The Human Truth Foundation

The Maldives (Republic of Maldives)

https://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#maldives

Maldives
Republic of Maldives
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index73rd best
CapitalMale
Land Area 300km21
LocationAsia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.5m2
Life Expectancy79.92yrs (2017)3
GNI$15 448 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesMV, MDV, 4625
Internet Domain.mv6
CurrencyRufiyaa (MVR)7
Telephone+9608

1. Overview

#bangladesh #india #pakistan #sri_lanka

A sultanate since the 12th century, The Maldives became a British Protectorate in 18879,10, although they didn't station any official representatives there until 196010 . They gained independence in 1965, although the UK has maintained a military base at Gan, which has great strategic value10. It became a republic in 19689.

President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. President NASHEED faced a number of challenges including strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests following his sacking of a top judge, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. In mid-2012, the Commission of National Inquiry was set by the Government to probe events leading to the regime change. Though no evidence of a coup was found, the report recommended the need to strengthen the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future, and to further investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. Maldives officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the United Nations Human Rights Council, and in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

In current times, the Maldives has good relations with Sri Lanka (exchanging many workers and tourists there), India, Pakistan and Bangladesh10.

.

The Maldives are an archipelago of atolls (raised coral reefs) comprising more than twelve hundred islands that spread out over 800 kilometers north to south and 130 kilometers east to west. Only two hundred of the islands are inhabited.

"South Asia's Small States in World Politics" by Swarna Rajagopalan (2005)10

Book CoverUnrivalled luxury, stunning white-sand beaches and an amazing underwater world make the Maldives an obvious choice for a holiday of a lifetime. The Maldives is home to perhaps the best beaches in the world; they´re on almost every one of the country´s nearly 1200 islands and are so consistently perfect that it's hard not to become blasé about them.

While some beaches may boast softer granules than others, the basic fact remains: you´ll find this whiter-than-white powder sand and luminous cyan-blue water almost nowhere else on earth. This fact alone is enough to bring nearly a million people a year to this tiny and otherwise little-known Indian Ocean paradise.

Every resort in the Maldives is its own private island, and with over 100 to choose from the only problem is selecting where to stay. There´s choice beyond the luxurious five- and six-star resorts. Other islands cater for families, for divers, for those on a (relative) budget, and anyone wanting a tranquil, remote and back-to-nature experience.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)11

2. Maldives National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
Value12
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
87Brazil0.754
88Colombia0.752
89St Vincent & Grenadines0.751
90Maldives0.747
91=Azerbaijan0.745
91=Tonga0.745
91=Turkmenistan0.745
91=Algeria0.745
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $12
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
74Antigua & Barbuda$16 792
75Botswana$16 198
76Macedonia$15 918
77Maldives$15 448
78Libya$15 336
79Bosnia & Herzegovina$15 242
80Moldova$14 875
81Georgia$14 664
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank13
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
70China78.8
71Jamaica78.9
72Seychelles79.7
73Maldives79.9
74Jordan80.3
75Vietnam80.4
76Kuwait80.7
77Trinidad & Tobago80.7
Asia Avg88.2
World Avg87.9
q=196.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Maldives's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

