Divehi, similar to the old Sinhalese of Sri Lanka, is the official language. Arabic, Hindi, and English are also spoken. Islam is the official religion. There are no colleges or universities in Maldives. Traditional medical practices are common.
Boats provide the principal means of transport between the atolls.
The international airport is on Hulule Island near Male. Maldives was inhabited as early as the 5th century BC by Buddhists probably from Sri Lanka and southern India. Islam was adopted in the 12th century. The British protectorate of the Maldive Islands gained full political independence in 1965 and joined the United Nations. It became a republic in 1968, when the former sultanate was abolished.