LOCATION

• Latitude 7º 60' 30" N to 0º 41' 48" S
• Longitude 72º 32' 30" E to 73º 45' 54" E

Time: GMT + 5 hours

Area: Total area 90,000 km2 (including sea within territorial waters)

Exclusive Economic Zone: 1,000,000 km2

Capital: Male'

PEOPLE

Population:

Census 1995

• Both Sexes 244,644
• Males 125,052
• Females 119,592
• Male' 62,973
• Urban 25.74%
• Growth Rate (intercensal) 2.75 %

Languages: Dhivehi is the national and official language. English is widely used in education and foreign communication.

CLIMATE

The climate of Maldives is warm year round, determined by the monsoons. However, being on the equator, the monsoons are mild and not as defined as in neighbouring countries. Of the two monsoons, the south west monsoon from May to October, brings more rain and wind. The north east monsoon, from November to April, is the dry season with very little wind. The temperature varies little with an annual average daily maximum of 30.4 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 2.4 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall stood at just over 1,600 millimetres in 1992. In the same year, the country, with the equator running through it, had over 2700 hours of sunshine.

1984-1995 Average:

• annual rainfall 1918.5 mm
• hrs of sunshine per day 7.7
• maximum temperature 30.6º C
• minimum temperature 25.7º C