Country Profile:  

Profile	Features:
People Politics Religion	Economy Notables Prayer Points

MALDIVES

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Politics:
The Maldives is a republic governed under a constitution dated in 1998.  Executive power is in the president.  In choosing a president, the Citizen Council elects a single candidate and the people vote to accept or reject him.  To win he or she must have more than 51% of the vote.  The legal system is based on Islamic Law.  The right of the people can not contradict Islam.

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Religion:
Islam is the state religion and 100% of the Muslims are Sunni Muslims.  No other religions are permitted, though ancient beliefs remain.  Islam was introduced in the 12th century.  It is estimated there are less than 500 believers.  The Church in the Maldives is tied to the Church in Sri Lanka.  Maldivian believers are physically free, but carefully watched.  Evangelism is not permitted and Muslims may not convert.  There is a small minority of Buddhist among the Sinhala.

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Economy:
The Maldivian economy is dominated by fishing.  Coconuts are the major food product and most food must be imported.  The industrial production is limited to fish processing and the clothing industry.  Tourism (fishing, scuba diving, beaches) is important and growing.  Tourism is closely managed having a limited number resorts, one resort per uninhabited island.  Average worker earns less than $1000 per year.

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Notables:
Maldives are made up of a chain of 1,190 small coral islands for a total area of 115 sq mi (size of Detroit Michigan). The Maldives have been called ‘the last paradise on earth’.  Global warming threatens the survival of the islands through rising sea levels.  The   The islands have an average size of 1 square km., and are all between one and two meters above sea level. Maldivians are still among the least evangelized people on the earth.
Find out more about life in the Muslim world at the Open Doors online store.

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Prayer Points:

• Pray for invigoration of the church to find new ways to evangelize.
• Pray for believers to stand strong despite spiritual pressures.
• Pray for lasting fruit from witnessing

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