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Due to the country’s geographic isolation, Maldives remained uncolonized during most its history. It was a British Protectorate from 1887 until independence on 26 July 1965. Throughout most of its history, Maldives was a Sultanate. It became a Republic in 1968.
The Head of State and Chief Executive is the President who is elected by referendum every five years.
The Cabinet Ministers are appointed by the President and they may or may not be members of the Parliament. There are no political parties in the country.
Maldives is a member of the United Nations, the British Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the World Trade Organisation and many other international organisations.
