_#_Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun—Maldivian(s); adjective—Maldivian

_#_Ethnic divisions: admixtures of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, and black

_#_Religion: Sunni Muslim

_#_Language: Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic); English spoken by most government officials

_#_Literacy: 92% (male 92%, female 92%) age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

_#_Labor force: 66,000 (est.); 25% engaged in fishing industry

_#_Organized labor: none

_*Government #_Long-form name: Republic of Maldives

_#_Type: republic