One of the most undermined countries in the world, there are 1,196 islands, spread over a total area of 90,000 square kilometres of the Indian Ocean, and yet less than 0.5 percent of this is land. Some 200 of the islands are inhabited. The Maldives has the most beautiful tropical scenery, graceful coconut palms leaning over crystal-clear lagoons, coral reefs promising great snorkelling and scuba diving, and lots of sunshine. In fact, all the ingredients that make up the classic desert island. These intriguing islands are low-lying and have only small tracts of arable land.
Vegetation is dominated by coconut palms and breadfruit trees.
The climate is tropical and humid. The average rain fall is between May and November. The principal natural resource is the marine life of the sea. Until the arrival of tourism, fishing was the main occupation in this nation of seafarers, which still accounts for about 60 percent of all export trade. Industrial activity is largely limited to fish processing and garment manufacturing.