

Most of the fish catch is sold to foreign companies for processing and export.Īlthough formal businesses have seen rapid growth in the country, especially on the main islands, much of the population subsists outside the money economy on fishing, coconut collecting, and the growing of vegetables and melons, roots and tubers (cassava, sweet potatoes, and yams), and tropical fruits. Tuna is the predominant fish caught, traditionally by the pole-and-line method, although a good deal of the fishing fleet has been mechanized. While the sector still produces the bulk of the country’s exports and continues to grow (albeit at a slower pace than the tourism industry), it employs less than one-fifth of the labour force and contributes less than one-tenth of the GDP. Agriculture, forestry, and fishingįishing, long the traditional base of the economy, has been far surpassed by tourism as the main source of gross domestic product (GDP). The economy is based on tourism, fishing, boatbuilding, and boat repairing, with the tourism sector driving the rapid growth. Annual growth of gross domestic product (GDP) has been high, averaging about 6 percent in the 2010s, and the gross national income (GNI) per capita-among the lowest in the world in the 1970s-reached the level of upper middle-income countries by the late 2010s. Since the 1970s the economy of the Maldives has developed rapidly. Maldives: Age breakdown Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Fish abound in the reefs, lagoons, and seas adjoining the islands sea turtles are caught for food and for their oil, a traditional medicine. The atolls have sandy beaches, lagoons, and a luxuriant growth of coconut palms, together with breadfruit trees and tropical bushes. Rainfall averages about 84 inches (2,130 mm) per year. The average annual temperature varies from 76 to 86 ☏ (24 to 30 ☌). The rainy season, from May to August, is brought by the southwest monsoon from December to March the northeast monsoon brings dry and mild winds. Barrier reefs protect the islands from the destructive effects of monsoons. All the islands are low-lying, none rising to more than 6 feet (1.8 metres) above sea level.
#ATOLL MALDIVES SERIES#
The Maldive Islands are a series of coral atolls built up from the crowns of a submerged ancient volcanic mountain range. What was the name of the supercontinent that existed over 200 million years ago? On which continent did mankind’s upright ancestors originate? Unfold your mental road map and test your knowledge of geography in this quiz.
#ATOLL MALDIVES HOW TO#
COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.From tech to household and wellness products. Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.



This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.#WTFact Videos In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.Demystified Videos In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.Britannica Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
