Part of the country series of articles.
The Republic of the Maldives is a scattered archipelago in the north Indian Ocean, south of the Indian subcontinent, consisting of clusters of small islands and atolls extending nearly 800 kilometres from north to south. The islands are coral formations and lie rarely more than a few metres above sea level.
The Maldivian population is an ethnically distinct group descended from successive waves of migration including Tamils, Sinhalese from Ceylon, Arab traders and East Asian seafarers. The national language is Dhivehi, a language isolate with Sanskrit, Arabic and other borrowings. The state religion is Islam.
The country is governed as a multi-party socialist democracy. The principal exports are fish and tropical agricultural products, supplemented by earnings from tourism and service industries, which have grown substantially. Trade agreements with China, Saudi Arabia and regional island neighbours govern most external commerce. The Maldives is a member of COMOC. Relations with India are complicated by ongoing disputes over fishing rights in the exclusive economic zone.