Maldives

Languages:

Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, has Dhivehi as its official language, spoken by the majority of the population. Dhivehi belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family and is written using the Thaana script. While Dhivehi is the primary language for administration, education, and media, English is also widely spoken and serves as an important second language, particularly in the tourism industry, business, and education sectors. As a culturally rich nation, Maldives seeks to preserve and promote its linguistic heritage.

Religion:

Religion in the Maldives is predominantly Muslim, with approximately 98.4% of the population adhering to Islam. The Maldivian constitution declares Sunni Islam as the official state religion and stipulates that all citizens must be Muslims. Religious practices and beliefs outside of Sunni Islam are not allowed in the public sphere, and conversion to other religions is discouraged. While freedom of religion is limited, the Maldives remains a culturally vibrant nation with deep-rooted Islamic traditions and customs that are intertwined with the nation's history and identity.

Ethnic Groups:

homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes