Pray Today August 24th, for the Republic of Maldives

Maldives

Republic of Maldives

Asia

Geography

Area 298 sq km. 1,200 coral islands in 20

administrative groups, 600 km southwest of Sri

Lanka in the Indian Ocean. Only 202 islands are

inhabited. These have an average size of less than

1 sq km. Average elevation is one metre.

Population

Ann Gr Density

2010 313,920 1.43% 1,053/sq km

2020 361,689 1.39% 1,214/sq km

2030 402,807 0.96% 1,352/sq km

Population figures for the Maldives section generally do

not include non-Maldivians.

Capital Malé 126,000. Urbanites 40.5%. Pop

under 15 yrs 28%. Life expectancy 71.1 yrs.

Peoples

Indigenous 80%. Maldivians of South Asian Dravidian

origin.

Foreign 20%. Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

and some Westerners, almost entirely in temporary

employment. In reality, foreign worker population possibly

exceeds 80,000.

Literacy 97.2%. Official language Dhivehi of

Sanskrit origin. All languages 2. Languages

with Scriptures 1w.i.p.

Economy

Tourism and fishing dominate the economy.

Lack of fertile soil and fresh water and the high

population density keep most people at

subsistence level. The 2004 tsunami damaged

significant agricultural and tourism

infrastructure, while the worldwide economic

downturn has hampered tourism significantly.

HDI Rank 95th/182. Public debt 32.9% of

GDP. Income/person $3,654 (8% of USA).

Politics

The nominal British protectorate was terminated in

1965. A non-party republic since 1968. An autocracy

since 1978, ruled by one president who has cultivated

a very poor human rights record. An independent

judiciary has recently been established. Significant

pro-reform demonstrations, international pressure

and desire to portray itself as a developing republic all

pulled the Maldives toward multiparty democracy,

which was realized in the 2008 presidential election.

Religion

The opposition’s victory brought some limited

freedoms – but not in the religious sphere.

Islam is the only recognized religion. The open

practice of all other religions is forbidden. Sunni

Islam is strongly promoted for national unity and

preservation of the government’s power, but a

more fundamentalist brand of Islam has rapidly

grown in size and influence in recent years. Almost

all adherents of other religions are foreigners.

Religions Pop % Population Ann Gr

Muslim 99.04 310,906 1.4%

Buddhist 0.40 1,256 0.5%

Hindu 0.35 1,099 2.6%

Christian 0.17 534 4.0%

Non-religious 0.04 126 1.4%

Christians Denoms Pop % Affiliates Ann Gr

Protestant 1 0.06 <200 4.6%

Independent 1 0.02 <100 3.7%

Catholic 1 0.09 <300 3.9%

Trans Bloc Pop % Population Ann Gr

Evangelicals

Evangelicals 0.1 235 4.3%

Renewalists

Charismatics <0.1 99 6.1%

Challenges for Prayer

1 The fragile ecosystem of the Maldives is threatened by rising sea levels that could flood and destroy. Coral mining and rises in sea temperatures have killed much of the coral that is the foundation of these islands. The 2004 tsunami and the 2008-2009 economic downturn demonstrated how fleeting life on these islands could be; pray that this would cause many to seek eternal assurance obtainable only through Christ.

2 Behind the facade of island paradise lies a darker reality. Freedom of expression and belief is strongly curtailed by powerful societal and regulatory forces. One of the highest divorce rates in the world, rising crime and gang activity, abuse of children and endemic drug use among teens (possibly up to 70%) indicate that all is not well. Beyond Islamic beliefs lies a widespread adherence to pre-Islamic occult practices called fanditha. Pray for the light of the gospel to shine into the lives of Maldivians. Pray against strongholds of pride, fear, duplicity and sensuality.

3The desire to honour human rights and increase freedoms has been expressed by the current government, but freedom of religion is highly unpopular and violent opposition to it has been promised. Grassroots religion has shifted in a decidedly Islamist and Arabized direction, losing its indigenous Maldivian roots. Pray for the future of the people of the Maldives, torn between oppressive religion and empty freedoms.

4 The Maldivians are still among the least evangelized on earth. Neither mission work nor Christian literature has ever been allowed. Paradoxically, the government denies the existence of Christianity among Maldivians while arresting those who do believe. The perception of Christianity is so bad (largely due to Western media and tourist immorality) that political opponents use the term “Christian” to slander one another. Pray for the true name and nature of Jesus to be made known in this nation. Pray that the state’s contradictions and heavy-handedness toward Christianity would generate great curiosity.

5 Persecution of believers is intense. Any Maldivian practicing Christianity can expect mockery, ostracism, incarceration and even torture. Pray for those who believe – for their protection, their courage in the face of great trials and for opportunities to grow in and spread their faith. On numerous occasions expatriate believers have been expelled, especially for sharing their faith.

6 Other means of witness – pray for lasting fruit through:

a) Witness to Maldivians in other lands. Many travel outside the Maldives as sailors or students, some to seek medical care or for other reasons. Also, there are Maldivian communities in Sri Lankan, Indian and Malaysian cities.

b) The Scriptures being translated into Dhivehi. Remarkably, a translation of the Gospels was completed and subsequently lost or destroyed in 1811! Only the Gospel of Luke and Acts are currently available. Pray for the progress of translation efforts and for ways people can freely access the Word in their heart language. Pray also for ways to import Scriptures and Christian literature – totally illegal at the moment.

c) Christian video and audio messages and web pages in Dhivehi are available on the Internet – for those clever or persistent enough to find their way past the government’s blockages.

7 Minicoy is part of the Indian-ruled Lakshadweep Islands to the north of the Maldives, but its population is ethnically Maldivian. Pray for an open door for the gospel.