Abstract
The Maldives is a densely populated archipelago, with about 760 people per square kilometre in 1992. It is situated in the Indian Ocean south-west of India It consists of 26 widely dispersed coral ato1\s containing 1190 very small islands. Of these islands (those suitable for habitation) 203 islands are inhabited. Its closest neighbour is India, which lies 595 km from the northernmost ato1\ and the next closest is Sri Lanka, which is 670 km from the capital Male.