|
 Maldivians are homogenous. They are of one race, one culture, and one religion - Islam. Physically, Maldivians resemble Asian, Arab, Negroid and a Mongoloid mix. The population is 270,000, where 1/3 of them, live in the capital, Male. The population density is 883.2 per sq km.
According to legend, the Arabian traveler Abul Barakhat Al-Bar Bari brought Islam to the Maldivians in the 12th century. Historical remains from as far back as 400 BC, shows strong evidence that Buddhism was widely practiced among the people before Islam was introduced. However, Maldives has remained a 100% Muslim nation for more than 800 years.
|
