July 26, 1965. A white crescent centered in a green rectangle on a red field. Major markets-U.S., Thailand, Sri Lanka. Major suppliers-Singapore, Thailand, India. Primary donors-World Bank, UN Development Program, Saudi Fund, Kuwaiti Fund, Japan, Norway.
Tropical vegetation varies from grass and scrub to dense groves of fruit trees and coconut palms.
The climate is equatorial, hot and humid, with little daily variation. The population is scattered throughout the country, with the greatest concentration on the capital island, Male. Only four islands have a population of more than 3,000. Although most islands are uninhabited, absence of potable water and arable land limits population expansion. The earliest settlers were probably from southern India, speaking languages of the Dravidian family.