Country Full Name: Republic of Maldives.

Location: The Maldives is in Southern Asia, and consists of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India.

Country Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August).

Country Terrain: Flat, with white sandy beaches. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the lowest country on the planet.

Major Languages: Divehi.

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 0.3 million (2008 est.) 0.3 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The mixed economy of the Maldives is based on the principal activities of tourism, fishing and shipping.

Currency: Maldive Rufiyaa (MVR).

Country Inflation: 11.9% (2008 est.) 5.5% (2009 est.).

City: Male is the capital and largest city (in terms of population) in the Republic of Maldives.

City Economy: The central part of the Male city is formed by Male Island. Three more islands are part of the city. Slightly less than one third of the nation’s population lives in the capital city. Many, if not most, Maldivians and foreign workers in Maldives find themselves in occasional short term residence on the island since it is the only entry point to the nation and the centre of all administration and bureaucracy.

Cost of Living: Male has an overall cost of living index which equates it with middle cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Male is currently ranked 167 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

For more cost of living information on Maldives, Male