The Maldives's population is predicted to fall to 383 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 1.67. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Migrants to the Maldives have come from India, Sri Lanka, Arabia and Persia10.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
165Luxembourg0.6m
166Suriname0.6m
167Cape Verde0.5m
168Maldives0.5m
169Malta0.4m
170Brunei0.4m
171Bahamas0.4m
172Belize0.4m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
12
Pos.2021
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
31Germany80.6
32Andorra80.4
33Greece80.1
34Maldives79.9
35Qatar79.3
36Chile78.9
37Bahrain78.8
38Thailand78.7
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.201314
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
49UAE1.70
50Canada1.69
51Colombia2.31
52Maldives1.67
53Luxembourg1.67
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
78Micronesia10.8
79Honduras11.0
80=Turkmenistan11.0
80=Maldives11.0
82Mongolia11.8
83=Uzbekistan11.9
83=Tonga11.9
85Kyrgyzstan12.1
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
30Belize16.0%
31San Marino15.7%
32Bahamas15.6%
33Maldives15.4%
34USA15.3%
35Norway15.1%
36Germany14.8%
37Estonia14.7%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
184Saudi Arabia0.7%
185Qatar0.7%
186Nigeria0.6%
187Maldives0.6%
188China0.6%
189Japan0.6%
190Oman0.5%
191Madagascar0.4%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Maldives's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Asia (2020)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Hong Kong24.3
2Taiwan28.2
3Japan41.9
...
27Cambodia102.3
28Kuwait106.5
29Laos108.1
30Maldives110.4
31=Indonesia111.0
32Uzbekistan111.1
33Bahrain112.7
34Bangladesh113.0
35Bhutan114.1
Asia Avg99.9
q=51.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
133Togo107.6
134Laos108.1
135Zambia108.6
136Maldives110.4
137=Algeria111.0
137=Indonesia111.0
139Uzbekistan111.1
140Bahrain112.7
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark19. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu19.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe19, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia19.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
20
Pos.2009
Treaties20
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
104St Vincent & Grenadines15
105=Liberia15
105=Libya15
105=Maldives15
105=Andorra15
105=Cape Verde15
105=Bangladesh15
105=Mozambique15
Asia Avg12.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
21
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty21
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
127Macedonia11.71
128Czechia11.73
129Malawi11.77
130Maldives11.85
131Central African Rep.11.87
132Thailand11.89
133Congo, (Brazzaville)11.91
134Moldova11.99
Asia Avg10.97
World Avg10.02
q=195.
Press Freedom
Lower is better
22
Pos.201322
1Finland638
2Netherlands648
3Norway652
...
99Georgia3009
100Lebanon3015
101Albania3088
102Maldives3110
103Uganda3169
104Peru3187
105Kyrgyzstan3220
106Fiji3269
Asia Avg4378
World Avg3249
q=178.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 report on the state of the world's human rights, had little to say about Maldives: "The authorities took further steps to restrict freedom of expression in law. The security forces routinely used unlawful force to suppress protests. Maldives retained the death penalty and people remained on death row"23.

Gender Equality:

The Maldives has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
24
Pos.201524
1Switzerland0.04
2Denmark0.04
3Netherlands0.04
...
61Armenia0.29
62Cuba0.30
63Costa Rica0.31
64Maldives0.31
65Chile0.32
66Tajikistan0.32
67Trinidad & Tobago0.32
68Azerbaijan0.33
Asia Avg0.36
World Avg0.36
q=159.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Total
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
34S. Africa1930
35=Sri Lanka1931
35=Spain1931
37Maldives1932
38=Uruguay1932
38=Thailand1932
40Turkey1934
41=Brazil1934
Asia Avg1907
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
25
Pos.2017
Score25
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
153=Iran-19
153=Malaysia-19
153=Gambia-19
153=Maldives-19
153=Afghanistan-19
158Liberia-20
159=Bhutan-20
159=Burundi-20
Asia Avg-02.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
26
Pos.202126
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
185Jordan4.5
186Mauritania4.8
187=UAE4.8
187=Maldives4.8
187=Sudan4.8
187=Brunei4.8
187=Yemen4.8
187=Iran4.8
Asia Avg3.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Maldives's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
4Japan51.0
5S. Korea51.3
6Sri Lanka52.9
7Bhutan55.1
8China60.4
9Brunei62.6
10Malaysia62.8
11Oman62.9
12N. Korea65.0
13=Thailand65.3
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
6S. Korea51.3
7Sri Lanka52.9
8Bhutan55.1
9China60.4
10Norway61.0
11Brunei62.6
12Malaysia62.8
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives28. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau28.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean28, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa28.

For more, see:

Health:

