Coral reefs began to grow 10,000 years ago on Pleistocene foundations. Although the Maldives formed during the Jurassic Period (144-206 million years ago), more than 80% of it is still submerged.

The Maldives was one of the first Muslim countries (in 1153) where slavery was abolished. Prior to abolition, Maldivians kept young boys as slaves until they were married off.

The Maldives has a long, rich history of shipbuilding and trade with other nations. Maldivian ships were used as transport for merchants from far away lands such as China, Portugal, Arabia, and Malaysia. Maldivian traders developed an active maritime economy by trading spices and woods between the Middle East, India, and even China and Southeast Asia.

In the mid-'50s, the Maldives became the first Indian Ocean country to be a member of the United Nations following Britain's admittance earlier that year.

After 1956, there was increasing concern about communist expansion in South Asia. such, the US began sending military advisers to the Maldives in 1959. Advisers were withdrawn when Maldivian President Ibrahim Nasir was ousted by a coup in 1968.

The Maldivian flag is green with a crimson border. The center has a vertical white crescent with the closed side on the rising side of the flag. It was enacted on July 25, 1965.

Geography: Rising Sea Level and Marine Ecosystem

The Maldives is situated in South Asia; however, it isn't actually considered a part of mainland Asia. The Maldives is about 6.2 mi (10 km) away from Sri Lanka, which is the nearest big landmass.

The Maldives is located between Minicoy Island to its North and Chagos Archipelago to its South. The Maldives is just south of the equator, so it is warm all year round. The Maldives is a collection of almost 1,200 islands.

Here are some interesting facts about the rising sea level and marine system of the Maldives islands.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2007 estimate, the highest limit of sea level rises by 2100 would be 23 in (58.4 cm), implying that most of the republic's 200 populated islands may have to be abandoned.

On the American television series The Daily Show and The Late Show with David Letterman, he has campaigned for more climate change mitigation action, and in 2009, he convened the world's first underwater cabinet meeting. This cabinet meeting was held to raise awareness of the problems presented by climate change.

Nasheed revealed plans in 2008 to explore acquiring new property in India, Sri Lanka, and Australia due to his fears about global warming and the likelihood of increasing sea levels inundating most of the islands.

The Maldives' environments include deep sea, shallow coast, and reef ecosystems, bordering mangroves, wetlands, and dry land. The coral reefs are made up of 187 different varieties of coral.

The Indian Ocean alone has 1,100 species of fish, five species of sea turtle, 21 species of whale shark and dolphin, 400 types of mollusks, and 83 species of echinoderms. The region is also home to a variety of crustacean species, including 120 copepods, 15 amphipods, and around 145 crab and 48 shrimp species.

The coral reefs of Maldives are home to a wide range of marine habitats, including planktonic creatures and whale sharks. Sponges have grown in popularity as five different species have shown anti-tumor and anti-cancer effects.

Religion and Beliefs

Maldivians are extremely accepting of other cultures and religions, as the Maldives is home to many different religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. The Maldives is home to a variety of religions, although Islam is the most prevalent, making the Maldives an Islamic country.

However, there are no restrictions to other religious practices. Read further to find out facts about the religion and beliefs that are held by the people of Maldives!

During the Buddhist era of Maldivian history, Muslim merchants brought Islam. By the mid-12th century, the Maldivians had converted to Islam. The islands have a lengthy history of Sufic organizations, as evidenced by the construction of graves in the country's history. They were utilized until the '80s to request the assistance of buried saints.

The Maldives has a Muslim population with 98.4% of the total population practicing Islam. Like most Islamic countries, Maldives doesn't allow for conversions to or from other religions and actively discourages it. This is because Islam is considered the state religion in the Maldives.

Other components of tassawuf remained until fairly recently, such as ritualized dhikr rituals known as Mauldu (Mawlid), the liturgy of which featured recitations and specific supplications in a melodic tone. These Mauldu celebrations were hosted in elaborate tents custom-made for the occasion.

Maldivians believe that after death, a person needs to be sent across the divide between life and the afterlife. To do this, Maldivian bodies are buried in a seated position facing west with a small hole to let out bad spirits or 'smoke'.

Tourist Destination

Most Maldivians make their living from fishing or tourism. Tourism contributes significantly to foreign exchange earnings and employs 25,000 people in the country's tertiary sector.

The Maldives' archipelago is the major draw for many visitors that visit the island republic. The Maldives is known to be an incredibly popular destination, with an average annual tourist count of one million people. After all, nothing screams 'paradise' like the Maldives with its white sand beaches, tourist resorts, and baa atoll!

Here are some facts about this picturesque tourist destination.

Some of the most popular destinations for your family in the Maldives are Dhaalu Atoll, Bandos, Meerufenfushi, Lankanfinolhu Island, Olhuveli Island, Male, Furanafushi Island, and Iru-fushi.

Some famous resorts that will give you a place to stay during your visit to the Maldives are Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Adaaran Select Huduran Fushi, Amari Havodda Maldives, Baglioni Resort Maldives, and many more!

Surfing in the Maldives is the best way to enjoy the waters of the beaches of Maldives. You can even play many exciting water adventure sports such as jet skiing, kayaking, catamaran sailing, diving, banana boating, parasailing, flyboarding, surfing, and many more!

The two best natural attractions in the Maldives are Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve and Addu Nature Park.

Some cultural hotspots that you must visit are Utheemu Ganduvaru (Haa Alif Utheemu) Muleeaage, The Official Residence of the President, Hukuru Miskiy & Munnaaru, Kuruhinna Tharaagandu, and the Old Mosque.