Maldives is a highly-centralised state, with all significant political and commercial activities taking place in Male . Politically stable, Maldives has one of the longest-serving leaders in south Asia. However, the extremely narrow economic base, depending upon tourism and tuna fishing, means the population lives in constant uncertainty. Minor changes in the world price for tuna can have an immediate adverse effect on the economy and tourism is also subject to external trends. Economic and social vulnerability is exacerbated by Maldives remoteness from main trading routes, the high costs involved in transporting goods and services between its dispersed islands and the limited potential for developing natural resources and agriculture.
Most food has to be imported.
At the same time, one of the fastest-growing populations in the world puts added pressure on the small land area and narrow resource base. It means increasing reliance on imports and causes problems arising from the over-population of the major islands and the rapid urbanisation of Male , such as unemployment and an increase in social problems, crime and drug abuse. There have been growing signs of discontent amongst young people in the last year. The scarcity of trained and experienced professionals is the most significant challenge, with fewer than 400 trained and qualified professionals in both public and private sectors to run the whole country. Despite increasing emphasis on regional initiatives, the benefits of economic growth remain concentrated in Male and there are huge disparities in basic infrastructure.