Public health in The Maldives is very good. The Maldives comes in the best 20 in its suicide rate29 (amongst the best in Asia) and in its adolescent birth rate24. It does better than average in terms of its average life expectancy12, its immunizations take-up30, its smoking rate31, its fertility rate14 and in its alcohol consumption rate32. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in the Maldives improved by +16.5yrs in the 30 years from 1990, over double the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
12
Pos.2021
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
31Germany80.6
32Andorra80.4
33Greece80.1
34Maldives79.9
35Qatar79.3
36Chile78.9
37Bahrain78.8
38Thailand78.7
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
32
Pos.2016
Per Capita32
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
51Congo, DR2.6
52=Uzbekistan2.7
52=Ghana2.7
52=Maldives2.7
55Ethiopia2.9
56=Fiji3.0
56=Benin3.0
58Togo3.1
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.201314
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
49UAE1.70
50Canada1.69
51Colombia2.31
52Maldives1.67
53Luxembourg1.67
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
31
Pos.201431
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
44Myanmar (Burma) 206
45Madagascar 206
46Burkina Faso 213
47Maldives 215
48Panama 224
49Grenada 224
50St Lucia 232
51Mali 236
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate29
Pos.2013
Per 100k29
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
4Jordan0.2
5Maldives0.7
6Azerbaijan1.3
7S. Africa1.8
8Bahamas2.5
9Peru2.9
10Kuwait3.6
11Armenia3.9
12Dominican Rep.4.6
Asia Avg19.50
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
33
Pos.2016
%33
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
43Benin29.5
44Guinea-Bissau29.9
45S. Korea30.3
46Maldives30.6
47=Congo, (Brazzaville)30.9
47=Liberia30.9
49Ivory Coast31.6
50Singapore31.8
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
24
Pos.2015
Per 100024
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
16Libya6.2
17Finland6.5
18Germany6.7
19Maldives6.7
20Tunisia6.8
21Austria7.1
22China7.3
23Greece7.5
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
Avg %30
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
43Libya96.4
44St Kitts & Nevis96.3
45Bahamas96.2
46Maldives96.2
47Tajikistan96.1
48Rwanda96.1
49Sao Tome & Principe96.0
50Malaysia96.0
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Maldives's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
4Maldives55.0
5Jordan56.5
6N. Korea57.5
7Indonesia62.4
8S. Korea62.8
9Bangladesh67.0
10=India68.6
11Lebanon68.8
12=Nepal68.8
13Armenia69.5
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
9Ecuador52.0
10Mexico53.2
11Canada53.4
12Maldives55.0
13Seychelles55.3
14Germany55.8
15=Sweden56.0
15=Norway56.0
World Avg85.7
q=188.
The Maldives comes 12nd-best in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 4 data sets. The Maldives does the best in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. It does better than average when it comes to annual meat consumption per person35 and in its forested percent change 2000-202036. The Maldives still has work to do. The Maldives does worse than average when it comes to its environmental performance37.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
36
Pos.Total36
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
124=Lesotho0.0%
124=Anguilla0.0%
124=Jersey0.0%
124=Maldives0.0%
124=St Vincent & Grenadines0.0%
124=Isle of Man0.0%
124=Tokelau0.0%
124=St Martin0.0%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
37
Pos.201837
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
108Turkey53.0
109Ukraine52.9
110Guatemala52.3
111Maldives52.1
112Moldova52.0
113Botswana51.7
114Honduras51.5
115Sudan51.5
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
6=Fiji1993 Dec 29
6=Canada1993 Dec 29
6=Monaco1993 Dec 29
6=Maldives1993 Dec 29
6=Marshall Islands1993 Dec 29
6=Seychelles1993 Dec 29
6=Mauritius1993 Dec 29
6=Antigua & Barbuda1993 Dec 29
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
35
Pos.2021
kg35
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
50Malawi27.4
51Tunisia27.8
52Sao Tome & Principe28.3
53Maldives28.8
54Egypt29.1
55Laos29.8
56Botswana30.1
57Nicaragua31.5
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Maldives's Modernity and Learning

#education #it_security #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)38
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank38
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
...
36Palestine92.0
37Indonesia92.3
38Pakistan97.9
39Maldives99.8
40Turkmenistan105.3
41Nepal110.8
42Bhutan112.3
43Bangladesh112.9
44Laos115.2
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)38
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank38
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
132=St Lucia97.8
133Pakistan97.9
134Nauru99.0
135Maldives99.8
136Cameroon101.6
137Zimbabwe101.8
138Marshall Islands102.8
139Algeria103.4
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
39
Pos.201839
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
115Iraq48.0%
116Paraguay47.8%
117Nicaragua47.5%
118Maldives47.1%
119Bangladesh46.7%
120St Lucia46.0%
121Thailand44.8%
122Zambia44.3%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
40
Pos.2021
Years40
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
121El Salvador12.7
122Nicaragua12.6
123Qatar12.6
124Maldives12.6
125Timor-Leste (E. Timor)12.6
126Cape Verde12.6
127Guyana12.5
128Uzbekistan12.5
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
41
Pos.201641
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
89Kazakhstan56%
90=US Virgin Islands54%
90=Serbia54%
92Maldives54%
93Georgia53%
94China52%
95=Vietnam52%
95=S. Africa52%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
42
Pos.201342
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
68Netherlands1.47
69Rwanda1.50
70Tanzania1.50
71Maldives1.57
72China1.59
73Angola1.61
74Sri Lanka1.67
75Oman1.72
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
43
Pos.2017
Ratio43
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
114=Venezuela0.0
114=Kazakhstan0.0
114=New Caledonia0.0
114=Maldives0.0
118Tunisia0.0
119=Tuvalu0.0
119=Marshall Islands0.0
119=Georgia0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

On the Corruption Index, Maldives scored on average 36 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 4 points.

Corruption
Higher is better
44
Pos.2022
Points44
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
85Tunisia40.0
86=Suriname40.0
86=Macedonia40.0
86=Maldives40.0
86=India40.0
86=Guyana40.0
91Belarus39.0
92=Moldova39.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.

9. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better45
Pos.201945
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
44Bahrain5.50
45Qatar5.70
46Kuwait5.90
47Maldives6.00
48=Malaysia6.10
48=Bulgaria6.10
50Chile6.30
51=USA6.30
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
46
Pos.2017
%46
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
85Gabon38.0
86Indonesia38.1
87=Myanmar (Burma)38.1
88Maldives38.4
89=Burundi38.6
89=China38.6
91Samoa38.7
92Israel38.9
Asia Avg35.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
47
Pos.2018
Severity47
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
4Turkmenistan.001
5Jordan.002
6Kazakhstan.002
7Montenegro.002
8Trinidad & Tobago.002
9Maldives.003
10Albania.003
11Thailand.003
12Moldova.004
Asia Avg.084
World Avg.154
q=101.

10. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Buddhism (and then Islam) have both arrived at the Maldives at various points10, but Islam has come to dominate, and permits no dissent and no alternatives. Swarna Rajagopalan is very generous when he says that "Maldivian Islam is moderate" although it "has not been immune to the waves of radical Islamic movements that are sweeping the globe"10. In reality, there is no religious freedom in The Maldives, except for tourists in private, and very small numbers of others who cannot integrate politically or socially, and who must keep quiet on the topic of religion. It is illegal to bring Bibles or any non-Islamic religious text into the country, and the President must always specifically be a Sunni Muslim, as should citizens.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below48:

Christian0.4%
Muslim98.4%
Hindu0.3%
Buddhist0.6%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Sunni Muslim (official)49.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)50, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for The Maldives states:

The constitution and other laws do not permit freedom of religion or belief. The constitution designates Islam as the official state religion, and the government and many citizens at all levels interpret this provision to impose a requirement that all citizens must be Muslims. The constitution also stipulates that the president must be Sunni. The constitutional language on the fundamental rights and duties of citizens does not provide for the right to freedom of religion or belief. Furthermore, the constitution precludes non-Muslims from voting and holding public positions.

The constitution does not prohibit discrimination based on religious preference. It excludes religion from a list of attributes for which people should not be discriminated against. Several articles in the constitution make the practice of Islam mandatory. Article 36 states that it is imperative for parents and the state to provide children with primary and secondary education. Section (c) of that article states education shall strive to inculcate obedience to Islam and instill love for Islam.

Cases of Discrimination

In 2008 the Ministry of Islamic Affairs replaced the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. The ministry mandates Islamic instructions in schools, funds salaries of religious instructors, and certifies imams, who are responsible for presenting government-approved sermons. By law no one may publicly discuss Islam unless invited to do so by the government.

In June 2010, Muhammad Nazim asked a Muslim preacher, at a large public event, how Islam viewed people such as himself who had tried to believe in Islam but could not. The preacher replied that Islam requires the death penalty for those who leave Islam. Several members of the enraged crowd attempted to attack Nazim and he was hustled away by the police. The Islamic Ministry arranged for Nazim to receive "religious counseling" before determining if he should be executed for apostasy. During this prison counseling, Muhammad saved his life by embracing Islam.

One month later, Ismail Mohamed Didi faced the same choice as Mohamamed Nazim: believe or die. He chose death. On July 13 2010, the 25 year-old air traffic controller was found hanged from the control tower of the Maldives international airport, after killing himself to escape persecution for his rejection of religion. Shortly before his death, Ismail Mohamed Didi wrote that he had "foolishly admitted my stance on religion" to work colleagues and the news had "spread like wildfire." He added that "A lot of my close friends and girlfriend have been prohibited from seeing me by their parents. I have even received a couple of anonymous phone calls threatening violence if I do not repent and start practicing Islam... Maldivians are proud of their religious homogeneity and I am learning the hard way that there is no place for non-Muslim Maldivians in this society."

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)51

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